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X X OF X X 



WBSTBRN <> ARKANSAS. 



COMPRISING 



A Condensed History of tlqe State, a number of Biographies of Distinguisl^ed Citizens of 
the sanne, a brief Descriptive History of each of the Counties mentioned, and 
numerous Biographical Sketches of th[e Citizer|s of such Counties, 



) 



«^ IL/L/USTRATED.^3^ 




MBCXEO 



CHICAGO AND NASHVILLE: 

The Southern fUBLisHiNG Gompany. 

1891. 



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Prerace. 



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'N the preparation of tliis volume special care was employed and great expense 
incurred to render the matter strictly accurate, with what result is left to the 
considerate judgment of our patrons. The greatest difficulty was experienced 
in the spelling of proper names, and in the fact that too many of the person a 
sketches were not corrected and returned as requested. The great care taken by the 
Publishers to submit every personal sketch, Should relieve them from all accountability 
for mistakes occurring in those sketches that were not corrected and returned by sub- 
scribers. It is hoped that the errors are few. The Publishers will willingly correct 
by special errata sheet, as is their custom, the few errors which appear, upon prompt 
notification of the same. In all cases, tyjie-written copies of the personal sketches 
were submitted by mail to the subjects for revision and correction, and in most 
instances were improved and returned. The Publishers with pride call particular 
attention to the superb mechanical execution of the volume. They warmly thank their 
friends for the success of their difficult enterprise. 

Jhe Publishers. 



^* 



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*' 



■^•K- 



CHAPTER I. 

Geology — Importance of Geologic Study— Area and Cli- 
mate — Boundaries — Principal Streams of the State — 
The Mountain Systems — The Great Springs — Diversity 
of Soils — Caves — The Mines, Their Wonderful Depos- 
its and Formations 9-18 

CHAPTER II. 

Archaeology — Remains of Flint Arrow and Spear Heads, 
and Stone and Other Ornaments — Evidences of Pre- 
historic People along the Mississippi — Mounds, etc., 
in Other Portions of the State — Local Archaeologists 
and Their Work — The Indians — Tribal and Race Char- 
acteristics — The Arliansas 'Tribes — The Cession Trea- 
ties — The Removal of the Cherokees, Creeks and 
Chootows — An Indian Alarm — Assassinatioa of the 
Leaders, etc., etc 19-33 

CHAPTER III. 

Discovery and Settlement — De Soto in Arkansas — Mar- 
quette and Joliet — La Salle, Hennepin and Tonti — 
French and English Schemes of Conquest and Dreams 
of Power — Louisiana — The " Bubble " of John Law— 
The Early Viceroys and Governors — Proprietary 
Change of Louisiana — French and Spanish Settlers 
in Arkansas — Englisli Settlers — A Few First Settlers 
in the Counties — The New Madrid Eartliquake — Other 
Items of Interest 34-34 

CHAPTER IV. 

Organization — The Viceroys and Governors — The Attitude 
of the Royal Owners of Louisiana — The District Divided 
— The Territory of Arkansas Formed from the Territory 
of Missouri — The Territorial Government — The First 
Legislature — The Seat of Government — Other Legisla- 
tive Bodies — The Duello — Arkansas Admitted to State- 
hood — The Constitutional Conventions — The Memor- 
able Reconstruction Period — Legislative Attitude on 
the Question of Secession — The War of the Governors, 
etc., etc 3 1 41 

CHAPTER V. 

.Advancement of the State — Misconceptions Removed- 
Effects of Slavery upon Agriculture — Extraordinary 
Improvements Since the War — Important Suggestions 



—Comparative Estimate of Products— Growth of the 
Manufacturing Interests— Wonderful Showing of Ar- 
kansas — Its Desirability as a Place of Residence— State 
Elevations 45-53 

CHAPTER VI. 

Politics— Importance of the Subject— The Two Old Schools 
of Politicians — Triumph of the Jacksouians — Early 
Prominent State Politicians — The Great Question of 
Secession— The State Votes to .Join the Confederacy — 
Horror of the War Period— The Reconstruction Distress 
—The Baxter-Brooks Embruglio 52-55 

CHAPTER VII. 

Societies, State Institutions, etc.— The Ku Klux Klan— 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows— Ancient, Free and 
Accepted Masons— Grand Army of the Republic— Bu- 
reau of Mines— Arkansas Agricultural Associations — 
State Horticultural Society — The ^VTieel— The State 
Capital— The Capitol Building— State Libraries— State 
Medical Society— State Board of Health— Deaf Mute 
Institute — School for the Blind — Arkansas Lunatic 
Asj'lum — Arkansas Industrial University — The State 
Debt 56-64 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Bench and Bar — An Analytic View of the Profession 
of Law — Spanish and Frencli Laws — English Common 
Law— The Legal Circuit Riders— Territorial Law and 
Lawyers — The Court Circuits — Early Court OfBcers — 
The SuprenK\Court — Prominent Members of the State 
Bench and Bar— The Standard of the Execution of Law 
in the State 65-73 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Late Civil War— Analytical View of the Troublous 
Times — Passage of the Ordinance of Secession — The 
Call to Arms— The First Troops to lake the Field— In- 
vasion of the State by the Federal Army — Sketch of 
the Regiments— Names of Officers- Outline of Field 
Operations— Cleburne and Tell— Extracts from Private 
Memoranda — Evacuation of the State — Re-occupation 
—the War of 1813— The Mexican War— Standard of 
American Generalship 73-Sl 



-^ 



;rr 



CHAPTER X. 

Public Enterprises— The Real Estate Bauk of Arkansas- 
State Roads and Other Highways— The Military Roads 
—Navigation within the State from the Earliest Times 
to the Present— Decadence of State Navigation— Steam- 
boat Racing— Accidents to Boats— The Rise and Growth 
of the Railroad Systems— A Sketch of the Diflerent 
Lines — Other Important Considerations 8^-87 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Counties of the State— Their Formation and Changes 
of Boundary Lines, etc.— Their County Seats and Other 
Items of Interest Concerning them— Defunct Counties 
—New Counties— Population of all the Counties of the 
State at every General Census 87-92 

CHAPTER XII. 

Education — The Mental Type Considered— Territorial 
Schools, Laws and Funds — Constitutional Provisions 
for Education— Legislative Provisions— Progress since 
the War— The State Superintendents — Statistics — 
Arkansas Literature— The Arkansaw Traveler 93-97 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The Churches of Arkansas— Appearance of the Mission- 
aries—Church Missions Established in the Wilderness— 
The Leading Protestant Denominations- Ecclesiastical 
Statistics— General Outlook from a Religious Stand- 
point . .' 98-101 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Names Illustrious in Arkansas History— Prominent Men- 
tion of Noted Individuals— Ambrose H. Sevier— Will- 
iam E. Woodruff — John Wilson — .John Hemphill — 
.Jacob Barkman— Dr. Bowie— Sandy Faulkner— Samuel 
H. Hempstead— Trent, Williams, Shinn Families, and 
Others— The Conways— Robert Crittenden- Archibald 
Yell — .Judge David Walker — Gen. G. D. Royston— 
.Judge .James W. Bates 102-113 

CHAPTER XV. 

Yell County — Its Fortunate Situation and Great Natural 
Advantages— Its Streams— Lands— The Surface of the 
County — Agricultural Products — Timber — Minerals— 
The Mountains — Springs— Origin of the Name Darda- 
uelle— The Cherokee Agency— Pioneer Settlers and 
Their Indian Neighbors— Land Entries Prior to 1845— 
Early Mills and Cotton-gins— County Organization— 
The Temporary and Permanent Seat of Justice— Old 
and Later County Buildings— County Oflleers.lS-lO-OO— 
Bench and Bar— Congressional and Legislative Repre- 
sentation—The County Press— Yell County in the War 
—A Record of Death— Yell's Federal Soldiers— Church 
History— Public and Academic Educational Institu- 
tions — Towns — Biographical 113-192 



Products and Minerals — Its Political Townships and 
Their Area — County Organization — The Several Seats 
of Justice — County Buildings — Pope County's Civil 
List — .Judges, Clerks, Sheriffs, Coroners, Surveyors — 
The Pope County Circuit Court, Its Offlcers and Law- 
yers — Representatives in Senate and Lower House 
and in Constitutional Conventions — County Politics — 
The Dwight Mission and the Cherokee Settlement — 
Beginning and Progress of Settlement — Land Entries 
in Pope County Prior to 184.5 — Educational History 
and School Statistics — Railways — Incorporated 
Towns, Villages and Post-offices — Old Norristown and 
Other Once Important Points — Churches — The War 
and Reconstruction Period — The Press 193-271 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Johnson C'oimty — Its Boundaries, Topography, Lands and 
Mineral and Agricultural Resources — A Remarkable 
Coal Region — Land Entries and Early Settlement — 
Educational Interests — Ecclesiastical History — County 
Organization — Location of Seat of Justice and Erec- 
tion of Public Buildings- Political Townships— List 
of County Ollicers— Senators and Members of the 
Lower Branch of the Arkansas Legislature Represent- 
ing This County— The Fifth Judicial Circuit and the 
Johnson County Bar— Notaries Public— Congressional 
Representation— Railway History and Prospects- 
Towns, ^Villages and Post-ofiices- Military History— 
The Old Militia Organization, the Mexican War and 
the Struggle of the States— The County Press, Its 
Editors and Publishers— The Johnson County Pomo- 
logical Society 272-.?21 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Logan County — Location— Area— Lands— Topography— 
Mountains— Streams— Derivation of Names— Timber 
—Minerals— Agriculture— Horticulture— Grapes and 
Native Wines— Paris Nursery— Raising of Live Stock 
—Transportation Lines— Settlement— Dc Soto's Expe- 
dition—Mounds Containing Human Bones- Sup- 
posed Fightwith Indians— Early Settlers Mentioned— 
An Ancient Grave— County Organization— Boundary 
Lines— First County Seat— Second and Final County 
Seat— Burning of Court-houses— County Buildings 
—Change of Name of County from Sarber to Logan- 
County Officers- Political Aspect— Election Returns 
—Circuit Court— Logan County Legal Bar— Criminal 
Executions— Civil War— Haguewood Fight— Attack 
on Roseville— Towns, Villages and Post-offices— 
Press— Education— Christianity— Views from Short 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Pope County, Its Situation, Boundaries, Resources and 
Prospects- 



-Its Timber and Its Streams— Agricultural 



Mountain . 



.323-.383 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Scott County— Physical Description— Boundary, Mount- 
ain Ranges, Streams, Area, Height of Land— Char- 
acter of Soil, Etc.— The Great Fourche La Favc Val- 
ley—The Poteau and Petit Jean Valley Systems- 
Value of Lauds— Analysis of Soils— Temperature— 
The County Coal Fields— Thickness, Quality and 



*f: 



I 




Quantity— stone, Gold and Other Minerals — Gas and 
Oil Prospects— Lumber Resources — Scott County Or- 
ganized — The County Seat — Fires — Congressional 
Districts — Townships — County Officers — Judicial Cir- 
cuits—The Squatters and Pioneers— Wild Game- 
Wild Fruit — Catalogue of Early Settlers — Educational 
Facilities and Statistics — School Finances — The 
Churches and Sunday-schools — List of Post-offices — 
-\ Sketch of the Towns and Villages — Their Resi- 
dents, Business and Population — Societies — Railway 
Prospects — The Local Newspapers — Military Record 
of Scott County , 3*t-133 

CHAPTER XX. 

Polk County — Location and Boundary — Topography, 

Streams, Springs and Water'Supply— 'Timber — Soil- 
Farm Products — PubliciLands — Minerals, Gold, Silver, 
Manganese, Etc. — Horticulture — Vineyards — Native 
Wine — Live Stock — U. S. Signal Service — Climate — 
Proposed Railroads — Taxable Wealth — Wild Animals 
— Settlement — Pioneer Settlers — First Mills — Pioneer 



Cabins — County Organization — County Seat — Public 
Buildings — County Officers- Election Returns— Popu- 
lation — Circuit Court — Legal Bar — Civil War — Dallas 
and Other Towns — Dallas High School — Educational 
Facilities — Religious Denominations 434-46.T 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Montgomery County — Location — Boundary — Area — De- 
scription, Resources and Productions — Soil — Streams 
Freestone and Mineral Springs — Water Power — Tim- 
ber — Minerals — Live-stock Raising — Statistics— Fruit- 
Growing — The Grape and Its Product — Diversified 
Farming — Settlement — Early Settlers— Slaves — Public 
Lands— First Tax Book— Present Taxable Wealth- 
County Organization — Early Records— County Seat — 
Commissioners to Locate County Seat — Municipal 
Townships — County Boundary Lines — County Build- 
ings — County Officer-s — Political Status — Election Re- 
turns—Population — Circuit Court — First Court Ses- 
sions — First Grand and Petit Juries — Civil War Period 
Towns — Schools — Religious Denominaticms — Etc. .46(>-49" 




Tji 




ISTOHY ^ OF - ^HKfll^SAS. 



•e- 



» > * < ♦ 



Geology— Importance of Geologic Study— Area and Climate— Boundaries— Principal Streams 
OF THE State— The ^Xountain Systems— The Great Springs- Diversity of Soils- 
Caves— The Mines, their "WoNDKurrL Deposits and Formations. 



Such blessings Nature pours. 
O'erstocked mankind enjoys but half her stores. — Young. 




HE matter of first impor- 
tance for every civilized peo- 
ple to know is the economic 
geology of the country they 
inhabit. The rocks and the 
climate are the solution in 
the end of all problems of 
ife, as they are the prime sources 
from which all that human beings 
can possess comes. The measure of 
each and every civilization that has 
adorned the world is in exact de- 
gree with the people's knowledge 
3T^of the natural laws and the envi- 
ronments about them. 

The foundation of civilization 
rests upon the agriculturists, and 
nothing can be of more importance to this class 
than some knowledge of what materials plants are 
composed, and the source from whence they de- 
rive existence; the food upon which plants live 
and grovv; how they are nourished or destroyed; 
what plant food is appropriated by vegetation 
itself, without man's aid or intervention, through 
the natural operations in constant action. The 



schools will some day teach the children these use- 
ful and fundamental lessons, and then, beyond all 
peradventure, they will answer very completely 
the lately pr pounded question: " Are the public 
schools a failure?" The knowledge of the ele- 
mentary principles of the geology of this country 
is now the demand of the age, made upon all na- 
tions, in all climes. 

The character of vegetation, as well as the 
qualities of the waters and their action upon vege- 
table and animal life, is primarily determined 
by the subjacent rocks on which the soil rests. 
Earth and air are but the combinations of the 
original gases, forming the solids, liquids and the 
atmosphere surrounding the globe. The soil is 
but the decomposed rocks — their ashes, in other 
words, and hence is seen the imperative necessity of 
the agriculturist understanding something of the 
rocks which lie beneath the laud he would success- 
fully cultivate. He who is educated in the simple 
funda.aental principles of geology — a thing easier 
to learn than is the difference in the oaks and pines 
of the forest — to him there is a clear comprehension 
of the life-giving qualities stored in the surfafie 
rocks, as well as a knowledge of the minerals to be 



r 



r 



^1 



10 



HISTORY OF AEKANSA.S. 



found in their company. A youth so educated 
possesses incomparable advantages over his school 
companion in the start of life, who has conceuirated 
his energies on the classics or on metaphysical sub- 
jects, whether they enter the struggle for life as 
farmers, stock raisers, miners or craftsmen. It 
is as much easier to learn to analyze a rock, min- 
eral or soil, than to learn a Greek verb, as the one 
is more valuable to know than the other. All true 
knowledge is the acquirement of that which may 
aid in the race of life, an education that is so prac- 
tical that it is always helpful and useful. 

The geology of Arkansas, therefore, so far as 
given in this chapter, is in fact but the outline of 
the physical geography of one of the most interest- 
ing localities of the continent, and is written 
wholly for the lay reader, and attempted in a 
manner that will reach his understanding. 

Within the boundary lines of the State are 53,- 
045 square miles, or 33,948,800 acres. It has 
3,868,800 more acres of land than the State of 
New York, and multiplies many times the com- 
bined natural resources of all the New England 
States. It has 2,756 miles of navigable rivers. 

It had a population in 1880, as shown by the 
census, of 802,525. Of these there were 10,350 
foreigners and 210,606 colored. In 1820 the Ter- 
ritory had a population of 14,255; in 1830, of 30,- 
338; in 1840, of 97.554; in 1850, of 209,897; in 
1800, of 435,450; in 1870, of 481,471. (This 
was the Civil War decade.) In 1885 the popula- 
tion had advanced about 200,000 over the year 
1880, or was near 1,000.000. In 1887 it reached 
the figures of 1,260,000, or an increase of more 
than a quarter of a million in two years, and there 
is reason to believe this increased ratio will pass 
beyond the two million mark in the next census. 
At least, an increase of one hundred per cent in 
the ten years is indicated. Keeping in miud that 
there are no great populous cities in the Stfite, it 
will be known that this has been that healthy in- 
crease of population which gives glowing promises 
for the future of the State. Here the agricultural 
districts, and the towns and cities, have kept even 
jTHce, while in some of the leading States of the 
Mississippi Valley the great cities have grown 



while the rural population has markedly decreased. 
These are serious problems to reflective minds in 
those States where the cities are overgrowing and 
the country is declining. Happily, Arkansas is 
troubled with no such indications of the disturbed 
natural distribution of its people. The State, 
since it emerged from the dark and evil days of 
civil war and reconstruction, has not only not been 
advertised in regard to its natural resources, but 
has been persistently slandered. The outside world, 
more than a generation ago, were plausibly led 
to believe the energy of its citizens was justly 
typified in the old senseless ballad, "TheArkan- 
saw Traveler." and the culture and refinement of 
its best people are supposed to be told in the 
witty account of Judge Halliburton's " First Piano 
in Arkansas. ' ' The ruined hopes, the bankrupted 
fortunes and the broken hearts that are the most 
recent history of the Western deserts, form some of 
the measure the poor people are paying for the de- 
ceptions in this regard that have been practiced 
upon them. These silly but amusing things have 
had their effect, but they were pleasant and harm- 
less, compared to thi' latest phase of pretexts for 
persistent publications of the cruelest falsehoods 
ever heaped upon the heads of innocent men. But, 
in the end, even this will do good ; it is to be seen 
now among the people. It will put the people of 
the State upon their mettle, resulting, if that is 
not already the fact, in giving it the most orderly, 
law abiding, peaceful and moral people of any 
equal district of the Union. 

The State is in the central southern portion of 
the great Mississippi Valley, and in climate, soil, 
rocks, minerals and water may well be designated 
as the capital of this ' ' garden and granarj- of the 
world," with resources beneath the surface that 
are not, taken all together, surpassed on the globe. 
Its eastern line is the channel of the Mississippi 
River "beginning at the parallel 36" of north lati- 
tude, thence west with said parallel to the middle 
of the main channel of the St. Francois (Francis) 
River; thence up the main channel of said last men- 
tioned river to the parallel of 36° 30' of north lati- 
tude; thence west with the last mentioned parallel, 
or along the southern line of the State of Missouri, 



" 



:r>~ 



^1 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



11 



to the soutliwest corner of said State; thence to be 
bounded on the west to the north bank of Red 
River, as designated by act of Congress and treat- 
ies, existing January' 1, 1837. detining the western 
limits of the Territory of Arkansaw, and to be 
bounded west across and south of Red River by 
the boundary line of the State of Texas as far as 
the northwest corner of the State of Louisiana; 
thence easterly with the northern boundary line of 
said last named State to the middle of the main 
channel of the Mississippi River; thence up the 
middle of the main channel of said last mentioned 
river, including an island in said river known as 
Belle Point Island, and all other land as originally 
surveyed and included as a part of the Territory, or 
State of Arkansas, to the 36° of north latitude, to 
the place of beginning."* 

The State includes between its north and south 
boundary lines the country lying between parallel 
of latitude 33° north, and parallel of latitude 36° 
30' north, and between its east to west lines the 
country between longitude 90° and a little west of 
longitude 94° 30'. Its geographical position on 
the continent assures the best conditions of tem- 
perature, salubrity and rainfall, this being shown 
by the absence of the intense heat and the cold 
storms of the higher latitudes and the drouths of 
the west. 

From the meteorological reports it is learned 
that the average rainfall in the State during June, 
July and Augitst is sixteen inches, except a narrow 
belt in the center of the State, where it is eighteen 

* The above descriptive boundary lines are in the au- 
thoritative language of the State Constitutional Conven- 
tion. To understand the south and west lines necessitates 
a reference to the treaties and acts of Congress. The fol- 
lowing would simplify the descriptive pait of the west 
and south lines: Beginning at the southwest corner of 
Missouri, or in the center of Section 19, Township 21, 
Range 3-1 west of the fifth principal meridian line, thence 
in a straight line south, bearing a little east to strike the 
east line of Section 4, Township 8 north. Range 32 west; 
thence in a straight line south, bearing a little west to 
where the line strikes Red River in Section 14, Township 
13 south. Range 33 west; thence along said river to the 
southwest corner of Section T, Township 14 south. Range 
28 west; thence south to the northwest corner of the north- 
east quarter of Section 18, Township 20 south, Range 28 
west; thence east along the 33^ of latitude to the middle 
of the channel of the Mississippi River; thence up said 
river to the place of beginning. The State lines run 
with the lines of latitude and the meridional lines, and 
not with the government survey lines. 



inches, and a strip on the western portion of the 
State, where it is from eight to fourteen inches. 
Accurate observations covei'ing fifteen years give 
an average of seventy- five rainy days in the year. 

Of twenty-three States where are reported 13-1 
destrtictive tornadoes, four were in Arkansas. 

The annual mean temperature of Los Angeles, 
Cal., is about 1° less than that of Little Rock. 

The watershed of the State runs from the 
north of west to the southeast, fi-om the divide of 
the Ozark Mountain range, except a few streams 
on the east side of the State, which flow nearly 
parallel with the Mississippi River, which runs a 
little west of south along the line of the State. 
North of the Ozark divide the streams bear to a 
northerly direction. 

Of the navigable rivers within its borders the 
Arkansas is navigable 505 miles; Bartholomew 
Bayou, 68 miles; Black River. 147 miles; Current 
River, 63 miles; Fourche La Favre River, 73 
miles; Little Missouri River, 74 miles; Little Red 
River, 48 miles; Little River, 98 miles; Missis- 
sippi River, 424 miles; Ouachita River, 134 miles; 
Petit Jean River, 105 miles; Red River-. 92 miles; 
Saline River, 125 miles; St. Francis River, 180 
miles; White River, 619 miles. 

These streams flow into the Mississippi River 
and give the State an unusual navigable river 
frontage, and they run so nearly in parallel lines 
to each other and are distributed so equally as to 
give, especially the eastern half and the southwest 
part of the State, the best and cheapest transporta- 
tion facilities of any State in the Union. These 
free rivers will in all times control the extortions of 
transportation lines that are so oppressive to the 
peo"ple of less favored localities. 

The Arkansas River passes diagonally across 
the center of the State, entering at Fort Smith, and 
emptying into the Mississippi at Napoleon. 

South of this the main stream is the Ouachita 
River and its tributaries; the Saline River, which 
divides nearly equally the territory between the 
Arkansas and Ouachita Rivers; and the Little Mis- 
souri on the southwest, which divides the territory 
between the Ouachita and Red Rivers. North of 
the Arkansas, and about equally dividing the ter- 









i± 



12 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ritory between the Mississippi and the Arkansas 
Rivers, is White River, running nearly southeast. 
Its main tributary on the west is Little Red River, 
and on the northeast Black River, which enters the 
State from Missouri, and flows southwesterly and 
empties into the White at Jacksonport, Jackson 
County. Another important tributary is Cache 
River, which flows a little west of sonth from Clay 
County, emptying into the White near Clarendon. 

Eel River is in the northeast corner of the 
State and partially drains Craighead County. 
Eleven Points, Currant, Spring and Strawberry 
Rivers are important tributaries of Black River. St. 
Francis River flows from Missouri, and from 36° 
30' north latitude to 36° north latitude it forms 
the boundary line between Missouri and Arkansas, 
and continuing thence south empties into the Mis- 
sissippi a few miles above Helena. 

Main Fork of White River rises in Madison 
County and flows northwest in and through Wash- 
ington County into Benton County; thence north- 
east into Missouri, returning again to Arkansas in 
Boone County. Big North Fork of White River 
rises in the south central part of Missouri, flows 
southward, and forms its junction in Baxter County, 
Ark. La Grue River is a short distance sonth of 
White River; it rises in Prairie County and joins 
the White in Desha County. Middle Fork of 
Saline River rises in Garland County and flows 
southeast. Rolling Fork of Little River rises in 
Polk and passes south through Sevier County. 
Cassatot River also rises in Polk and passes south 
through Sevier County. Clear Fork of Little 
Missouri rises in Polk County and passes south- 
east. East Fork of Poteau River rises in Scott 
County and runs nearly due west into the Indian 
Territory. L'Auguille River rises in Poinsett 
County and flows through Cross, St. Francis and 
Lee Counties, and empties into the St. Francis 
within a few miles of the mouth of the latter. Big 
Wattensaw River rises in Lonoke County and runs 
east into Prairie County, and empties into White 
River. Muddy Fork of Little Missouri River rises 
in Howard County and runs soiitheast. Yache 
Grass River runs north through Sebastian County 
and empties into the Arkansas River east of Fort 



Smith. Terre Noir River runs from northwest to 
the southeast in Clark County and empties into 
Ouachita River. Sulphur Fork of Red River en- 
ters the State fi'om Texas, about the center of the 
west line of Miller County, and running a little 
south of east empties into Red River. Sabine River 
flows south through the central southern portions of 
the State, and empties into the Ouachita River near 
the south line of the State. 

There are numerous creeks forming tributa- 
ries to the streams mentioned, equally distributed 
over the State, which are fully described in the re- 
spective counties. Besides these water-courses 
mention should properly be made of the nineteen 
bayous within the State's borders. 

The Ozark Mountains pass through the north- 
ern portion of Arkansas, from west to east, and 
form the great divide in the watersheds of the 
State. Rich Mountains are in the central western 
part, and run east from its west line, forming the 
dividing line between Scott and Polk Counties, 
and also between Scott and Montgomery Counties, 
and run into Yell County. 

South and east of the Rich Mountains are the 
Silver Leaf Mountains, also running east and west 
from Polk County, throxigh Montgomery to Gar- 
land County. These are the mountain formations 
seen about Hot Springs. Sugar Loaf Mountain 
is in Cleburne County, and receives its name from 
its peculiar shape. It is in the northei'n central 
part of the State. Another mountain of the same 
name, containing the highest point in the State, is 
in Sebastian County, and extends into the Indian 
Territory. Boston Mountains are in the northwest- 
ern part of the State, running east and west in 
Washington, Crawford and other counties. These 
include the main mountainous formations. There 
are many points in these ranges that have local 
names. 

It would require volumes to give a complete 
account of the variety of the innumerable springs 
which >urst forth with their delicious waters — 
■warm, hot and cold, salt, mineral and medicated. 
The fame of some of the medical, and the Hot 
Springs of Arkansas, are known throughout the 
civilized world, and pilgrims from all nations come 



JAZ 



>t "^w 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



13 



to be washed aad healed in them. They were 
known to and celebrated by the pre-historic peoples 
of America: and the migrating buffaloes, ages and 
ages ago, came annually from the land of the Da- 
kotas to the spring waters of Arkansas. The in- 
stincts of the wild beasts antedate the knowledge 
of man of the virtues and values of the delicious 
waters so bountifully given to the State. Nearly 
all over its territory is one wonder after another, 
tilling every known range of springs and spring 
waters, which, both in abundance of flow and in 
medicinal properties, mock the world's previous 
comprehension of the possibilities of nature in this 
respect. 

When De Soto, in -June, 1542, discovered the 
Mississippi River and crossed into (now) Arkansas, 
and had traveled north into the territory of Mis- 
souri, he heard of the ' • hot lakes ' ' and turned 
about and arrived in time where is now Hot Springs. 
Even then, to the aborigines, this was the best- 
known spot on the continent, and was, and had 
been for centuries, their great sanitarium. The 
tribes of the Mississippi Valley had long been in 
the habit of sending here their invalids, and even 
long after they were in the possession of the whites 
it was a common sight to see the camj) of repre- 
sentatives of many different tribes. The whites 
made no improvement in the locality until 1S07. 
Now there is a flourishing city of 10,000 inhab- 
itants, and an annual arrival of visitors of many 
thousands. The waters, climate, mountain air and 
grand scenery combine to make this the great 
world's resort for health and pleasure seekers, and 
at all seasons of the year. The seasons round, with 
rarest exceptions, are the May and October months 
of the North. 

In the confined spot in the valley called Hot 
Springs there are now known seventy -one springs. 
In 1860 the State geologist, D. D. Owen, only 
knew of forty. Others will no doubt be added to 
the list. These range in temperature from 93° 
to 150° Fahrenheit. They discharge over 500,000 
gallons of water daily. The waters are clear, taste- 
less and inodorous; they come from the sides of the 
ridge pure and sparkling as the ])ellucid Neva; hold- 
ing in solution, as they rush up hot and bubbling 



from nature's most wonderful alembic, every valua- 
ble mineral constituent. In the cure, especially of 
nearly all manner of blood and chronic diseases, 
they are unequaled, and their wonders have be- 
come mainly known to all the world by the liv- 
ing and breathing advertisements of those who 
have proven in their own persons their wonderful 
curative powers. To reach Hot Springs and be 
healed, is the hope and aspiration of the invalid, 
when all other remedies have failed. And it is 
liut just now that the pleasure seeker, the tourist, 
the scientist, and the intelligence and culture of 
the world are beginning to understand that this 
is one of the world's most inviting places to see 
and enjoy. 

But the marvels of the district are not confined 
to the immediate locality of Hot Springs. Here 
is indeed a wide district, with a quantity and variety 
of medical springs that are simply inapproachable 
on the globe. Going west from Hot Springs are sys- 
tems of springs running into Montgomery County 
a distance of forty miles. As continued discov- 
eries of other springs in Hot Springs are being 
made, and as these widely distributed outlj'ing 
springs are comparatively of recent disclosure, it 
may be assumed that for many years to come new 
and valuable springs will become celebrated. 

In Carroll County, in the northwest part of 
the State, are Eureka Springs, only second to Hot 
Springs in the wide celebrity of fame as healing 
waters. They, too, may well be considered one of 
the world's wonders. There are forty-two of these 
springs within the corporate limits of the city that 
has grown up about them. They received no pub- 
lic notice until 1879, when with a bound they 
became advertised to the world. Their wonderful 
cures, especially in cases of rheumatism, cancer, 
dyspepsia and other, if not nearly all, chronic 
diseases, have bordered on the marvelous, if not 
the miraculous. 

In White County are the noted White Sulphur 
Springs, at Searcy, and the sulphur and chalyb 
eate springs, known as the Armstrong and the 
Griffin Springs, and the medical springs — Blan- 
chard Springs — in Union County: the Ravenden 
Springs, in Randolph County, and the Sugar Loaf 



■fv^ 






14 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



Springs, in Cleburne County; the very recently dis- 
covered Lithia Springs, near Hope, in Hempstead 
County, pronounced by a leading medical journal, 
in its January issue, 1889, to be the most remark- 
able discovery of this class of medical waters of 
this century. These are some of the leading springs 
of the State which possess unusual medicinal 
properties. By a glance at the map it will be seen 
they are distributed nearly equally all over its ter- 
ritory. Simply to catalogue them and give accom- 
panying analyses of the waters would make a pon- 
derous volume of itself. In the above list have 
been omitted mention of the tine Betbseda Springs 
in Polk County, or the fine iron and chalybeate 
springs near Magnolia; Bussey's Springs, near 
Eldorado, Union County; Butler's Saline Chalyb- 
eate Springs, in Columbia County; the double 
mineral spring of J. I. Holderni.st. in Calhoun 
County; a large number of saline chalybeate 
springs in Township 10 south. Range 23 west, in 
Hempstead County, called Hubbard's Springs; or 
Crawford's Sulphur Springs; or those others in 
Section 16, Township 12 south. Range 10 west; or 
Murphy' s or Leag' s Mineral Springs, all in Brad- 
ley County; or Gen. Royston's noted chalybeate 
springs in Pike County, and still many others that 
are known to possess mineral qualities, though no 
complete examination of them has j'et been made. 

Special mention should not be omitted of the 
Mountain Valley Springs, twelve miles northwest 
of Hot Springs. The fame of these springs has 
demanded the shipment of water, lately, to distant 
localities in vast and constantly increasing quan- 
tities. The knowledge of them is but compara- 
tively recent, and yet their wonderful healing 
qualities are already widely known. 

Innumerable, apparently, as are the health 
springs of Arkansas, they are far surpassed by 
the common springs found nearly all over the 
State. 

Mammoth Spring is in Fulton County, and is 
unrivaled in the country. The water boils up 
from an opening 120 feet in circumference, and 
flows uninterruptedly at the rate of 9,000 barrels a 
minute. From the compression of so large an 
amount of carbonic acid held in solution, the whole 



surface of this water basin is in a continual state of 
effervescence. Spring River, a bold stream, is 
produced by this spring, and gives an unlimited 
amount of water power. 

The general division of the surface of the State 
is uplands and lowlands. It is a timber State, 
with a large number of small prairies. East and 
near Little Rock is Lonoke Prairie, and other 
small prairies are in the southwest part. In its 
northeast portion are some large strips of prairie, 
and there are many other small spots bare of tim- 
ber growths, but these altogether compose only a 
small porti(m of the State's surface. 

The variety and excellence of soils are not sur- 
passed by any State in the Union. The dark 
alluvial prevails in nearly all the lowlands, while 
on many sections of the uplands are the umber red 
soils of the noted tobacco lands of Cuba. About 
two-thirds of the State's surface shows yellow pine 
growth, the great tall trees standing side by side 
with the hardwoods, walnut, maple, grapevines, 
sumac, etc. A careful analysis of the soils and 
subsoils of every county in the State by the 
eminent geologist. Prof. D. D. Owen, shows this 
result: The best soils of Iowa, Wisconsin and 
Minnesota are inferior to the best soils of Arkan- 
sas in fertilizing properties. The following re- 
ports of State geologists tell the story: 





Ark. 


Minn. 


Iowa. 


Wis. 


Organic and Volatile Matter. . 


14,150 

8,715 

21,865 


6.334 

5,585 
690 


6,028 

3,288 

940 


6,580 
4,610 


Carbonate Lime 


665 











In fertilizing qualities the only comparative 
results to the Arkansas soils are found in the blue 
limestone districts of Central Kentucky. 

Analysis of the soils shows the derivative geo- 
logical formation of soils, and their agricultural 
values; their losses by cultivation, and what soils 
lying convenient will repair the waste. Arkansas 
County, the mother of counties in the State, lying 
in the southeast, shows the tertiary formations. 
Benton County, at the opposite northwest corner, 
has the subcarboniferous. The tertiary is found 



y\-. 



^ 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



15 



it, 



in Newton County: Clark. Hempstead and Sevier 
show the cretaceous; Conway, Crawford, Johnson, 
Ouachita, Perry, Polk, Pope. Prairie, Pulaski, 
Scott, Van Buren, White, Garland and Montgom- 
ery, the novaculite, or whetstone grit; Greene, 
Jackson, Poinsett and Union, the quaternary. In 
addition to Benton, given above, are Independence, 
Madison, Monroe, Searcy and Washington, subcar- 
boniferous. The lower silurian is represented in 
Fulton, Izard, Lawrence, ^Marion and Randolph. 
These give the horizons of the rock formations of 
the State. The State has 28,000,000 acres of 
woodland — eighty-one and one-half per cent of her 
soil. Of this twenty-eight per cent is in cleared 
farms. 

If there be drawn a line on the map, beginning 
a few miles west of longitude 91°, in the direction 
of Little Rock, thence to the north boundary line 
of Clark County, just west of the Iron Mountain 
Railroad, then nearly due west to the west line of 
the State, the portion north of this line will be the 
uplands, and south the lowlands. The uplands 
correspond with the Paleozoic, and lowlands with 
the Neozoic. 

The granitic axis outbursts in Pul&ski, Saiine, 
Hot Springs, Montgomery, Pike and Sevier Coun- 
ties, and runs from the northeast to the southwest 
through the State. In Northern Arkansas the dis- 
turbance shows itself in small faults, gentle folds 
and slightly indurated shales ; but nearer the gran- 
ite axis, greater faults, strata with high dip and 
talcose slate, intersected with quartz and calcite 
veins, become common. These disturbances are 
intimately connected with, and determine to some 
extent, the character of the mineral deposits of 
the State. The veins along the granite axis were 
tilled probably with hot alkaline waters depositing 
the metalliferous compounds they contained. 

Almost every variety of land known to the 
agriculturist can be found, and, for fertility, the 
soils of the State are justly celebrated. Composed 
as they are of uplands and lowlands, and a variety 
of climate, they give a wide range of products. 
In the south and central portions are produced the 
finest cotton in the markets, while the uplands 
yield fruits in abundance and variety. No place 



in the great valley excels it in variety of garden 
vegetables, small and orchard fruits, grasses, 
grains, and other field crops. Among agriculturists 
in Arkansas, truly cotton has been king. It is 
grown upon lands that would produce a hundred 
bushels of corn to the acre. All over the State a 
bale of cotton to the acre is the average — worth at 
this time S5(\ Per acre it is about the same labor 
to raise as corti. In the varied and deep rich 
soils of the State are produced the vegetation — 
fruits, vegetables and plants — of the semi-tropic re- 
gions, and also the whole range of the staple prod- 
ucts of the north. Cereals, fruits and cotton 
grow as well here as anywhere. In the uplands 
will some day be raised grapes and tobacco that 
will be world famous. 

That portion of the hilly lands in Clay, Greene, 
Craighead, Poinsett, St. Francis, Lee and Phillips 
Counties, known as Crowley's ridge, has a soil and 
vegetable growth distinctive from any other por- 
tion of the State. Its principal forest growth is 
yellow poplar, which is found in immense size. 
With this timber are the oak, gum, hickory, wal- 
nut, sugar and maple. The soil is generally of a 
light yellowish or gray color, often gravelly, very 
friable and easily cultivated, producing abundant 
crops of cotton, corn, oats, clover, timothy and red 
top, and is must excellent for fruits. 

The prevailing soil is alluvial, with more or 
less diluvial soils. The alluvial soils, especially 
along the streams, are from three to thirty feet 
deep, and these rich bottoms are often miles in 
width. There are no stronger or more productive 
lands than these anywhere, and centuries of cul- 
tivation create no necessity for fertilizers. 

The swamp lands or slashes as a general thing 
lie stretched along between the alluvial lands and 
second bottoms. They are usually covered with 
water during the winter and spring, and are too 
wet for cultivation, though dry in the summer and 
fall. They can be easily reclaimed by draining. 

The second bottoms are principally on the east- 
ern side of the fttate, extending from the slashes to 
the hills. The soil is mostly gray color, sometimes 
yellowish, resting upon a subsoil of yellowish or 
mulatto clay. The rich, black lands prevail largely 






^\t@ — ^ 



10 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



in Hempstead, Little River, Sevier, Nevada, Clark, 
Searcy, Stone, Izard and Independence Counties. 

In the mountainous range of the Ozarks, in 
Independence County, are remarkable cave forma- 
tions. They are mostly nitre caves and from these 
and others in the southeast and west of Batesville, 
the Confederacy obtained much of this necessity. 
Near Cushman, Independence County, are the won- 
derful caves. The extent and marvelous beauty of 
formations are in the great arched room, the 
"King's Palace." This cave has been explored 
for miles under the earth, and many wonders and 
beauties are seen on every hand. On the side of 
the mouth of one of the caves in this vicinity a 
strong spring leajas fi'om the mountain' s side and 
into the cave, and the rumbling of the rushing 
waters beneath the earth can be heard quite a dis- 
tance. The notable saltpetre caves are in Marion, 
Newton, Carroll, Independence, Washington and 
Benton Counties. 

There are gold mines in Arkansas, yet no re- 
markable finds that is, no marvelous wonders have 
aa yet been uncovered. The universal diffusion 
of milky quartz in veins, seams and beds, as well 
as all the other geological tokens which lead on to 
fortune, are recent discoveries, and the intelligent 
gold hunters are here in abundance. Who can 
tell what the future may have in store? But 
should no rich paying gold fields ever be found, 
still in the resources of the State are ores of silver, 
antimony, zinc, iron, lead, copper, manganese, 
marble, granite, whet and honestone, rock-crystal, 
paints, nitre earths, kaolin, marls, freestone, 
limestone, buhr and grindstone and slate, which 
may well justify the bold assertion of that eminent 
geologist. Prof. D. D. Owen, in 1860, after care- 
fully looking over the State, "that Arkansas is 
destined to rank as one of the richest mineral 
States in the Union." Its zinc ores compare 
favorably with those of Silesia, and its argentif- 
erous galena far exceeds in percentage of silver the 
average of such ores of other countries. Its 
novaeulite (whetstone) rock can not be excelled in 
fineness of texture, beauty of color, and sharpness 
of grit. Its crystal mountains for extent, and 
their products for beauty, brilliancy and transpar- 



ency, have no rivals in the world. Its mineral 
waters are in variety and values equalled only by 
its mineral products. 

Anticipating the natural questions as to why 
the mines of Arkansas are not better developed, it 
will be sufficient to condense to the utmost Prof. 
Owen's words in reference to the Bellfih mine in 
Sevier County: "It is the same vein that is found 
in Pulaski County, and runs northeast and south- 
west nearly through the State. Some years ago 
the Bellah mine was explored and six shafts were 
sunk. Three of the principal shafts were about 
thirty feet deep. The work was done under the 
supervision of Richard W. Bellah. afterward of 
Texas. There was a continuous vein, increasing 
in thickness as far as he went. On the line other 
shafts were sunk from six to twelve feet deep, all 
showing the ore to be continuous. About five tons 
of ore were taken out. A portion of this was 
sent to Liverpool, England, to be tested, and the 
statement in return was ' seventy-three per cent 
lead, and 148 ounces of silver to the ton. ' ' ' Mr. 
Bellah wrote to Prof. Owen: "I am not willing 
to lea.se the mines; but I will sell for a reasonable 
price, provided my brother and sister will sell at 
the same. I have put the price upon the mines, 
and value it altogether [460 acres of land] at 
$10,000." Such was the condition of affairs at 
this mine when the war came. Substantially, this 
is the ante-bellum history of the Arkansas mining 
interests. Pi'of. Owen reports picking up from 
the debris of these deserted shafts ore that anal- 
yzed seventy-three per cent lead and tifty-two and 
one-half ounces of silver to the ton of lead. 

That these rich fields should lie fallow-ground 
through the generations can now be accounted for 
only from the blight of slavery upon the enter- 
prise and industry of people, the evils of a great 
civil war, and the natural adaptation of the soil and 
slavery to the raising of cotton. 

On the line of this vein, in Saline County, 
from very superficial explorations, were discovered 
veins bearing argentiferous lead and copper. 

Lead is found in about every count}' in North- 
ern Arkansas. These are a continuation of the 
Missouri lead ores. The richest argentiferous lead 






^]^ 



it 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



17 



ores reported are in Pulaski, Saline, Montgomery, 
Polk, Pike, Ashley and Sevier Counties, being 
found in the quartz and calcite gangues. It is as- 
sociated in the north of the State with zinc, cop- 
per, and with antimony in Sevier County. 

One of the latest discoveries is the value of the 
antimony mines of Polk and Sevier Counties. A 
mine is being worked successfully for antimony, 
and the increase of silver is improving as the 
shaft goes down. At any hour in the progress of 
the work, according to the opinions of the best 
scientific mining experts, this shaft may reach one 
of the noted silver deposits of the world. In the 
Jeff Clark antimony mine, at a distance of 100 
feet down, was found a rich pocket of silver. In 
every particular, so far, this mine is a transcrijit of 
that of the noted Comstock mine. The Comstock 
mine showed silver on the surface; so did the Sev- 
ier County mine; then it passed down 100 feet, 
following a vein of antimony; so has the Sevier 
mine; then in each has silver been found. 

There is an unchanging law which governs the 
rock and mineral formations. Nature never lies, 
and there is no doubt that the Arkansas mineral 
belt, through Montgomery, Polk, Howard and Sev- 
ier Counties, will prove to be one of the richest 
mining districts of the world. 

The antimony mine has been quite successfully 
worked the past two years. The Bob Wolf mine. 
Antimony Bluff mine, and Stewart Lode are being 
profitably worked. Capital and the facilities for 
reducing ores by their absence are now the only 
drawback to the mineral products of the State. 

Iron is found native in the State only in meteor- 
ites. The magnatite ore is found plentiful in Mag- 
net Cove. Lodestones from this place are shipped 
abroad, and have a high reputation. This is one 
of the best iron ores, and the scarcity of fuel and 
transportation in the vicinity are the causes of its 
not being worked. The limonite iron ore is the 
common ore of all Northern Arkansas; immense 
deposits are found in Lawrence, where several 
furnaces are operated. In the southern part of the 
State is the bog iron ore. The brown hematite is 
found in Lawrence, Randolph, Fulton and other 
counties. Workable veins of manganese are found 



in Independence County. This valuable ore is im- 
ported now from Spain; it is used in making Spie- 
gel iron. 

Bituminous and semi-anthracite coal is found 
in the true coal measures of the uplands of Ar- 
kansas. That of the northwest is free from sul- 
phur. The semi-anthracite is found in the valley 
of the Ai'kansas River. These coal fields cover 
10,000 acres. There are four defined coal hori- 
zons — the subconglomerate, lower, middle and up- 
per. The coal fields of this State belong to the 
lowest — the subcarboniferous — in the shale or 
millstone grit less than 100 feet above the Archi- 
medes limestone. In the Arkansas Valley these 
veins aggregate over six feet. The veins lie high 
in the Boston Mountains, dipping south into the 
Arkansas Valley. Shaft mining is done at Coal 
I Hill. Spadra and many other points. It is shipped 
down the river in quantities to New Orleans. 

Aluminum, corundum, sapphire, oriental ruby, 
topaz and amethysts are found in Howard and 
Sevier Counties. Strontianite is found in Mag- 
net Cove — valuable in the purification of sugar. 
In the synclinal folds of Upper Arkansas common 
salt is easily obtained. Good salt springs are in 
Sevier County, also in Dallas and Hot Springs 
Counties. Chalcedony, of all colors, cornelian, 
agates, novaculite, honestone, buhrstone, varieties 
of granite, eight kinds of elegant marble, sand- 
stones, white, gray, red, brown and yellow, are 
common in the grit horizon; flagstones, roofing 
and pencil slates, tale, kaolin, abound in Saline, 
Washington, St. Francis and Greene Counties. The 
potter's clay of Miller, Saline and Washington is 
extensively worked. ' ' Rock oil ' ' has been dis- 
covered in large jjockets in Northwest Arkansas. 

In the development of its mineral resources the 
State is still in its infancy, so much so, indeed, 
that what will prove yet to be the great sources of 
wealth are not even now produced as a commer- 
cial commodity. In some respects this is most re- 
markable. For instance, Arkansas might supply 
the world, if .necessity required, with lime and 
cement, can produce the best of each at the least 
cost, and yet practically all these consumed are 
imported here from other States. Years ago Prof. 



-^ 



18 



HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 



D. D. Owen called attention to the valuable marls 
in tbe southwest part of the State, but the great 
beds lie untouched and cotton planters send off for 
other fertilizers. So also of the great beds of 
gyps\un that lie uncovered and untouched. The 
outside world wants unlimited supplies of kaolin, 
tire-clays and such other clays as the State pos- 
sesses in inestimable quantities, and yet the thrifty 
people seem to be oblivious of the fact that here is 
the way to easy sources of wealth. 

People can live here too easily it seems. In 
this way only can a reason be found for not strik- 
ing boldly out in new fields of venture, with that 
vigor of desperation which comes of stern and 
hard necessity. Where nature is stubborn and un- 
yielding, man puts forth his suprtmest efforts. 

Magnet Cove probably furnishes more remark- 
able formations than any other district in the world. 
The "Sunk Lands'' in the northeast part of the 
State, the result of the disturbance of the New 
Madrid earthquake 1811-12, present features of 
interest to both lay and scientific investigators. 
The curious spectacle of deep lakes, beneath which 
can be seen standing in their natural position the 
great forest trees, is presented; and instead of the 
land animals roving and feeding among them are 
the inhabitants of the deep waters. 

The natural abutments of novaculite rocks at 
Rockpoi-t, on the Ouachita River, with the proper 
outlying rocks on the opposite side of the river, are 
a very interesting formation. 

Cortes Mountain, Sebastian County, as seen 
from Hodges Prairie presents a grand view. The 
bare hard rock looks as though the waves in their 
mighty swells had been congealed and fixed into 
a mountain. It is 1,500 feet high. Standing Rock, 
Board Camp Creek, Polk County, is a conspicious 
and interesting landmark. It rises from out the 



crumbling shales, like an artificial piece of !nasonry. 
to the height of ninety feet. 

The Dardaaelle Rock as seen from the Arkan- 
sas River, opposite Morristown, is composed of fer- 
ruginous substance, and the great column dips at 
an angle of 40° toward the river. From one point 
on the southeast is the wonderful Dardanelle Profile. 
All the features of the face, with a deep-cut mouth 
slightly open as if in the act of listening to what 
one is going to say to it, and the outlines of the 
head, neck and shoulders, are faithfully produced. 
Its faithfulness of detail and heroic proportions 
are its strong characteristics. 

Sandstone Dam across Lee Creek, Crawford 
County, is a curious instance of nature's perfect 
engineering. The formation here possesses as 
much interest to the scientist as the noted Natural 
Bridge. 

Investigations of the Mammoth Spring lead to 
the conclusion that it has underground connection 
with Havell's Valley, Mo; that here the waters 
from many springs, some rising to the surface and 
others not rising, are as the head of a vast funnel, 
which pour down the subterranean channel and, 
finally meeting obstructions to further progress, are 
forced up through the solid rock and form the 
Mammoth Spring, a navigable subterranean river 
in short, whose charts no bold seaman will ever 
follow. 

North of Big Rock are the traces of a burnt 
out volcano, whose fires at one time would have 
lighted up the streets of Little Rock even better 
than the electric lights now gleaming from their 
high towers. 

The track of the awful cataclysm, once here 
in its grand forces, is all that is left; the energies 
of nature's greatest display of forces lost in the 
geological eons intervening. 



\ 



-rf 2> 



j£: 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



19 



lDu 



* > ♦ < ■► 



Akchaeology— Remains of Flint Arrow and Spear Heads and Stone and Other Ornaments- 
Evidences OF Pre-uistokic People Along the Mississippi— Mounds, etc., in Other Portions 
of The State— Local Archaeologists and their Work— The Indians— Tribal 
AND Race Characteristics- The Arkansas Tribes— The Cession Treaties 
—The Removal of the Cherokees, Creeks and Choctaws— An 
Indian Alarm— Assassination of the Leaders, etc., etc 




Some lazy ages, lost in sleep and ease. 

No actions leave to busy chronicles; 

Sucb wliose superior felicity but malies 

In story cliasms. in epochas mistakes. — Dryden. 



N the long gone 
reaches of time perhaps 
only to be measured by 
geological periods, races 
of men have been here, 
grown, flourished, declined 
and passed away, many not 
even leaving a wi'ack behind; others 
transmitting fossil traces, dim and 
crumbling, and still later ones, the suc- 
cessors of the earlier ones, who had no 
^li^t^ traditions of their predecessors, have 
left something of the measure of their 
existence in the deftlj- cut flints, brolien 
pottery, adobe walls, or great earth- 
works standing in the whilom silent 
wilderness as mute and enduring mon- 
uments to their existence; man, races, civilizations, 
systems of religion passing on and on to that 
eternal silence — stormfully from the inane to the 
inane, the great world' s epic that is being forever 
written and that is never writ. 

Arkansas is an inviting field for the investiga- 
tion of the archaeologist, as well as the geologist. 
Races of unknown men in an unknown time have 
swarmed over the fair face of the State. Their 



restless activities drove them to nature's natural 
storehouses and the fairest climes on the continent. 
Where life is easiest maintained in its best form 
do men instinctively congregate, and thus commu- 
nities and nations are formed. The conditions of 
climate and soil, rainfall and minerals are the 
controlling factors in the busy movements of men. 
These conditions given, man follows the great 
streams, on whose bosom the rudest savages float 
their canoes and pirogues. 

Along the eastern part of the State are the most 
distinct traces of prehistoric peoples, whose hiero- 
glyphics, in the form of earthworks, are the most 
legible to the archseologist. Here, earthworks in 
greatest extent and numbers are found, indicating 
that this section once swarmed with these barbaric 
races of men. 

In Lonoke County, sixteen miles southeast of 
Little Rock, and on the Little Rock & Altheimer 
branch of the St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas Rail- 
road, is a station called Toltec. It is located on 
the farm of Mr. Gilbert Knapp. and is near 
Mounds Lake. This lake is either the line of what 
was a horse-shoe bend in Arkansas River long ago, 
or is the trace of a dead river. The lake is in the 
form of a horse-shoe, and covers a space of about 



x^ 



20 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS 



three miles. The horse- shoe points east of north, 
and the heels to the southwest. Here is a great 
field of large and interesting mounds and earth- 
works. A little east of the north bend of the lake 
are two great mounds — one square and the other 
cone shaped. The cone shaped is the larger and 
taller, and is supposed to have been 100 feet high, 
while the other was about seventy five feet in ele- 
vation. About them to the north and east are 
many small mounds, with no apparent fixed method 
in their location. These have all been denuded of 
their timber and are in cultivation, except the larger 
one above mentioned. Upon this is a growth of 
heavy timber, elms, hickory, and oaks with as high 
as 500 rings, and standing on an alluvial soil from 
eight to fifteen feet deep. These large mounds 
are enclosed with an earth wall starting out from 
the bank of the lake, and circling at a considerable 
distance and returning to the lake, and keeping 
nearly an equal distance from the larger mound. 
The sloping base of each mound reaches the base 
and overlaps or mingles with the base of its neigh- 
bor. Around this big wall was once an outside 
ditch. The humus on the smaller mounds shows, 
in cultivation, a stronger and deeper alluvial soil 
than the surrounding land. 

There are evidences in these mounds that while 
they were built by one nation, for objects now 
problematical, they have been used by other suc- 
ceeding peoples for other and different purposes, 
much after the manner that are now found farm- 
ers with well-kept gardens on the tops of the 
mounds, or stately residences, or on others grow- 
ing cotton and corn. In them human and ani- 
mal bones are seen, and there are indications that, 
while they were built for purposes of worship or 
war, when the builders passed away more than 
one race of their successors to the country used 
them as convenient burial grounds. They were 
skillful stone workers and potters, and their mason's 
tools are frequently met with. Nearly every im- 
plement of the stone age is found in and about 
the mounds. 

M'-. Knapp, who has given the subject consid- 
erable intelligent study, is so convinced that these 
works were made by the Toltec race that he has 



named the new station in honor of that people. 
On the line of this earth-wall mentioned are two 
deep pools that never are known to become dry. 

East of Toltec thirty or more miles, in Lonoke 
Prairie, are mounds that apparently belong to 
the chain or system which runs parallel with the 
river, through the State. The small mounds or 
barrows, as Jefferson termed the modern Indian 
burial places, are numerous, and distributed all 
over Arkansas. 

What is pronounced a fortified town is found 
in well marked remains on St. Francis River. It 
was discovered by Mr. Savage, of Louisville. He 
reports ' ' parts of walls, built of adobe brick and 
cemented." On these remains he detected trees 
growing numbering 300 rings. He reports the 
brick made of clay and chopped or twisted straw, 
and with regular figures. A piece of first-class 
engineering is said to be traced here in a sap- 
mine, which had passed under the walls of the 
fortification. 

The bones and pottery and tools and arms of 
the prehistoric peoples of Arkansas are much more 
abundant than are found in any other spot in the 
United States. 

Mrs. Hobbs, living four miles southeast of 
Little Rock, has a very complete collection of the 
antiquities of the State. It is jjronounced by 
antiquarians as one of the most valuable in the 
country. The Smithsonian Institute has offered 
her every inducement to part with her collection, 
but she has refused. It is hoped the State will 
some day possess this treasure, and suitably and 
permanently provide for its preservation. 

When the white man discovered and took pos- 
session of North America, he foiind the red man 
and his many tribes here, and under a total mis- 
apprehension of having found a new continent, he 
named this strange people Indians. The new world 
might have been called Columbia, and the people 
Columbians. Again, instead of being sparse tribes 
of individuals fringing the shores of the Atlantic 
Ocean there were 478 tribes, occupying nearly the 
whole of the north half of this western hemis- 
phere; some in powerful tribes, like the Iroquois; 
some were rude agricultural and commercial peoples, 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



21 



some living in houses of logs or stone, permanent 
residents of their localities; others warriors and 
hunters only, and still others migratory in their 
nature, pirates and parasites. One characteristic 
strongly marked them all — a love of liberty and 
absolute freedom far stronger than the instinct 
of life itself. The Indian would not be a slave. 
Proud and free, he regarded with contempt the 
refinements of civilization. He breathed the same 
free air as did the eagle of the crags, and would 
starve before he would do manual work, or, as he 
believed, degrade himself in doing aught but paint 
himself, sing his war songs and go forth to battle, 
or pursue the wild game or meet the savage wild 
beasts in their paths and slay them in regular com- 
bat. To hunt, fish and fight was the high mission 
of great and good men to his untutored mind, 
while the drudgery of life was relegated to the 
squaws and squaw-men. His entire economic 
philosophy was simply the attainment of his de- 
sires with the least exertion. In a short time he 
will have filled his earthly mission, and passed 
from the stage of action, leaving nothing but a 
dim memory. From their many generations of 
untold numbers has come no thought, no inven- 
tion, no action that deserves lo survive them a 
day or an hour. The Indians of to-day, the few 
that are pure blood, are but the remnants, the use- 
less refuse of a once numerous people, who were the 
undisputed possessors of a continent, but are now 
miserable, ragged and starving beggars at the 
back doors of their despoilers, stoically awaiting 
the last final scene in the race tragedy. And, like 
the cheerful sermon on the tombstone, who shall 
say that white civilization, numbers and power, will 
not in the course of time, and that not far distant, 
be the successors of the residue of wretches now 
representing the red race? "I was once as you 
are, you will soon be as I am." A grim philos- 
oph)' truly, but it is the truth of the past, and the 
great world wheels about much now as it has for- 
ever. 

What is now Arkansas has been the possession 
of the following Indian tribes; no one tribe, it seems, 
occupied or owned the territory in its entirety, 
but their possessions extended into the lines, cov- 



ering a portion of the lands only, and then reach- 
ing many degrees, sometimes to the north, south 
and west: The Osages, a once numerous tribe, 
were said to own the country south of the Mis- 
souri River to Red River, including a large por- 
tion of Arkansas. The Quapaws, also a powerful 
nation, were the chief possessors, and occupied 
nearly the whole of the State, "time out of mind;" 
the Cherokees were forced out of Georgia and 
South Carolina, and removed west of the Missis 
sippi River in 1836; the Hitchittees were removed 
from the Chattahouchee River to Arkansas. They 
speak the Muskogee dialect — were 600 strong when 
removed; the Choctaws were removed to the west, 
after the Cherokees. In 1812 they were 15,000 
strong. 

The Quapaws, of all the tribes connected with 
Arkansas, may be regarded as the oldest settlers, 
having possessed more of its territory in well de- 
fined limits than any of the others. In the early 
part of the eighteenth century they constituted a 
powerful tribe. In the year 1720 they were deci- 
mated by smallpox; reduced by this and other 
calamities, in 1820, one hundred years after, they 
were found scattered along the south side of the 
Arkansas River, numbering only 700 souls. They 
never regained their former numerical strength or 
warlike importance, but remained but a band of 
wretched, ragged beggars, about whose hunting 
grounds the white man was ever lessening and 
tightening the lines. 

January 5, 1819, Gov. Clark and Pierre Chou- 
teau made a treaty with the tribe by which was 
ceded to the United States the most of their terri- 
tory. The descriptive part of the treaty is in the 
following words: "Beginning at the mouth of the 
Arkansas River; thence extending up the Arkansas 
to the Canadian Fork, and up the Canadian Fork 
to its source; thence south to the big Red River, 
and down the middle of that river to the Big 
Raft; thence in a direct line so as to strike the 
Mississippi River, thirty leagues in a straight 
line, below the mouth of the Arkansas, together 
with all their claims to lands east of the Mississippi 
River and north of the Arkansas River. With the 
exception and reservation following, that is to say, 






'22 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



that tract of eoantry bounded as follows: Begin- 
ning at H point on the Arkansas River opposite the 
present Post of Arkansas, and ranning thence a 
due southwest couise to the ViTashita River; thence 
up that river to the Saline Fork, to a point from 
whence a due north course would strike the Arkan- 
sas River at the Little Rock, and thence down the 
right bank of the Arkansas to the place of begin- 
ning. " In addition to this a tract was reserved 
north of the Arkansas River, which the treaty says 
is indicated by ''marks on the accompanying 
map." This west liue of the Quapaw reservation 
struck the river about where is now Rock Street. 

In November, 1824, Robert Crittenden, the first 
Territorial secretary, effected a treaty with the 
Quapaws, at Harrington's, Ark., which ceded the 
above reservation and forever extinguished all title 
of that tribe to any portion of Arkansas. The 
tribe was then removed to what is now the Indian 
Territory. 

The other original occujjants or claimants to the 
Arkansas Territory were the Osages. Of these 
there were many tribes, and in 1830 numbered 
4,000 strong, but mostly along the Osage River. 
Their claim lapped over, it seems, all that portion 
of the Quapaw lands lying north of the' Arkansas 
River. 

The title of the Osages was extinguished to 
what is now Arkansas by a treaty of November 10, 
1808, made at Fort Clark, ou the Missouri River. 
By this treaty they ceded all the country east of a 
line runuing due south from Fort Clark to the Ar- 
kansas River, and down said river to its confluence 
with the Mississippi River. These Indians occu- 
pied only the country along the Missouri and 
Osage Rivers, and if they were ever on what they 
claimed as their southern boundary, the Arkansas 
River, it was merely on expeditions. 

About ISIS, Georgia and South Carolina com- 
menced agitating the subject of getting rid of the 
Indians, and removing them west. They wanted 
their lands aud did not want their presence. At 
first they used persuasion and strategy, and finally 
force. They were artful in representing to the In- 
dians the glories of the Arkansas cou[itry, both for 
game and rich lands. Daring tlie twenty years of 



agitating the subject Indians of the tribes of those 
States came singly and in small bands to Arkansas, 
and were encouraged to settle anywhere they might 
desire north of the Arkansas River, on the Osage 
ceded lands. The final act of removal of the In- 
dians was consummated in 1839, when the last of 
the Cherokees were brought west. Simultaneous 
with the arrival of this last delegation of Indians 
an alarm passed around among the settlers that the 
Indians were preparing to make a foray on the 
white settlements and murder them all. Many 
people were greatly alarmed, and in some settle- 
ments there were hasty preparations made to flee 
to places of safety. In the meantime the poor, 
distressed Cherokees and Choctaws were innocent 
of the stories in circulation about them, and were 
trying to adjust themselves to their new homes 
and to repair their ruined fortunes. The Chero- 
kees were the most highly civilized of all the tribes, 
as they were the most intelligent, and had mingled 
and intermarried with the whites until there were 
few of pure blood left among them. They had 
men of force and character, good schools and 
printing presses, and published and edited papers, 
as well as. their own school books. These condi- 
tions were largely true, also, of the Chickasaws. 
The Cherokees and Chickasaws were removed west 
under President Jackson's administration. The 
Cherokees were brought by water to Little Rock, 
and a straight road was cut out from Little Rock, 
to the corner of their reservation, fifteen miles 
above Batesville, in Independence County, over 
which they were taken. Their southeast boxmdary 
line was a straight line, at the point designated 
above Batesville, to the mouth of Point Remove 
Creek. 

The nistory of the removal of the Cherokee 
Indians (and much of the same is true of the re- 
moval of the Chickasaws and Creeks), is not a pleas- 
ant chapter in American history. The Creeks of 
Florida had waited war, and when conquered Gen. 
Scott removed them beyond the Mississippi River. 
When the final consummation of the removal of the 
Cherokees was effected, it was done by virtue of a 
treaty, said to have been the work of traitors, and 
unauthorized by the proper Indian authorities. At 



i ^ 






HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



23 



all events the artful whites had divided the head- 
men of the tribe, and procured their signatures to 
a treaty which drove the last of the nation beyond 
the Mississippi. The chief men in making this 
treaty were the Ridges, Boudinot, Bell and Rogers. 
This was the treaty of 1835. In June, 1839. the 
Ridges, Boudinot and Bell were assassinated. 
About forty Indians went to Ridge's house, Inde- 
pendence County, and cruelly murdered young 
Ridge; they then pursued the elder Ridge and, over- 
taking him at the foot of Boston Mountains, as he 
was on his way to visit friends in Van Buren. Ark., 
shot him to death. It seems there was an old law 
of the nation back in Georgia, by which any one 
forfeited his life who bartered any part of their 
lands. 

The Choctaws by treaty ceded to the United 
States all their claim to lands lying within the 
limits of Ai-kansas, October 20, 1820. 

On the 6th of May, 1828, the Cherokees ceded 
all claim to their lands that lay within the Territo- 
rial limit of Arkansas. 

This was about the end of Indian occupation 
or claims within the State of Arkansas, but not 
the end of important communication, and acts of 
neighborly friendship, between the whites and the 
Cherokees especially. A considerable number of 
Indians, most of them having only a slight mix- 
ture of Indian blood, remained in the State and be- 
came useful and in some instances highly influ- 
ential citizens. Among them were prominent farm- 
ers, merchants and professional men. And very 
often now may be met some prominent citizen, 
who, after even an extended acqi^aintanee, is found 
to be an Indian. Among that race of people 
they recognize as full memljers of the tribe all 
who hav^ any trace of their blood in their veins, 
whether it shows or not. In this respect it seems 
that nearly all races differ from the white man. 
With the latter the least mixture of blood of any 
other color pronounces them at once to be not white. 

The Cherokee Indians, especially, have always 
held kindly intercourse with the people of Arkan- 
sas. In the late Civil M'ar they went with the 



State in the secession movement without hesitation. 
A brigade of Cherokees was raised and Gen. Albert 
Pike was elected to the command. The eminent 
Indians in the command were Gen. Stand Waitie 
and Col. E. C. Boudinot. Until 1863 the Indians 
were unanimous in behalf of the Southern cause, 
but in that year Chief Ross went over to the Fed- 
eral side, and thus the old time divisions in the In- 
dian councils were revived. 

Col. Elias C. Boueiinot was born in Georgia, in 
August, 1835, the same year of the treaty remov- 
ing the Indians from that State. Practically, 
therefore, he is an Ai-kansan. He shows a strong 
trace of Indian blood, though the features of the 
white race predominate. He is a man of educa- 
tion and careful culture, and when admitted to the 
bar he soon won a place in the splendid array of 
talent then so greatly distinguishing Arkansas. A 
born orator, strong enough in intellect to think 
without emotion, morally and physically a hero, he 
has spent much of his life pleading for his people 
to be made citizens — the owners of their individ- 
ual homes, as the only hope to stay that swift de- 
cay that is upon them, but the ignorance of his 
tribe and the scheming of demagogues and selfish 
"agents," have thwarted his efforts and practically 
exiled him from his race. 

A few years ago Col. Boudinot was invited to 
address Congress and the people of Washington 
on the subject of the Indian races. The masterly 
addi'ess by this man, one of the greatest of all the 
representatives of . American Indians, will be fixed 
in history as the most pathetic epilogue of the 
greatest of dramas, the curtain of which was raised 
in 1492. Who will ever read and fully understand 
his emotions when he repeated the lines: 



Their liglit canoes have vanished 
From off the crested waves — 
Amid the forests where lliey roamed 
There rings no hunter's shout. 
And all Iheir cone-like cahins 
That clustered o'er the vale, 
Have disappeared as withered leaves, 
Before the autumn gale. 



s — 



n X> 



ii£: 



24 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



llf '1 St III. 



-4- -I- 



DlSCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT— DE SOTO IN ARKANSAS— MAKQUETTE AND JOLIET— LA SALLE, HENNEPIN 

AND ToNTi— French and English Schemes of Conquest and Dreams of Poaver — Louisiana 
—The " Bubble" of John Law— The Early Viceroys and Governors— Proprie- 
tary Change of Louisiana — French and Spanish Settlers in Ark- 
ansas—English Settlers— A Few First Settlers in the 
Counties— The New Madrid Earthquake- 
Other Items of Interest. 



Hail, memory, hail! In thy e.xhaustless mine 
From age to age unnumbered treasures shine! 
Thought and her shadowy brood thy call obey. 
And place and time are subject to thy sway. — Rogers. 




ERDINAND DE SOTO, the 
"^ discoverer of the Missis- 
„5 sippi, was the first civilized 
white man to put foot upon 
any part of what is now the 
State of Arkansas. He and 
^•^!J>ahis band of adventurous 
^ followers had forged their 
way over immense obstacles, through 
the trackless wastes, and in the pleas- 
ant month of June, 1541, reached the 
' Mississippi River at, as is supposed, 
Chickasaw Bluffs, a short distance be- 
low Memphis. He had sailed from 
San Lncan in April, 1538, with 600 
men, twenty officers and twenty- four priests. He 
represented his king and church, and came to 
make discoveries for his master in Florida, a conn- 
try undefined in extent, and believed to be the 
richest in the world. 

His expedition was a daring and dangeroits 
one, and there were but few men in the tide of 
time who could have carried it on to the extent 
that did this bold Spaniard. The worn and deci- 




mated band remained at the Chickasaw Bluffs to 
rest and recuperate until June 29, then crossing 
the river into Arkansas, and pushing on up the 
Mississippi River, through brakes and swamps and 
slashes, until they reached the higher jirairie lands 
that lead toward New Madrid; stopping in their 
north course at an Indian village, Pacaha, whose 
location is not known. De Soto sent an expedition 
toward the Osage River, but it soon returned and 
reported the country worthless.* He then turned 
west and proceeded to the Boston Mountains, at 
the head-waters of White River; then bending 
south, and passing Hot Springs, he went into camp 
for the winter on the Ouachita River, at Autamqua 
Village, in Garland County. In the spring he 

*It is proper to here state the fact that some local in- 
vestigators, and others who have studied the history of 
De Soto's voyaging througb Arkansas, do not believe that 
he reached and discovered the river as high up as Mem- 
phis. They think he approached it a short distance above 
the mouth of lied River, and from that point made his 
detour around to Ked River. Others in the State, who 
have also studied the subject thoroughly, find e-xcellent 
evidence of his presence in Arkansas along the Mississippi, 
particularly in Mississippi County. See "History of 
Mississippi County, Ark." After examining the testi- 
mony carefully I incline to the account as given in the 
context as being the most probable. — Ed. 



3^; 



,>^. 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



25 



floated down the river, often lost in the bayous 
and overflows of Red River, and finally reached 
again the Mississippi. Halting here he made dil- 
igent inquiries of the Indians as to the mouth of 
the great stream, but they could give him no infor- 
mation. In June, one year from the date of his 
discovery, after a sickness of some weeks, he died. 
As an evidence of his importance to the expedition 
his death was kept a secret, and he was buried at 
night, most appropriately, in the waves of the 
great river that gave his name immortality. But 
the secrecy of his death was of no avail, for there 
was no one who could supply his place, and with 
his life closed the existence, for all practical pur- 
poses, of the expedition. Here the interest of the 
historian in De Soto and his companions ceases. 
He came not to possess the beautiful country, or 
plant colonies, or even extend the dominions of 
civilization, but simply to find the fabled wealth 
in minerals and precious stones, and gather them 
and caiTy them away. Spain already possessed 
Florida, and it was all Florida then, from the At- 
lantic to the boundless and unknown west. 

The three great nations of the old world had 
conquered and j)ossessed — the Spaniards Florida, 
the English Virginia and New England, and the 
French the St. Lawrence. The feeblest of all 
these colonizers or conquerors were the English, 
and they retained their narrow foothold on the 
new continent with so little vigor that for more 
than a century and a half they knew nothing of 
the country west of them save the idle dreams and 
fictions of the surrounding savages. The general 
world had learned little of De Soto's great western 
discoveries, and when he was buried in the Missis- 
sippi all remained undisturbed from the presence 
or knowledge of civilized men for the period of 
132 years. 

Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit priest, had 
made expeditions along the Northern lakes, pros- 
elyting among the Indian tribes. He had con- 
ceived the idea that there was a great western 
river leading to China and Japan. He was joined 
in his ambition to find this route, and the tribes 
along it, by Joliet, a man fired with the ambition 
and daring of the bold explorer. These two men, 



with five employes, started on their great adven- 
ture May 17, 1673. They found the Upper Mis- 
sissippi River and came down that to the mouth 
of the Arkansas River, thence proceeding up some 
distance, it is supposed to near where is Arkansas 
Post. Thus the feet of the white man pressed 
once more the soil of this State, but it was after 
the lapse of many years from the time of De Soto' s 
visit. Marquette carried into the newly discovered 
country the cross of Chri.st, while Joliet planted 
in the wilderness the tricolors of France. France 
and Christianity stood together in the heart of the 
great Mississippi Valley; the discoverers, founders 
and possessors of the greatest spiritual and tem- 
poral empire on earth. From here the voyagers 
retraced their course to the Northern lakes and 
the St. Lawrence, and pulilished a report of their 
discoveries. 

Nine years after Marquette and Joliet' s expe- 
dition, Chevalier de La Salle came from France, 
accompanied by Henry de Tonti, an Italian, filled 
with great schemes of empire in the new western 
world; it is charged, by some historians of that 
day, with no less ambition than securing the whole 
western jjortion of the continent and wresting 
Mexico from the Spaniards. When Canada was 
reached. La Salle was joined by Louis Hennepin, 
an ambitious, unscrupulous and daring Franciscan 
monk. It was evidently La Salle's idea to found 
a military government in the new world, reaching 
with a line of forts and military possession from 
Quebec, Canada, to at least the Gulf, if not, as 
some have supposed, extending through Mexico. 
He explored the country lying between the North- 
ern lakes and the Ohio River. He raised a force 
in Canada and sailed through Green Bay, and, 
sending back his boat laden with furs, proceeded 
with his party to the head waters of the Illinois 
River and built Fort Creve Coeur. He detached 
Hennepin with one companion and sent him to hunt 
the soui'ce of the Mississijjpi. He placed Tonti in 
command of Creve Coeur, with five men, and him- 
self returned to Canada in the latter part of 1081, 
where he organized a new party with canoes, 
and went to Chicago; crossing the long portage 
from there to the Illinois River, he floated down 



» V 



26 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



that stream to the Mississippi aad on to the Gulf 
of Mexico, discovering the mouth of tlie Mississippi 
River April 5, 1682, and three days after, with 
becoming pomp and ceremony, took possession, in 
the name of France, of the territory, and named it 
Louisiana, in honor of his king, Louis XIV. The 
vast region thus acquired by France was not, as it 
eould not be, well defined, but it was intended 
to embrace, in addition to much east of the 
Mississippi River, all the continent west of that 
current. 

After this expedition La Salle returned to 
France, fitted out another expedition and set sail, 
ostensibly to reach the mouth of the Mississippi 
River and pass up that stream. He failed to find 
the river, and landed his fleet at Metagordo Bay, 
Texas, where he remained two years, when with a 
part of his force he started to reach Canada via 
Fort St. Louis, but was assassinated by one of his 
men near the Trinity River, Texas, March 19, 
1687, and his body, together with that of his 
nephew, was left on the Texas prairie to the beasts 
and buzzards. La Salle was a born commander 
of men, a great explorer, with vast projects of 
empire far beyond the comprehension of his 
wretched king, or the appreciation of his country- 
men. Had he been supported by a wise and strong 
government, France would never, perhaps, have 
been dispossessed of the greatest inter- continental 
colonial empire on earth — from the Alleghanies to 
the Rocky Mountains. This was, in fact, the 
measure of the territory that La Salle's expedition 
and military possession gave to France. The two 
great ranges of mountains, the north pole and 
South America, were really the boundary lines of 
Louisiana, of which permanent ownership belonged 
forever to France, save for the weakness and inef- 
ficiency of that befe noire of poor, beautiful, sunny 
France — Louis XIV. In the irony of fate the his- 
torian of to-day may well write down the appella- 
tion of his toadies and parasites, as the grand 
nionarque. La Salle may justly be reckoned one 
of the greatest founders of empire in the world, and 
had poor France had a real king instead of this 
weak and pompous imbecile, her tricolors would 
have floated upon every breeze from the Allegha- 



nies to the Pacific Ocean, and over the islands of 
more than half of the waters of the globe. 

The immensity of the Louisiana Territory has 
been but little understood by historians. It was 
the largest and richest province ever acquired, and 
the world's history since its establishment has 
been intimately connected with and shaped by its 
influence. Thus the accoiint of the Territory of 
Louisiana is one of the most interesting chapters 
in American history. 

Thirteen years after the death of La Salle, 
1700, his trusty lieutenant, Tonti, descended the 
Mississippi River from the Illinois, with a band of 
twenty French Illinois people, and upon reaching 
Arkansas Post, established a station. This was 
but carrying out La Salle's idea of a military pos- 
session by a line of forts from Canada to the Gulf. 
It may be called the first actual and intended per- 
manent possession of Arkansas. In the meantime, 
Natchez had become the oldest settled point in 
the Territory, south of Illinois, and the conduct of 
the commandant of the canton, Chopart, was laying 
the foundations for the ultimate bloody massacre 
of that place, in November, 1729. The Jesuit, Du 
Poisson, was the missionary among the Arkansans. 
He had made his way up the Mississippi and 
passed along the Arkansas River till he reached 
the prairies of the Dakotahs. 

The Chickasaws were the dreaded enemy of 
France; it was they who hurried the Natchez to 
that awful massacre; it was they whose cedar bark 
canoes, shooting boldly into the Mississippi, inter- 
rupted the connections between Kaskaskia and 
New Orleans, and delayed successful permanent 
settlements in the Arkansas. It was they who 
weakened the French empire in Louisiana. They 
colleagued with the English, and attempted to 
extirpate the French dominion in the valley. 

Such was Louisiana more thau half a century 
after the first attempt at colonization by La Salle. 
Its population may have been 5,000 whites and 
half that number of blacks. Louis XIV had 
fostered it bv crivinsj it over to the control of Law 
and his company of the Mississippi, aided by 
boundless but transient credit. Priests and friars 
dispersed through tribes from Biloxi to the Da- 



\ 



^ — ^t^ > 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



27 



kotabs, and propitiated the favor of the savages. 
But still the valley of the Mississippi remained a 
wilderness. All its patrons — though among them 
it counted kings and high ministers of state — had 
not accomplished for it in half a century a tithe 
of that prosperity which, within the same period, 
sprung naturally from the benevolence of William 
Penu to the peaceful settlers on the Delaware. 

It required the feebleness of the grand mon- 
arque to discover John Law, the father of in- 
flated cheap money and national financial ruin. 
In September, 1717, John Law's Company of the 
West was granted the commerce and control of 
Louisiana. He arrived at New Orleans with 800 
immigrants in August of that year. Instead of 
coming up the Mississippi, they landed at Dau- 
phine Island to make their way across by land. 
The reign of John Law's company over Louisiana 
was a romance or a riot of folly and extravagance. 
He was to people and create a great empire on 
cheap money and a monopoly of the slave trade. 
For fourteen years the Company of the West con- 
trolled Louisiana. The bubble burst, the dreams 
and illusions of ease and wealth passed away, and 
but wretched remnants of colonies existed, in the 
extremes of want and suffering. But, after all, a 
permanent settlement of the great valley had been 
made. A small portion of these were located at 
Arkansas Post, up the Arkansas River and on Red 
River, and like the most of the others of Law's 
followers, they made a virtue of necessity and re- 
mained because they could not get away. 

John Law was an Englishman, a humbug, but 
a magnificent one, so marked and consjjicuous in 
the world's history that his career should hf.ve 
taught the statesmen of all nations the simple 
lesson that debt is not wealth, and that every at- 
tempt to create wealth wholly by legislation is sure 
to be followed by general bankruptcy and ruin. 

The Jesuits and fur-traders were the founders 
of Illinois; Louis XIV and privileged companies 
were the patrons of Southern Louisiana, while 
the honor of beginning the work of colonizing the 
southwest of our republic belongs to the illustri- 
ous Canadian, Lemoine D' Iberville. He was a wor- 
thy successor of La Salle. He also sought to find 



the mouth of the Mississippi, and guided l^y floating 
trees and turbid waters, he reached it on March 
2, 1699. He perfected the line of communication 
between Quebec and the Gulf; extended east and 
west the already boundless possessions of France; 
erected forts and carved the lilies on the trees of 
the forests; and fixed the seat of government of 
Louisiana at Bilosi, and appointed his brother to 
command the province. Under D' Iberville, the 
French line was extended east to Pascagoula 
River; Beinville, La Sueur, and St. Denys had 
explored the west to New Mexico, and had gone 
in the northwest beyond the Wisconsin and the 
St. Croix, and reached the mouth of and followed 
this stream to the confluence c5f the Blue Earth. 
D' Iberville died of yellow fever at Havana, July 
9, 1706, and in his death the Louisiana colony 
lost one of its most able and daring leaders. But 
Louisiana, at that time, possessed less than thirty 
families of whites, and these were scattered on 
voyages of discovery, and in quest of gold and 
gems. 

France perfected her civil government over 
Louisiana in 1689, and appointed Marquis de San- 
ville, royal viceroy. This viceroy's emjsire was as 
vast in territory as it was insignificant in popula- 
tion — less than 300 souls.* By regular appoint- 
ments of viceroys the successions were maintained 
(including the fourteen years of Law's supremacy) 
iintil by the treaty of Fontainbleau, November 3, 
1762, France was stripped of her American pos- 
sessions, and Canada and the Spanish Florida; 
everything east of the Mississippi except the 
island of New Orleans was given to England, 
and all Louisiana, including New Orleans west of 
the Mississippi River and south of the new southern 
boundary line of Canada, was given to Spain, in 
lieu of her Florida possessions. Hence, it was No- 
vember 3, 1762, that what is now Arkansas passed 
from the dominion of France to that of Spain. 

The signing of this treaty made that day the 
most eventful one in the busy movements of the 

*The title of France to the boundless conflnes of 
Louisiana were confirraedby the treaty of Utrecht. The 
contentions between England and France over the Ohio 
country, afterward, are a part of the annals of the gen- 
eral history of the country. 



4 



s >> 



28 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



human race. It re-mapped the world, gave the 
English language to the American coutiuent, and 
spread it more widely over the globe than any that 
had before given expression to human thought, 
the language that is the alma mater of civil liberty 
and religious independence. Had France perma- 
nently dominated America, civil liberty and repre- 
sentative government would have been yet unborn. 
The dogmatic tyranny of the middle ages, with all 
its intolerance and war, would have been the herit- 
age of North America. 

Thus re-adjusted in her domain, Louisiana re- 
mained a province of Spain until October 1, 1800, 
when the Little Corporal over-ran Spain with his 
victorious legions, and looted his Catholic majesty's 
domains. Napoleon allowed his military ambition 
to dwarf his genius, and except for this curious 
fact, he was the man who would have saved and 
disenthralled the French mind, and have placed 
the Gaul, with all his volcanic forces, in an even 
start in the race of civilization with the invincible 
and cruel Anglo-Saxon. He was the only man of 
progressive genius that has ever ruled poor, un- 
fortunate France. The treaty of St. Ildefonso, 
secretly transfeiTing Louisiana from Spain again 
into the possession of France, was ratified March 24, 
180L Its conditions provided that it was to re- 
main a secret, and the Spanish viceroy, who was 
governor of Louisiana, knew nothing of the trans- 
fer, and continued in the discharge of his duties, 
granting rights, creating privileges and deeding 
lands and other things that were inevitable in 
breeding conftisions. and cloudy land titles, such as 
would busy the courts for a hundi'ed years, inflict-, 
ing injustice and heavy burdens upon many inno- 
cent people. 

In 1802 President Jefferson became possessed 
of the secret that France owned Louisiana. He 
at once sent James Monroe to Paris, who, with the 
resident minister, Mr. Livingston, opened negotia- 
tions with Napoleon, at first only trying to secure 
the free navigation of the Mississippi River, but to 
their great surprise the Emperor more than met 
them half way, with a proposal to sell Louisiana to 
the United States. The bargain was closed, the 
consideration being the paltry sum of $15,000,000. 



This important move on the great chess-board of 
nations occurred April 30, 1803. The perfunc 
tory act of lowering the Spanish ensign and hoist- 
ing the flag of France; then lowering immediately 
the tricolors and unfurling the stars and stripes, 
it is hoped never to be furled, was performed at 
St. Louis March 9, 1804. Bless those dear old, 
nation-building pioneers! These were heavy drafts 
upon their patriotic allegiance, but they were equal 
to the occasion, and ate their breakfasts as Span- 
iards, their dinners as Frenchmen, and suppers as 
true Americans. 

The successful class of immigrants to the west 
of the Mississippi were the French Canadians, who 
had brought little or nothing with them save the 
clothes on their backs, and an old flintlock gun 
with which to secure game. They colonized after 
the French mode of villages and long strips of 
farms, and a public commons. They propitiated 
the best they could the neighboring Indian tribes, 
erected their altars, hunted, and frolicked, and 
were an honest, simple-minded and just people, 
but little vexed with ambitious pride or grasping 
avarice. The mouth of the Arkansas River was 
the attractive point for immigrants on their way to 
the Arkansas Territory, and they would ascend that 
stream to Arkansas Post. There were not 500 
white people in the Territory of (now) Arkansas in 
1803, when it became a part of the United States. 
In 1810 the total population was 1.002. So soon 
as Louisiana became a part of the United States, 
a small but never ceasing stream of English speak- 
ing people turned their faces to the west and 
crossed the ' ' Father of Waters. ' ' Those for Ar- 
kansas established Montgomery Point, at the mouth 
of White River, making that the transfer place for 
all shipments inland. This remained as the main 
shipping and commercial point for many years. 
By this route were transferred the freights for 
Arkansas Post. The highway fi-om Montgomery 
Point to the Post was a slim and indistinct bridle 
path. The immigrants came down the Cumber- 
laud and Tennessee Rivers to the Ohio in keel- 
boats and canoes, and were mostly from Tennes- 
see; beckoned to this fair and rich kingdom by its 
sunny clime, its mountains and rivers, and its pro- 



Til 



iHl 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



29 



ductive valleys, all enriched with a flora and fauna 
surpassing the dream of a pastoral poem. 

The French were the first permanent settlers 
of Ai'kansas, and descendants of these people are 
still here. Many bearing the oldest French names 
have attained to a position among the most emi- 
nent of the great men of the trans-Mississippi. 
Sometimes the names have become so corrupted as 
to be unrecognizable as belonging to the early illus- 
trious stock. The English-speaking people speak- 
ing French names phonetically would soon change 
them completely, The Bogys and Lefevres, for 
instance, are names that go back to the very first 
settlements in Arkansas. ' ' Lefevre ' ' on the maps 
is often spelled phonetically thus : ' ' Laf aver. ' ' 
Representatives of the Lefevre family are yet 
numerous in and about Little Rock, and in other 
portions of the State. 

Peter L. Lefevre and family were among the 
very first French settlers, locating in the fall of 
1818 on the north side of the river on Spanish 
Grant No. 497, about six miles below Little Rock. 
His sons were Peter, Enos, Francis G. , Ambrose, 
Akin, Leon and John B. , his daughter being Mary 
Louise. All of these have passed away except 
the now venerable Leon Lefevre, who resides on 
the old plantation where he was born in the year 
1808. For eighty one years the panorama of the 
birth, growth and the vicissitudes of Arkansas 
have passed before his eyes. It is supposed of all 
living men he is the oldest representative surviving 
of the earliest settlers; however, a negro, still a 
resident of Little Rock, also came in 1818. 

The first English speaking settlers were Ten- 
nesseeans, Kentuckians and Alabamians. The ear- 
liest came down the Mississippi River, and then 
penetrating Arkansas at the mouths of the streams 
from the west, ascended these in the search for 
future homes. The date of the first coming of 
English speaking colonists may be given as 1807, 
those prior to that time being only trapj^ers, 
hunters and voyagers on expeditions of discovery, 
or those whose names can not now be ascertained. 

South Carolina and Georgia also gave their 
small quotas to the first pioneers of Arkansas. 
From the States south of Tennessee the route was 



overland to the Mississippi River, or to some of its 
bayous, and then by water. A few of these from 
the Southern States brought considerable property, 
and some of them negro slaves, but not many 
were able to do this. The general rule was to 
reach the Territory alone and clear a small piece 
of ground, and as soon as possible to buy slaves and 
set them at work in the cotton fields. 

In 1814 a colony of emigrants, consisting of 
four families, settled at Batesville, then the Lower 
Missouri Territory, now the county seat of Inde- 
pendence County. There was an addition of fif- 
teen families to this colony the next year. Of the 
first was the family of Samuel Miller, father of 
(afterward) Gov. William R. Miller; there were also 
John Moore, the Magnesses and Beans. All these 
families left names permanently connected with 
the history of Arkansas. In the colony of 1815 
(all from Kentucky) were the brothers, Richard, 
John, Thomas and James Peel, sons of Thomas 
Peel, a Virginian, and Kentucky companion of 
Daniel Boone. Thomas Curran was also one of 
the later colonists from Kentucky, a relative of the 
great Irishman, John Philpot Curran. In the 1815 
colony were also old Ben Hardin — hero of so many 
Indian wars — his brother, Joab, and William 
GrifKn. Thomas Wyatt, William Martin, Samuel 
Elvin, James Akin, John Reed, James Miller and 
John B. Craig. 

Alden Trimble, who died at Peel, Ark., in 
April, 1889, aged seventy-four years, was born in 
the Cal Hogan settlement, on White River, Marion 
County, June 14, 1815. This item is gained 
fi'om the obituary notice of his death, and indicates 
some of the very first settlers in that portion of the 
State. 

Among the oldest settled points, after Arkan- 
sas Post, was what is now Arkadelphia, Clark 
County. It was first called Blakelytown, after 
Adam Blakely. He had opened a little store at 
the place, and about this were collected the first 
settlers, among whom may now be named Zack 
Davis, Samuel Parker and Adam Highnight. The 
Blakelys and the names given above were all locat- 
ed in that settlement in the year 1810. The next 
year came John Hemphill, who was the first to dis- 



30 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



cover and utilize the valuable waters of the salt 
springs of that place. He engaged in the suc- 
cessful manufacture of salt, and was in time suc- 
ceeded by his son-in-law, Jonathan O. Callaway. 
Jacob Barkman settled in Arkadelphia in 1811. 
He was a man of foresight and enterprise, and 
soon established a trade along the river to New 
Orleans. He commenced navigating the river in 
canoes and pirogues, and finally owned and ran in 
the trade the tirst steamboat plying from that 
point to New Orleans. He pushed trade at the 
point of settlement, at the same time advancing 
navigation, and opened a large cotton farm. 

In Arkansas County, among the early promi- 
nent men who were active in the county's affairs 
were Eli I. Lewis, Henry Scull, O. H. Thomas, 
T. Farrelly, Hewes Scull, A. B. K. Thetford and 
Lewis Bogy. The latter afterward removed to 
Missouri, and has permanently associated his name 
with the history of that State. In a subsequent 
list of names should be mentioned those of Will- 
iam Fultony, James Maxwell and James H. Lucas, 
the latter being another of the notable citizens of 
Missouri. 

Carroll County: Judges George Campbell and 
William King, and John Bush, T. H. Clark, Abra- 
ham Shelly, William Nooner, Judge Hiram Davis, 
W. C. Mitchell, Charles Sneed, A. M. Wilson, 
Elijah Tabor, William Beller, M. L. Hawkins, 
John McMillan, M. Ferryman, J. A. Hicks, N. 
Eudd, Thomas Callen, W. E. Armstrong. 

Chicot County: John Clark, William B. Patton, 
Richard Latting, George W. Ferribee, Francis 
Rycroft, Thomas Knox, W. B. Duncan, J. W. 
Boone, H. S. Smith, James Blaine, Abner John- 
son, William Hunt, J. W. Neal, James Murray, 
B. Magruder, W. P. Reyburn, J. T. White, John 
Fulton, Judge W. H. Sutton, J. Chapman, Hiram 
Morrell, Reuben Smith, A. W. Webb. 

In Clark Coimty, in the earliest times, were 
W. P. L. Blair, Colbert Baker, Moses Graham, 
Mathew Logan, James Miles, Thomas Drew, 
Daniel Ringo, A. Stroud, David Fisk and Isaac 
Ward. 

Clay County: John J. Griffin, Abraham Rob- 
erts, William Davis, William H. Mack, James 



Watson, J. G. Dudley, James Campbell, Single- 
ton Copeland, C. H. Mobley. 

Conway County: Judge Saffold, David Bar- 
ber, James Kellam, Reuben Blunt, James Barber, 
James Ward, Thomas Mathers, John Houston, E. 
W. Owen, Judge B. B. Ball. J. I. Simmons, T. S. 
Haynes, B. F. Howard, AVilliam Ellis, N. H. 
Buckley, James Ward, Judge Robert McCall, W. 
H. Robertson, L. C. Griffin, Judge W. T. Gamble, 
D. D. Mason, George Fletcher and D. Harrison. 

Craighead County: Rufus Snoddy, Daniel 
O'Guinn. Yancey Broadway, Henry Powell, D. R. 
Tyler, Elias Mackey, William Q. Lane, John Ham- 
ilton, Asa Puckett, Eli Quarles, William Pur3'ear. 

In Crawford County were Henry Bradford, 
Jack Mills, G. C. Pickett, Mark Beane, J. C. Sum- 
ner, James Billingsley. 

Crittenden Count}' : J. Livingston, W. D. Fer- 
guson, W. Goshen, William Cherry, Judge D. H. 
Harrig, O. W. Wallace, S. A. Cherry, Judge 
Charles Blackmore, S. R. Cherry, John Tory, F. 
B. Read, Judge A. B. Hubbins, H. O. Oders, J. 
H. Wathen, H. Bacon. 

Fulton County: G. W. Archer, William Wells, 
Daniel Hubble, Moses Branuon, John Nichols, 
Moses Steward, Enos C. Hunter, Milton Yarberry, 
Dr. A. C. Cantrell. 

Greene County: Judge L. Brookfield, L. 
Thompson, James Brovcn, J. Sutfin, G. Hall, 
Charles Robertson, Judge W. Hane, Judge George 
Daniel, G. L. Martin, J. Stotts, James Ratchford, 
Judge L. Thompson, H. L. Holt, J. L. Atkinson, 
J. Clark, H. N. Reynolds, John Anderson, Ben- 
jamin Crowley, William Pevehouse, John Mitch- 
ell, Aaron Bagwell, A. J. Smith, Wiley Clarkson, 
William Hatch. 

In Hempstead County: J. M. Steward, A. S. 
Walker, Benjamin Clark, A. M. Oakley, Thomas 
Dooley, D. T. Witter, Edward Cross, William 
McDonald, D. Wilburn and James Moss. 

Hot Springs County: L. N. West, G. B. 
Hughes, Judge W. Durham, G. W. Rogers, T. W. 
Johnson, J. T. Grant, J. H. Robinson, H. A. 
Whittington, John Callaway, J. T. Grant, Judge 
G. Whittington, L. Runyan, R. Huson, J. Bank- 
son, Ira Robinson, Judge A. N. Sabin, C. A. Sa- 



ft Xj 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



31 



bin, W. W. McDaniel, AV. Dunham, A. B. McDon- 
ald, Joseph Lorance. • 

Independence County : R. Searcy, Robert Bean, 
Charles Kelly, John Reed, T. Curran, John Bean, 
I. Curran, J. L. Daniels, J. Redmon, John Rud- 
dell, C. H. Pelham, Samuel Miller, James Micham, 
James Trimble, Henry Encjles, Hartwell Boswell, 
John H. Ringgold. 

Izard County: J- P. Houston, John Adams, 
Judge Mathew Adams, H. C. Roberts, Jesse Adams, 
John Hargrove, J. Blyeth, William Clement, 
Judge J. Jeffrey, Daniel Jeffrey, A. Adams, J. A. 
Harris, W. B. Carr, Judge B. Hawkins, B. H. 
Johnson, D. K. Loyd, W. H. Carr, A. Creswell, 
H. W. Bandy, Moses Bishop, Daniel Hively, 
John Gray, William Powell Thomas Richardson, 
William Seymour. 

Jackson County: Judge Hiram Glass, J. C. 
Saylors, Isaac Gray. N. Copeland, Judge E. 
Bartley, John Robinson, A. M. Carpenter, Judge 
D. C. Waters, P. O. Flynn, Hall Roddy, Judge 
R. Ridley. G. AV. Cromwell, Sam Mathews, Sam 
Allen, Martin Bridgeman, John Wideman, New- 
ton Arnold, Joseph Haggerton, Holloway Stokes. 

Jefferson County: Judge W. P. Hackett, J. T. 
Pullen, Judge Creed Taylor, Peter German, N. 
Holland, Judge Sam C. Roane, William Kinkead, 
Thomas O'Neal. E. H. Roane, S. Dardenne, Sam 
Taylor, Judge H. Bradford, H. Edgington, Judge 
W. H. Lindsey, J. H. Caldwell. 

Johnson County: Judge George Jameson, 
Thomas Jenette, S. F. Mason, Judge J. P. Kessie, 
A. Sinclair, William Fritz, W. J. Parks, R. S. 
McMicken, Augustus Ward, Judge J. L. Cravens, 
A. M. Ward, M. Rose, A. L. Black, W. A. Ander- 
son, Judge J. B. Brown, A. Sinclair, William 
Adams. W. M. H. Newton. 

Lafayette County : Judge Jacob Buzzard, Jesse 
Douglass, Joshua Morrison. I. W. Ward, J. T. 
Conway, W. E. Hodges, J. Morrison, George Doo- 
ley, J. M. Dorr, J. P. Jett, W. B. Conway, W. 
H. Conway. T. V. Jackson. G. H. Pickering, 
Judge E. M. Lowe, R. F. Sullivan, James Ab- 
rams. 

Lawrence County: Joseph Hardin, Robert 
Blane, H. Sandford, John Reed, R. Richardson, 



J. M. Kuykendall, H. R. Hynson, James Camp- 
bell, D. W. Lowe. Thomas Black, John Rodney, 
John Spotts, William J. Hudson, William Stuart, 
Isaac Morris, William B. Marshall, John S. Fick- 
lin. 

Madison County: Judge John Bowen, H. B. 
Brown, P. M. Johnson, H. C. Daugherty, M. 
Perryman, T. McCuiston. 

In Miller County: John Clark, J. Ewing, J. H. 
Fowler, B. English, C. Wright, G. F. Lawson, 
Thomas Polk, George Wetmore, David Clark, J. 
G. Pierson, John Morton, N. Y. Crittenden, 
Charles Burkem, George Collum, G. C. Wetmore, 
D. C. Steele, G. F. Lawton and Judge G. M. 
Martin. \ 

Mississippi County: Judge Edwin Jones, J. 
W. Whitworth, E. F. Loyd, S. McLuug, G. C. 
Bartield, Judge Nathan Ross, Judge John Troy, 
J. W. Dewitt, J. C. Bowen, Judge Fred Miller. 
Uriah Russell, T. L. Daniel, J. G. Davis, Judge 
Nathan Ross, J. P. Edrington, Thomas Sears, 
A. G. Blackmore, William Kellums, Thomas J. 
Mills, James Williams. Elijah Buford, Peter G. 
Reeves. 

Monroe County: Judge William Ingram, J. C. 
Montgomery, James Eagan, John Maddox, Lafay- 
ette Jones, Judge James Carlton, M. Mitchell, J.. 
R. Dye, J. Jacobs, R. S. Bell. 

Phillips Coiinty: W. B. R. Horner, Daniel 
Mooney, S. Phillips, S. M. Rutherford, George 
Seaborn, H. L. Biscoe, G. W. Fereby, J. H. 
McKenzie, Austin Hendricks, W. H. Calvert, N. 
Righton, B. Burress, F. Hanks, J. H. McKeal, 
J. K. Sandford, S. S. Smith, C. P. Smith, J. H. 
McKenzie, S. C. Mooney, I. C. P. Tolleson, Emer 
Askew, P. Pinkston, Charles Pearcy, J. B. Ford, 
W. Bettiss, J. Skinner. H. Turner and M. Irvin. 

Pike County: Judge W. Sorrels, D. S. Dickin- 
son, John Hughes, J. W. Dickinson, Judge W. 
Kelly, Isaac White. J. H. Kirkhan, E. K. Will- 
iams, Henry Brewer. 

Poinsett County: Judges Richard Hall and 
William Harris. Drs. Theophilus Griffin and John 
P. Hardis, Harrison Ainsworth, Robert H. Stone, 
Benjamin Harris. 

Pope County: Judge Andrew Scott, Twitty 



^1 



32 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



Pace, H. Stinnett, W. Garrott, W. Mitchell, 
Judge S. K. Blytiie, A. E. Pace, J. J. Morse, F. 
Heron, Judge Thomas Murray. Jr., S. M. Hayes, 
S. S. Hayes, R. S. Witt, Judge Isaac Brown, R. 
T. Williamson, W. W. Rankin, Judge J. J. Morse, 
J. B. Logan, W. C. Webb. 

Pulaski County: R. C. Oden, L. R. Gurran, 
Jacob Peyatte, A. H. Renick, G. Greathouse, M. 
Cunningham, Samuel Anderson, H Armstrong, T. 
W. Newton, D. E. McKiuney, S. M. Rutherford, 

A. McHenry, Allen Martin, J. H. Caldwell, Judge 
S. S. Hall, J. Henderson. William Atchinson. R. 
N. Rowland, Judge David Rorer, J. K. Taylor, 
E. H. Callaway, A. L. Langham. Judge J. H. 
Cocke, W. Badgett, G. N. Peay, J. C. Anthony, 
L. R. Lincoln, A. Martin, A. S. Walker, Judge 
E. Graves, J. P. and John Fields, J. K. Taylor, 
W. C. Howell, J. Gould, Roswell Beebe, William 
Russell, John C. Peay. 

Randolph County: Judge P. R. Pittman, B. J. 
Wiley, William Black, R. Bradford. J. M. Cooper, 

B. J. W^iley, B. M. Simj^son, John Janes, James 
Campbell, Samuel McElroy, Edward Mattix, 
Thomas S. Drew, E. S. Bettis. James Russell. 

St. Francis County: Andrew Roane. William 
Strong, S. Crouch, Judge John Johnson, T. J. 
Curl, G. B. Lincecum, AVilliam Lewis, Judge 
William Strong, Isaac Mitchell, David Davis, 
Isaac Forbes, Judge William Enos, N. O. Little, 
W. G. Bozeman, H. M. Carothers, Judge R. H. 
Hargrove, H. H. Curl, Cyrus Little. 

Saline County: Judge T. S. Hutchinson, Samuel 
Caldwell, V. Brazil, C. Lindsey, A. Carrick, Judge 
H. Prudden, G. B. Hughes, Samuel Collins, J. J. 
Joiner, J. R. Conway, E. Brazil, E. M. Owen, 
George McDaniel, C. P. Lyle. 

Scott County: Judge Elijah Baker, S. B. 
Walker, James Eiley, J. R. Choate, Judge James 
Logan, G. Marshall, Charles Humphrey, W. Cau- 
thorn, G. C. Walker. T. J. Garner, Judge Gilbert 
Marshall, W. Kenner. 

Searcy County: Judge William Wood. William 
Kavanaugh, E. M. Hale, Judge Joseph Rea, Will- 
iam Ruttes, Joe Brown, V. Robertson, T. S. Hale, 
Judge J. Campbell. 

Sevier County: Judge John Clark, R. Hart- 



field, G. Clark. J. T. Little, Judge David Foran, 
P. Little, William White, Charles Moore, A. 
Hartfield, Judge J. F. Little, Henry Morris, 
Judge Henry Brown, George Halbrook, Judge 
E. H. Scott, S. S. Smith. 

Sharp County: John King, Eobert Lott, Nich- 
olas Norris, William Morgan, William J. Gray, 
William Williford, Solomon Hudspeth, Stephen 
English, John Walker, L. D. Dale. John C. Gar- 
ner, E. P. Smithee, Josiah Eichardson, Judge A. 
H. Nunn, William G. Matheny. 

Union County: John T. Cabeen, John Black, 
Jr., Judge John Black, Sr. , Benjamin Gooch, 
Alexander Beard, Thomas O'Neal, Judge G. B. 
Hughes, John Cornish, John Hogg, Judge Hiram 
Smith, J. E. Moore, Jojin Henry, John Stokeley, 
Judge Charles H. Seay, W. L. Bradley, Judge 
Thomas Owens. 

Van Buren County: Judge J. L. Laferty, P. 
O. Powell, N. Daugherty, Philip Wail, L. "wiU- 
iams, Judge J. B. Craig, Judge J. M. Baird, J. 
McAllister, Judge William Dougherty, A. Mor- 
rison, George Counts, A. Caruthers, W. W. Trim- 
ble, R. Bain, J. O. Young, George Hardin, A. W. 
McRaines, Judge J. C. Ganier. 

Washington County : L. Newton, Lewis Evans, 
John Skelton, Judge Robert McAmy, B. H. 
Smithson, Judge John Wilson, James Marrs, V. 
Caruthers, James Coulter, J. T. Edmonson, Judge 
J. M. Hoge, James Crawford, John McClellan, 
Judge W. B. Woody, W. W. Hester, Judge John 
Cureton, L. C. Pleasants, Isaac Murphy, D. Calla- 
ghan. Judge Thomas Wilson, W. L. Wallace and 
L. W. Wallace. 

White County: Judge Samuel Guthrie, P. W. 
Roberts, P. Crease, Michael Owens, M. H. Blue, 
S. Arnold, J. W. Bond, William Cook, J. Arnold, 
Milton Saunders, James Bird, Samiiel Beeler, 
James Walker, Martin Jones, Philip Hilger, James 
King, L. Pate, John Akin, Reuben Stephens, Sam- 
uel Guthrie. 

Woodruff County: Eolla Gray, Durant H. 
Bell, John Dennis. Dudley Glass, Michael Hag- 
gerdon, Samuel Taylor, James Barnes, George 
Hatch, John Teague, Thomas Arnold and Thomas 
Hough. 



^7^ 



V 



^1 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



33 



The above were all prominent men in their lo- 
calities during the Territorial times of Arkansas. 
Many of them have left names and memories inti- 
mately associated with the history of the State. 
They were a part of those pioneers ' ' who hewed 
the dark, old woods away," and left a rich inheri- 
tance, and a substantial civilization, having wealth, 
refinement and luxiuies, that were never a part of 
their dreams. They were home makers as well as 
State and Nation builders. They cut out the roads, 
opened their farms, bridged the streams, built 
houses, made settlements, towns and cities, render- 
ing all things possible to their descendants; a race 
of heroes and martyrs pre-eminent in all time for 
the blessings they transmitted to posterity; they 
repelled the painted savage, and exterminated the 
ferocious wild beasts; they worked, struggled and 
endured that others might enjoy the fruits of their 
heroic sacrifices. Their lives were void of evil to 
mankind; possessing little ambition, their touch 
was the bloom and never the blight. Granted, 
cynic, they builded wiser than they knew, yet they 
built, and built well, and their every success was 
the triumphant march of peace. Let the record of 
their humble but great lives be immortal ! 

The New Madrid earthquake of 1 SI 1-1 2, com- 
mencing in the last of December, and the subterra- 
nean forces ceasing after three months' duration, 
was of itself a noted era, but to the awful display 
of nature's forces was added a far more important 
and lasting event, the result of the silent but 
mighty powers of the human mind. Simulta- 
neously with the hoTir of the most violent convul- 
sions of nature, the third day of the earthquake, 
there rode out at the mouth of the Ohio, into the 
lashed and foaming waters of the Mississippi, the 
first steamboat that ever ploughed the western 
waters — the steamer "Orleans," Capt. Roosevelt. 
So awful was the display of nature' s energies, that 
the granitic earth, with a mighty sound, heaved 
and writhed like a storm-tossed ocean. The great 
river turned back in its flow, the waves of the 
ground burst, shooting high in the air, spouting 
sand and water; great forest-covered hills disap- 
peared at the bottom of deep lakes into which 
they had sunk; and the "sunk lands" are to 



this day marked on the maps of Southeast Mis- 
souri and Northeast Arkansas. The sparse popu- 
lation along the river (New Madrid was a flourish- 
ing young town) fled the country in terror, leav- 
ing mostly their effects and domestic animals. 

The wild riot of nature met in this wilderness 
the triumph of man's genius. Where else on the 
globe so appropriately could have been this meet- 
ing of the opposing forces as at the mouth of the 
Ohio and on the convulsed bosom of the Father of 
Waters? How feeble, apparently, in this contest, 
were the powers of man ; how grand and awful the 
play of nature's forces! The mote straggling 
against the "wreck of worlds and crush of mat- 
ter. ' ' But, ' ' peace be still, ' ' was spoken to the 
vexed earth, while the invention of Fulton will go 
on forever. The revolving paddle wheels were the 
incipient drive-wheels, on which now ride in tri- 
umph the glories of this great age. 

The movement of immigrants to Arkansas in 
the decade following the earthquake was retarded 
somewhat, whereas, barring this, it should and 
would have been stimulated into activity by the 
advent of steamboats upon the western rivers. The 
south half of the State was in the possession of 
the Quapaw Indians. The Spanish attempts at 
colonizing were practical failures. His Catholic 
majesty was moving in the old ruts of the feudal 
ages, in the deep-seated faith of the " divinity of 
kings," and the paternal powers and duties of 
rulers. The Bastrop settlement of "thirty fam- 
ilies," by a seigniorial grant in 1797, had brought 
years of suffering, disappointment and failure. 
This was an attempt to found a colony on the 
Ouachita River, granting an entire river and a 
strip of land on each side thereof to Bastrop, 
the government to pay the passage of the people 
across the ocean and to feed and clothe them one 
year. To care for its vassals, and to provide 
human breeding grounds ; swell the multitudes for 
the use of church and State; to "glorify God" 
bj- repressing the growing instincts of lilierty and 
the freedom of thought, and add subjects to the 
possession and powers of these gilded toads, were 
the essence of the oriental schemes for peopling 
the new world. Happily for mankind they failed. 



'A 



u 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



and the wild beasts returned to care for their young 
in safety and await the coming of the real pioneers, 
they who came bringing little or nothing, save 



a manly spirit of self-reliance and indepjndence. 
These were the successful founders and builders 
of empire in the wilderness. 



;ifiriii II. 



"i&'?P^St'^^ 







i 



pSovTa'^'^^^^ 



m^- 






a^^^i^ N the preceding chapter are 

^■Jkc'^ briefly traced the changes 

.'■^'fiC'<% in the government of the 

Wj^ if Territory of Louisiana from 

' 'i^'i, ^^s discovery to the year 

" 1803, when it became a 

part of the territory of 



Organization.— The Viceroys and Governors— The Attitude of the Royal Owners of Louisiana— 

The District Divided — The Territory' of Arkansas Formed from the Territory of Missouri 

—The Territorial Government— The First Legislature— The Seat of Government 

— Other Legislative Bodies— The Deullo— Arkansas Admitted to Statehood 

— The Constitutional Conventions — The Memorable Reconstruction 

Period— Legislative Attitude on the Question of Secession 

—The War of the Governors, etc., etc. 



UNDER FRENCH RULE. 

Robert Cavelier de La Salle (April 9, 

formal).... 1682-1688 

Marquis de Sanville 1689-lTOO 

Bienville 1701-1712 

Lamoille Cadillar 1713-1715 

De L'Epinay 1716-1717 

Bienville 1718-1723 

Boisbriant (ad interim) 1724 

Bienville 1732-1741 

Baron de Kelerec 1753-1762 

D'Abbadie 1763-1766* 

UNDER SPANISH RULE. 

Antonio de Ulloa 1767-1768 

Alexander O'Reilly. . 176S-1769 

Louis de Unzaga 1770-1776 

Beruando de Galvez 1777-1784 

Estevar Miro 178.5-1787 

Francisco Luis Hortu, Baron of Caron- 

delet 1789-1793 

Gayoso de Lemos 1793-1798 

Sebastian de Cosa Calvo y O'Farrell. . .1-798-1799 
.Juan Manual de Salcedo 1800-1803 

From the dates already given it will be seen 
that the official acts of Salcedo during his entire 

* Louisiana west of the Mississippi, although ceded 
to Spain iu 1763, remained under French jurisdiction 
until 1760. 



■*! 



m 




'.^ 



the United States. Discovered by 
the Spanish, possessed by the French, 
divided and re-divided between the 
French, Spanish and English; set- 
tled by the Holv Mother Church, 
'^^1 i in the warp and woof of nations it 
was the flying shuttle cock of the 
great weaver in its religion as well 
as allegiance for 261 years. This 
foundling, this waif of nations, was 
but an outcast, or a trophy chained to the 
triumphal car of the victors among the warring 
European powers, until in the providence of God 
it reached its haven and abiding home in the 
bosom of the union of States. 

As a French province, the civil government of 
Louisiana was organized, and the Marquis de San- 
ville appointed viceroy or governor in 1689. 



V 



^y 



HISTOEY OF AKKANSAS. 



35 



term of office, under the secret treaty of Ildefonso, 
were tainted with irregularity. Thousands of land 
grants had been given by him after he had in fact 
ceased to be the viceroy of Spain. The contract- 
ing powers had affixed to the treaty the usual ob- 
ligations of the fulfillment of all undertakings, but 
the American courts and lawyers, in that ancient 
spirit of legal hypercritical technicalities, had 
given heed to the vicious doctrine that acts in good 
faith of a de facto governor may be treated as of 
questionable validity. This was never good law, 
because it was never good sense or justice. 

The acts and official doings of these vice-royal- 
ties in the wilderness present little or nothing of 
interest to the student of history, because they 
were local and individual in their bearing. It 
was the action of the powers across the waters, m 
reference to. Canada and Louisiana, that in their 
wide and sweeping effects have been nearly omnip- 
otent in shaping civilization. 

Referring to the acquisition of Canada and the 
Louisiana east of the Mississippi River, Bancroft 
says that England exulted in its conquest;* 
enjoying the glory of extended dominion in the 
confident expectation of a boundless increase of 
wealth. But its success was due to its having 
taken the lead in the good old struggle for liberty, 
and it was destined to bring fruits, not so much to 
itself as to the cause of freedom and mankind. 

France, of all the States on the continent of 
Europe the most powerful, by territorial unity, 
wealth, numbers, industry and culture, seemed 
also by its place marked out for maritime ascend- 
ency. Set between many seas it rested upon the 
Mediterranean, possessed harbors on the German 
Ocean, and embraced between its wide shores and 
jutting headlands the bays and open waters of the 
Atlantic; its people, infolding at one extreme the 
offspring of colonists fi'om Greece, and at the 
other the hardy children of the Northmen, being 
called, as it were, to the inheritance of life upon 
the sea. The nation, too, readily conceived or ap- 
propriated great ideas and delighted in bold re- 
solves. Its travelers had penetrated farthest into 

^"Bancroft, vol. iv.-457; Gayarre's Histoire de la 

Louisiane, vol. ii.-121. 



the fearful interior of unknown lands; its mission 
aries won most familiarly the confidence of the 
aboriginal hordes; its writers described with 
keener and wiser observation the forms of nature 
in her wildness, and the habits and languages of 
savage man; its soldiers, and every lay Frenchman 
in America owed military service, uniting beyond 
all others celerity with courage, knew best how to 
endure the hardships of forest life and to triumph 
in forest warfare. Its ocean chivalry had given a 
name and a colony to Carolina, and its merchants 
a people to Acadia. The French discovered the 
basin of the St. Lawrence; were the first to ex- 
plore and possess the banks of the Mississippi, and 
planned an American empire that should unite the 
widest valleys and most copious inland waters in 
the world. But over all this splendid empire in 
the old and the new world was a government that 
was medieval — mured in its glittering palaces, 
taxing its subjects, it would allow nothing to come 
to the Louisiana Territory but what was old and 
worn out. French America was closed against even 
a gleam of intellectual independence; nor did all 
Louisiana contain so much as one dissenter from 
the Roman Church. 

" We have caught them at last," exultingly ex- 
claimed Choiseul, when he gave up the Canadas 
to England and the Louisiana to Spain. " Eng- 
land will ere long repent of having removed the 
only check that could keep her colonies in awe. * 
* * She will call on them to support the bur- 
dens they have helped to bring on her, and they 
will answer by striking off all dependence," said 
Vergennes. 

These keen-witted Frenchmen, with a pene- 
tration far beyond the ablest statesmen of Eng- 
land, saw, as they believed, and time has con- 
firmed, that in the humiliation and dismember- 
ment of the territory of France, especially the 
transfer to England of Canada, they had la d the 
mine which some day would destroy the British 
colonial system, and probably eventuate in the 
independence of the American colonies. The in- 
tellect of France was keeping step with the spirit 
of the age; it had been excluded of course from 
the nation's councils, but saw what its feeble 



30 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



government neither could see nor prevent, that the 
distant wilderness possessed a far greater impor- 
tance on the world's new map than was given it 
by the gold and gems it was supposed to contain; 
and that the change of allegiance of the colonies 
was the great step in the human mind, as it was 
slowly emerging from the gloom and darkness of 
the middle ages. Thus it was that the mere Terri- 
tory of Louisiana, before it was peopled by civilized 
man, was playing its important part in the world's 
greatest of all dramas. 

The first official act of our government, after 
the purchase of Louisiana, was an act of Congress, 
March 26, 1S04, dividing Louisiana into two dis- 
tricts, and attaching the whole to Indiana Terri- 
tory, under the government of William Henry 
Harrison. The division in Louisiana was by a line 
on the thirty-third parallel; the south was named 
the District of Orleans; that north of it was named 
the District of Louisiana. This is now the south 
line of the State of Arkansas. 

In 1805 the District of Louisiana was erected in- 
to the Territory of Louisiana. It was however a terri- 
tory of the second class and remained under the gov- 
ernment and control of Indiana Territory until 1812. 

By act of June 4, 1812, the name of Louisiana 
Territory was changed and became the Missouri 
Territory, being made a territory of the first class, 
and given a territorial government. Capt. William 
Clark, of the famous Lewis and Clark, explorers of 
the northwest, was appointed governor, remaining 
as such until 1819, when Arkansas Territory was 
cut off from Missouri. 

The act of 1812, changing the District of 
Louisiana to Missouri Territory, provided for a 
Territorial legislature consisting of nine members, 
and empowered the governor to lay off that 
part where the Indian title had been extinguished 
into thirteen counties. The county of New 
Madrid, aa then formed, extended into the Arkan- 
sas territorial limits, ' ' down to the Mississippi to 
a point directly east of the mouth of Little Red 
River; thence to the mouth of Red River; thence 
up the Red River to the Osage purchase," etc. 
In other words it did not embrace the whole of 
what is now Arkansas. 



December 13, 1813, the County of Arkansas, 
Missouri Territory, was formed, and the county 
seat was fixed at Arkansas Post.* 

Besides Arkansas County, Lawrence County 
was formed January 15, 1815, and Clark, Hemp- 
stead and Pulaski Counties, December 15, 1818. 

Missouri neglected it seems to provide a judi- 
cial district for her five southern or Arkansas 
counties. Therefore Congress, in 1814, authorized 
the President to appoint an additional judge for 
Missouri Territory, "who should hold office four 
years and reside in or near the village of Arkan- 
sas," — across the river from Arkansas Post. 

March 2, 1819, Congress created the Territory 
of Arkansas out of the Missouri Territory. It was 
only a territory of the second class, and the ma- 
chinery of government consisted of the governor 
and three judges, who constituted the executive, 
judicial and legislative departments, their offi- 
cial acts requiring the consent of Congress. Pres- 
ident Monroe apjjointed James Miller, governor; 
Robert Crittenden, secretary; Charles Jouett, 
Andrew Scott and Robert P. Letcher, judges of the 
superior court. The act designated Arkansas Post 
as the temporary seat of government. In the ab- 
sence of the Governor, Robert Crittenden, "act- 
ing governor," convened the first session of the 
provisional government on August 3, 1819. The 
act continued the new territory under the laws of 
Missouri Territory. The five counties designated 
above as formed prior to the division of Arkansas, 
had been represented in the Missouri Territorial 
legislature. Elijah Kelly, of Clark County, was a 
representative, and he rode on horseback from his 
home to St. Louis. The session was probably not 
a week in length, and the pay and mileage little 
or nothing. 

This first Territorial legislature appointed a 
treasurer and auditor, provided a tax for general 
purposes, and divided the five counties into two 
judicial circuits: First, Arkansas and Lawrence 
Counties ; Second, Pulaski, Clark and Hempstead 
Counties. 

* During the latter part of the eighteenth century, 
something of the same municipal division was made, and 
called "Arkansas Parish," the name being derived 
from an old Indian town called Arkansea. 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



37 



April 21, 1820. Congress passed an act per- 
fecting the Territorial organization, and applying 
the same provisions to Arkansas that were contained 
in the act creating Missouri into a Territory of the 
first class. 

The lirst legislative body elected in Arkansas 
convened at Ai'kausas Post, February 7 to 24, 1S20. 
In the council were: President, Edward McDonald; 
secretary, Richard Searcy; members, Arkansas 
County, Sylvanus Phillij)s; Clark County, Jacob 
Barkman; Hempstead County'; David Clark; 
Lawrence County, Edward McDonald; Pulaski 
County, John McElmurry. In the house of rep- 
resentatives: Speaker, Joseph Hardin (William 
Stephenson was first elected, served one day and 
resigned, on account of indisposition^ ; J. Cham- 
berlain, clerk; members, Arkansas County, W. B. 
R. Horner, W. O. Allen; Clark, Thomas Fish; 
Hempstead, J. English, AV. Stevenson; Lawrence, 
Joseph Hardin, Joab Hardin; Pulaski, Radford 
Ellis, T. H. Tindall. This body later adjourned to 
meet October following, continuing in session until 
the 25th. 

At this adjourned session the question of the 
removal of the Territorial seat of government from 
Arkansas Post to " ' the Little Rock, ' ' came up on 
a memorial signed by Amos Wheeler and others. 
"The Little Rock" was in contradistinction to 
"the Rocks," as were known the beautiful bluffs, 
over 200 feet hio;h, a little above and across the 
river from ' " the Little Rock. ' ' In 1820 Gov. 
Miller visited the Little Rock — Petit Rocher — 
with a view to selecting a new seat of government. 
The point designated was the northeast corner of 
the Quapaw west line and Ai'kansas River. Im- 
mediately upon the formation of the Territory, 
prominent parties li^gan to look out for a more 
central location for a capital higher up the river, 
and it was soon a general understanding that the 
seat of government and the county seat of Pulaski 
County, the then adjoining county above Arkansas 
County on the river, would be located at the same 
place. A syndicate was formed and Little Rock 
Bluff was pushed for this double honor. The 
government had not yet opened the land to pub- 
lic entry, as the title of the Quapaws had just been 



extinguished. These parties resorted to the expe- 
dient of locating upon the land ' ' New Madrid 
floats," or claims, under the act of February 17, 
1815, which authorized any one whose land had 
been ' ' materially injured ' ' by the earthquake of 
1811 to locate the like quantity of land on any of 
the public lands open for sale. Several hundred 
acres were entered under these claims as the fut- 
ure town site. The county seat of Pulaski County 
was, contrary to the expectation of the Little Rock 
syndicate, located at Cadron, near the mouth of 
Cadron Creek, where it enters the Arkansas River. 

On the 18th day of October, 1820, the Terri- 
torial seat of government was removed from the 
Post of Arkansas to the Little Rock, the act to 
take effect June 1, 1821. The next Territorial 
legislature convened in Little Rock, October 1 to 
24, 1821. The council consisted of Sam C. Roane, 
president, and Richard Searcy, secretary. In the 
house William Trimble was speaker, and A. H. 
Sevier, clerk. 

The third legislature met October 6 to 31, 
1823. Sam C. Roane was president of the coun- 
cil, and Thomas W. Newton, secretary; while T. 
Farrelly was speaker, and D. E. McKinney, clerk 
of the house. 

The fourth legislature was held October 3 to 
November 3, 1S25. Of the council, the firesident 
was Jacob Barkman; secretary, Thomas W. New- 
ton. Of the house, Robert Bean was speaker; 
David Barber, clerk. 

The fifth Territorial legislature was held October 
1 to 31, 1827, and a special session held October 
6 to October 28, 1828; E. T. Clark served as presi- 
dent of the council, and John Clark, secretary; 
J. Wilson was speaker of the house, and Daniel 
Ringo, clerk. 

In the sixth legislature, Charles Caldwell was 
president of the council, and John Caldwell, secre- 
tary; John Wilson was speaker of the house, and 
Daniel Ringo, clerk. 

The seventh legislature held October 3 to 
November 7, 1831, had Charles Caldwell as presi- 
dent of the council, and Absalom Fowler, secre- 
tary; William Trimble was speaker of the house, 
and G. W. Ferebee, secretary. 



:7- 



TZ 



/xfe 



.>?• 



38 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



In the eighth legislature, October 7 to Novem- 
ber 16, 1S33, John "Williamson was president of the 
council and William F. Yeomans, secretary; John 
Wilson was speaker of the house, and James B. 
Keatts, clerk. 

The ninth legislature met October 5 to Novem- 
ber 10. 1835. The president of the senate was 
Charles Caldwell; secretary, S. T. Sanders. John 
Wilson was speaker of the house and L. B. Tully, 
clerk. 

This was the last of the Territorial assemblies. 
James Miller was succeeded as governor by George 
Izard, March 4, 1825. and Izard by John Pope, 
March 9, 1S29. William Fulton followed Pope 
March 9, 1835, and held the office until Arkansas 
became a State. 

Robert Crittenden was secretary of State 
(nearly all of Miller's term "acting governor"), 
appointed March 3, IS 19, and was succeeded in 
office by William Fulton, April 8, 1829; Fulton 
was succeeded by Lewis Randolph, February 23, 
1835. 

George W. Scott was appointed Territorial 
auditor August 5, 1819, and was succeeded by 
Richard C. Byrd, November 20, 1829; Byrd was 
followed by Emzy Wilson, November 5, 1831; and 
the latter by William Pelham, November 12, 1833, 
his successor being Elias N. Conway, July 25, 1835. 

James Scull, appointed treasurer August 5, 
1819, was succeeded by S. M. Rutherford, Novem- 
ber 12, 1833, who continued in office until the 
State was formed. 

The counties in 1825 had been, increased in num- 
ber to thirteen: Arkansas, Clark, Conway, Chicot, 
Crawford, Crittenden, Lawrence, Miller, Hemp- 
stead, Independence, Pulaski, Izard and Phillips. 
The territory was divided into four judicial cir- 
cuits, of which William Trimble, Benjamin John- 
son, Thomas P. Eskridge and James Woodson 
Bates were, in the order named, the judges. The 
delegates in Congress from Arkansas Territory were 
James W. Bates, 1820-23; Henry W. Conway, 
1823-29; Ambrose H. Sevier, 1829-36. 

The Territorial legislature, in common with all 
other legislatures of that day, passed some laws 
which would have been much better not passed, and 



others that i-emained a dead letter on the books. 
Among other good laws which were never enforced 
was one against duelling. In 1825 Whigs and 
Democrats allowed party feelings to run high, and 
some bloody duels grew out of the heat of cam- 
paigns. 

Rubert Crittenden and Henry W. Conway 
fought a duel October 29, 1827. At the first fire 
Conway fell mortally wounded and died a fortnight 
thereafter. 

December 4, 1837, John Wilson, who, it will 
be noticed, figured prominently in the preceding 
record of the Territorial assemblies, was expelled 
from the house of representatives, of which body 
he was speaker, for killing J. J. Anthony. 

A constitutional convention, for the purpose of 
arranging for the Territory to become a State in the 
Union, was held in Little Rock, in January, 1836. 
Its duty was to prepare a suitable constitution and 
submit it to Congress, and, if unobjectionable, to 
have an act passed creating the State of Arkan- 
sas. John Wilson was president, and Charles P. 
Bertrand, secretary, of the convention. Thirty- 
five counties were represented by fifty-two members. 

June 15, 1836, Arkansas was made a State, 
and the preamble of the act recites that there was 
a population of 47,700. 

The first State legislature met September 12 to 
November 8, 1836, later adjourning to November 
6, 1837, and continued in session until March 5, 
1S38. The president of the senate was Sam C. 
Roane; secretary, A. J. Greer; the speaker of the 
house was John Wilson (he was expelled and 
Grandison D. Royston elected) ; clerk, S. H. Hemp- 
stead. 

The second constitutional convention, held 
January 4 to January 23, 1864, had as president, 
John McCoy, and secretary, R. J. T. White. This 
convention was called by virtue of President Lin- 
coln's proclamation. The polls had been opened 
chiefly at the Federal military posts, and the major- 
ity of delegates were really refugees from many of 
the counties they represented. It simply was an 
informal meeting of the Union men in response to 
the President's wish, and they mostly made their 
own credentials. The Federal army occupied the 



V 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



39 



Arkansas River and points north, while the south 
portion of the State was held by the Confederates. 
It is said the convention on important legal ques- 
tions was largely influenced by Hon. T. D. W. 
Yonly, of Pulaski County. The convention prac- 
tically re-enacted the constitution of 1S36, abolished 
slavery, already a fact, and created the separate 
office of lieutenant-governor, instead of the former 
ex-officio president of the senate. The machinery 
of State government was thus once more in oper- 
ation. The convention wisely did its work and 
adjourned. 

The next constitutional convention was held 
January 7 to February 18, 1S08. Thomas M. 
Bowen was president, and John G. Price, secretary. 
The war was over and the Confederates had re- 
turned and were disposed to favor the constitution 
which they found the Unionists had adopted in 
their absence, and was then in full force in the 
State. Isaac Murphy (Federal) had been elected 
governor under the constitution of 1864, and all 
the State offices were under control of the Union- 
ists. His term as governor would expire in July, 
1868. 

This convention made sweeping changes in the 
fundamental laws. The most prominent were the 
disfranchisement of a large majority of the white 
voters of the State, enfranchising the negroes, and 
providing for a complex and plastic system of reg- 
istration. This movement, and its severe character 
throughout, were a part of the reconstruction 
measures emanating from Congress. Arkansas 
was under military rule and the constitution of 
1864, and this condition of affairs, had been ac- 
cepted by the returned conquered Confederates. 
But the Unionists, who had fled to the Federal 
military posts for protection, were generally eager 
to visit their vanquished enemies with the severest 
penalties of the law. A large part of the intel- 
ligence and tax-payers of the State were indis- 
criminately excluded from the polls, and new vot- 
ers and new men came to the front, with grievances 
to be avenged and ambitions to be gratified. The 
unusual experiment of the reversal of the civic 
■ conditions of the ex-slaves with their former mas- 
ters was boldly undertaken. Impetuous men now 



prevailed in the name of patriotism, the natural 
reflex swing of the pendulum — the anti-climax was 
this convention of reconstruction to the convention 
of secession of 1861. The connection between 
these two conventions — 1861-1868 — is so blended 
that the convention of '61 is omitted in its chro- 
nological order, that the two may be set properly 
side by side. 

March 4, 1861, a State convention assembled 
in Little Rock. The election of delegates was 
on February IS, preceding. The convention met 
the day Abraham Lincoln was inducted into office 
as president of the United States. The people of 
Arkansas were deeply concerned. The conserva- 
tive niinds of the State loved the Union as sin- 
cerely as they regretted the wanton assaults that 
had been made upon them by the extremists of the 
North. The members of that convention had 
been elected with a view to the consideration of 
those matters already visible in the dark war-clouds 
• lowering upon the country. The test of the un- 
ion and disunion sentiment of that body was the 
election of president of the convention. Judge 
David Walker (Union) received forty votes against 
thirty-five votes for Jmlge B. C. Totten. Hon. 
Henry F. Thomasson introduced a series of con- 
servative resolutions, condemning disunion and 
looking to a convention of all the States to "settle 
the slavery question " and secure the perpetuation 
of tie Union. The resolutions were passed, and 
the convention adjourned to meet again in May fol- 
lowing. This tilled the wise and conservative men 
of the State with great hopes for the future. But, 
most unfortunately, when the convention again 
met war was already upon the country, and the 
ordinance of secession was passed, with )_)ut one 
negative vote. The few days between the adjourn- 
ment and re-assembling of the convention had not 
made traitors of this majority that had so recent- 
ly^condemned disunion. The swift-moving events, 
everywhere producing consternation and ^larm, 
called out determined men, and excitement ruled 
the hour. 

The conventions of 1861 and 1868 — secession 
and reconstruction! AVhen the long - gathering 
cloud-burst of civil war had passed, it left a cen- 



371": 



V 






40 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



tary's trail of broken hearts, desolated homes, 
ruined lives, and a stream of demoralization over- 
flowing the beautiful valleys of the land to the 
mountain tops. The innocent and unfortunate ne- 
gro was the stumbling-block at all times. The con- 
vention of 1861 would have founded an empire of 
freedom, buttressed in the slavery of the black man; 
the convention of 1868 preferred to rear its great col- 
umn of liberty upon the ashes of the unfortunate 
past : in every era the wise, conservative and patriotic 
sentiment of the land was chained and bound to 
the chariot- wheels of rejoicing emotion. Prudence 
and an intelligent insight into the future alone 
could prevent men from '' losing their reason." 

The constitution of 1868, as a whole, was not 
devoid of merit. It oijened the way for an age of 
internal improvements, and intended the establish- 
ment of a liberal public free school system, and at 
the same time provided safeguards to protect the 
public treasury and restrain reckless extravagance. 

Then the legislatures elected under it, the State 
officers, and the representatives in the upper and 
lower Congress, were in political accord with the 
dominant party of the country. Gen. Grant was 
president; Powell Clayton, governor; Robert J. L. 
AVhite, secretary of State; J. R. Berry, auditor, 
and Henry Page, treasurer. The first legislature 
under the constitution of 1868 passed most liberal 
laws to aid railroads and other internal improve- 
ments, and provided a system of revenue laws to 
meet the new order of ailairs. During 1869 to 
1871 railroad aid and levee bonds to the amount of 
$10,419,773.74 were ^ssued. The supreme court 
of the State in after years declared the railroad 
aid, levee and Halford bonds void, aggregating 
$8,604,773.74. Before his term of governor had 
expired. Gov. Clayton was elected United States 
senator (1871-77), and in 1873 Hon. Stephen W. 
Dorsey was elected to a like position. 

The climax and the end of reconstruction in 
Arkansas will always be an interesting paragraph 
in the State' s history. Elisha Baxter and Joseph 
Brooks were the gubernatorial candidates at the 
election of 1872. Both were Republicans, and 
Brooks was considered one of the most ardent of 
that party. Baxter was the nominee of the party 



and on the same ticket with Grant, who was can- 
didate for president. Brooks was nominated on a 
mixed ticket, made up by disaffected Republicans, 
but on a more liberal platform toward the Demo- 
crats than the regular ticket. On the face of the 
first returns the Greeley electors and the Brooks 
ticket were in the majority, but when the votes 
were finally canvassed, such changes were made, 
from illegal voting or bulldozing it was claimed, 
as to elect the Grant and Baxter tickets. Under 
the constitution of 1868, the legislature was de- 
clared the sole judge of the election of State officers. 
Brooks took his case before that body at its Jan- 
uary term, 1873 — at which time Baxter was in- 
augurated — but the assembly decided that Baxter 
was elected, and, whether right or wrong, every 
one supposed the question permanently settled. 

Brooks however, went before the supreme 
court (McClure being chief justice), that body 
promptly deciding that the legislature was by law 
the proper tribunal, and that as it had determined 
the case its action was final and binding. Bax- 
ter was inaugurated in January, 1873; had been 
declared elected by the proper authorities, and 
this had been confirmed by the legislature, the 
action of the latter being distinctly approved 
by the supreme court. The adherents of Brooks 
had supposed that they were greatly wronged, 
but like good citizens all acquiesced. Those 
who had politically despised Brooks — perhaps 
the majority of his voters — had learned to sym- 
pathize with what they believed were his and 
their mutual wrongs. Baxter had peacefully ad- 
ministered the office more than a year, when 
Brooks went before Judge John Whytock, of the 
Pulaski circuit court, and commenced quo icarranto 
proceedings against Baxter. The governor's at- 
torneys filed a demurrer, and the case stood over. 
Wednesday, April 15, 1874, Judge Whytock, in 
the absence of Baxter's attorneys, overruled the de- 
murrer, giving judgment of ouster against Baxter, 
and instantly Brooks, with an oificer, hastened to 
the State house, demanded the surrender of the 
office, and arrested Baxter. Thus a stroke of the 
pen by a mere circuit court judge in banc plunged 
the State into tumult. 






\ 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



41 



Couriers sped over the city, and the flying news 
gave the people a genuine sensation. Indeed, not 
only Baxter but the State and the nation received 
a great surprise. 

As soon as Baxter was released, though only 
under arrest a few minutes, he fled to St. John's 
College, in the city, and from this headquarters 
called for soldiers, as did Brooks from the 
State house, and alas, poor Arkansas! there were 
now again two doughty governors beating the 
long roll and swiftly forming in the ranks of war. 
Brooks converted the State house and grounds 
into a garrison, while Baxter made headquarters 
at the old Anthony Hotel, and the dead-line be- 
tween the armed foes was Main Street. Just in 
time to prevent mutual annihilation, though not 
in time to prevent bloodshed, some United States 
soldiers arrived and took up a position of armed 
neutrality between the foes. 

If there can be anything comical in a tragedy 
it is furnished just here in the fact that, in the 
twinkling of an eye, the adherents and voters of the 
two governors had changed places, and each was 
now fighting for the man whom he had opposed so 
vehemently. And in all these swift changes the 
supreme court had shown the greatest agility. 
By some remarkable legerdemain, Brooks, who was 
intrenching himself, had had his case again placed 
before the supreme court, and it promptly reversed 
itself and decided that the circuit court had juris- 
diction. The wires to Washington were kept hot 
with messages to President Grant and Congress. 
The whole State was in dire commotion with ' ' mus- 
tering squadrons and clattering cars." The fre- 
quent popping of picket guns was in the land; a 
steamboat, laden with arms for Baxter, was at- 
tacked and several killed and many wounded. 
Business was again utterly prostrated and horrors 
brooded over the unfortunate State; and probably 
the most appalling ieature of it all was that in the 
division in the ranks of the people the blacks, led 
by whites, were mostly on one side, while the 
whites were arrayed on the other. Congress sent 
the historical Poland Committee to investigate 
Arkansas affairs. President Grant submitted all 
legal questions to his attorney-general. 



The President, at the end of thirty days after 
the forcible possession of theoiSce, sustained Bax- 
ter — exit Brooks. The end of the war, the cli- 
max of reconstrviction in Arkansas, had come. 
Peace entered as swiftly as had war a few days be- 
fore. The sincerity and intensity of the people's 
happiness in this final ending are found in the fact 
that when law and order were restored no one was 
impeached, no one was imprisoned for treason. 

The report of the Poland Committee, 1874, 
the written oi^inion of Attorney- General Williams, 
the decision of the Arkansas supreme court by 
Judge Samuel W. Williams, found in Vol. XXIX of 
Arkansas Reports, page 173, and the retiring mes- 
sage of Governor Baxter, are the principal records 
of the literature and history of the reign of the 
dual governors. The students of law and history 
in coming time will turn inquiring eyes with 
curious interest upon these official pages. The 
memory of ' ' the thirty days ' ' in Arkansas will 
live forever, propagating its lessons and bearing 
its warnings; the wise moderation and the spirit 
of forbearance of the people, in even their exult- 
ing hour of triumph, will be as beacon lights 
shining out upon the troubled waters, transmit- 
ting for all time the transcendent fact that in the 
hour of supreme trial the best intelligence of the 
people is wiser than their rulers, better law- 
givers than their statesmen, and incomparably 
superior to their courts. 

The moment that President Grant officially 
spoke, the reconstruction constitution of 1868 was 
doomed. True, the people had moved almost in 
mass and without leadership in 1873, and had 
repealed Article VIII of the constitution, disfran- 
chising a large part of the intelligent tax-payers 
of the State. 

The constitutional convention of 1874, with 
the above facts fresh before it, met and promul- 
gated the present State constitution. G. D. Roy- 
ston was president, and T. W. Newton, secretary. 
The session lasted from July 14 to October 31, 
1874. From the hour of its adoption the clouds 
rolled away, and at once commenced the present 
unexampled prosperity of the State. Only here and 
there in Little Rock and other points in the State 



^ 



<5 w_ 



42 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



may one see the mute but eloquent mementos of 
the past, in the dilapidated buildings, confiscated 
during the lifetime of some former owner, may- 
hap, some once eminent citizen, now in his grave 
or self-expatriated from a State which his life 
and genius had adorned and helped make great. 
Municipalities and even small remote districts are 
paying ofF the last of heavy debts of the ' ' flush 
times. ' ' Long suffering and much chastened State 
and people, forgetting the past, and full of hope for 
the future, are fitly bedecking (though among the 
younLTf st) the queenliest in the sisterhood of States. 
In this connection it will be of much interest to 
notice the names of those individuals, who, by 
reason of their association with various public 
afPairs, have become well and favorably known 
throughout the State. The term of service of each 
incumbent of the respective offices has been pre- 
served and is here given. The following table 
inchides the acting Territorial and State governors 
of Arkansas, with date of inauguration, party pol- 
itics, etc: 



Territory 
and State. 



James Miller... 
George Izard... 

John Pope 

Wm. Fulton.... 
J. S. Couway.... 
Archibald Tell. 
Samuel Adams. 

T. S. Drew 

J. Williamson.. 

R. C. Byrd 

J. S. Koane 

R. C. Byrd 

J. R. Hampton 
E. N. Conway.. 
E. N. Conway.. 
H. M. Rector.... 

T. Fletcher 

H. Flannagin .. 

I. Murphy 

P.Clayton 

O. A.Hadley... 
E. Baxter 

A. H. Garland. 
W. R. Miller.... 
W. K. Miller.... 
T. J. Churchill 
J. H. lierry 

B. T. Emliry... 
S. P. Hughes... 
J. W. Stayton.. 
S. P. Hughes... 
D. E. Barker... 
J. P. Eagle 



Date of 
Inauguration. 





« 


a 


.^Ti 


u 








o 




^ 


J>. 


Ui 


&S 








hJ 


ffi 



App't'd March 3, 1819i 

.■ipp'fd March 4, 1825 

App t'd March 9, 1829 

App't'd March 9, 1835 

1836 September 1.3, 1836 4 yrs, 

1840 November 4,184(14 yrs. 

Acting Apr. 29 to Nov. 9, 1844; 

1844 November ■*>, 1844 5 yrs. 

Acting .■ipr. 9 to May 7, 1846 

.•Voting Jan. U to Apr. 19, 1849 

1849 April 19, 1849« 
Acting 1849 
Acting 1851 

1852 November 15, 1852 4 yrs 

1854 November 17, ISSlik yrs, 

I860 November 15, 1860|2 yrs 

Acting Nov. 4 to Nov. 15, 1863 

1862 November 15,1868:3 yrs, 

1864 April 18, 1864! 

18C8 July 2, 1868'4 yrs. 

Acting January 17, 1871 12 yrs. 

1872 January 6, 1873l2 yrs, 

1874 November 12, 1874 2 yrs. 

.1876 January 11, 18772 yrs. 

1878 January 17, 1879,2 yrs. 

1850 .lanuary 13,1881,3 yrs, 
1882 January 13, 188312 vrs. 

Acting Sep. 25toSep. 30,1883; 

1884 January 17, 1885!2 yrs. 
Acting 

1886 . 2 yrs. 
Acting 

1888 2 yrs. 



Dem, 
Dem. 



Dem, 



Dem. 



Dem. 
Dem. 

I. D. 

Con. 

Con. 

Fed. 

Rep. 

Rep. 

Rep. 
Dem. 
Dem. 
Dem. 
Dem 
Dem. 



1,102M 



3,027 
l'.i.363 

■2,461 
(no re 
111,(112 
(no re 
(no re 
(no re 

2,948 
76,4.53 
32.215 
88,7.30 
53,761 
28,481 



45,236 
Dem. 17,411 

Dem. ! 15,006 






7,716 

17,387 

6,809 

27.857 
43,861 
61,198 

cordt 
:i),266 

cord) 

cordl 

cord) 
80,721 

108,633 

115.619 
147,169 

156,310 

163,889 

187,397 



* Special election. 



The secretaries of Arkansas Territory have been: 
Robert Crittenden, appointed March 3, 1819; 
William Fulton, appointed April 8, 1829; Lewis 
Randolj^h, appointed February 23, 1835. 

Secretaries of State: Robert A. Watkins, 
September 10, 1836, to November 12, 1840; D. 
B. Greer, November 12, 1840, to May 9, 1842; 
John Winfrey, acting. May 9, to August 9, 1842; 
D. B. Greer, August 19, 1840, to September 3, 
1859 (died); Alexander Boileau, September 3, 1829, 
to January 21, 1860; S. M. Weaver, January 21, 
1860, to March 20, 1860; John I. Stirman. March 
24, 1860, to November 13,' 1862; O. H. Gates, 
November 13, 1862, to April 18, 1864; Robert J. 
T. White, Provisional, from January 24, to January 
6, 1873; J. M. Johnson, January 6, 1873, to No- 
vember 12, 1874; B. B. Beavers, November 12, 
1874, to January 17, 1879; Jacob Frolich, January 
17, 1879, to January, 1885; E. B. Moore, January, 
1885, to January, 1889; B. B. Chism (present in- 
cumbent). 

Territorial auditors of Arkansas: George W. 
Scott, August 5, 1819, to November 20, 1829; 
Richard C. Byrd, November 20, 1829, to Novem- 
ber 5, 1831; Emzy Wilson, November 5, 1831, to 
November 12, 1833; William Pelham, November 
12. 1833, to July 25, 1835; Elias N. Conway, 
July 25, 1835, to October 1, 1836. 

Auditors of State: Elias N. Conway, October 

I, 1836, to May 17, 1841 ; A. Boileau, May 17, 
1841, to July 5, 1841 (acting); Elias N. Conway, 
July 5, 1841, to January 3, 1849; C. C. Danley, 
January 3, 1849, to September 16, 1854 (resigned); 
W. R. Miller, September 16, 1854, to January 23, 
1855; A. S Huey, January 23, 1855, to January 
23, 1857; W. R. Miller, January 23, 1857, to March 
5, 1860; H. C. Lowe, March 5, 1860, to January 24, 
1861 (acting); W. R. Miller, January 24, 1861, to 
April IS, 1864; J. R. Berry, April 18, 1864, to Oc- 
tober 15, 1866; Stephen Wheeler, January 6, 1873, 
to November 12, 1874; W. R. Miller, October 15, 
1866, to July 2, 1868; John Crawford, January 

II, 1877, to January 17, 1883; A. W. Files, Jan- 
uary, 1883, to January, 1887; AVilliam R. Miller 
(died in office), January, 1887, to November, 1887; 
W. S. Dunlop, appointed November 30, 1887, to 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



43 



January. 1889; AV. S. Dunlop, January, 1889 
(present incumbent). 

Territorial treasurers: James Scull, August 15, 
1819, to November 12, 183)3; S. M. Rutherford, 
November 12, 1833, to October 1, 1836. 

State treasurers: W. E. Woodruff, October 1, 
1836, to November 20, 1838; John Hutt, November 
20, 1838, to February 2, 1843; John C. Martin, 
February 2, 1843, to January 4, 1845; Samuel 
Adams. January 4, 1845, to January 2, 1849; Will- 
iam Adams, January 2, 1849, to January 10, 1849; 
John H. Crease, January 10, ] 849, to January 26, 
1855; A. H. Rutherford, January 27, 1855, to Feb- 
ruary 2, 1857; J. H. Crease, February 2, 1857, to 
February 2, 1859; John Quindley, February 2, 1859, 
to December 13, 1860 (died); Jared C. Martin, 
December 13. 1860, to February 2, 1861; Oliver 
Basham, February 2, 1861, to April 18, 1864; E. 
D. Ayers, April 18, 1864, to October 15, 1866; L. 
B. Cunningham, October 15, 1866, to August 19, 
1867 (removed by military); Henry Page, August 
19, 1867 (military appointment), elected 1868 to 
1874 (resigned); R. C. Newton, May 23, 1874, to 
November 12, 1874; T. J. Churchill, November 
12, 1874, to January 12, 1881; W. E. Woodruff, 
Jr., January 12, 1881, to January, 1891. 

Attorneys-general: Robert W. Johnson, 1843; 
George C. Watkins, October 1, 1848; J. J. Critten- 
den, February 7, 1851 ; Thomas Johnson, Septem- 
ber 8, 1856; J. L. Hollowell, September 8, 1858; 
P. Jordon, September 7, 1861 ; Sam W. Williams, 
1862; C. T. Jordan, 1864; R. S. Gantt, January 
31, 1865; R. H. Deadman, October 15, 1866; J. R. 
Montgomery, July 21, 1868; T. D. W. Yonley, Jan- 
uary 8. 1873; J. L. Witherspoon, May 22, 1874; 
Simon P. Hughes, November 12, 1873, to 1876; W. 
F. Henderson, January 11, 1877, to 1881; C. B. 
Moore, January 12, 1881, to 1885; D. W. Jones, 
January, 1885, to 1889; W. E. Atkinson, January, 
1889 (present incumbent). 

Commissioners of immigration and of State 
lands: J. M. Lewis, July 2, 1868; W. H. Grey, 
October 15, 1872; J. N. Smithee, June 5, 1874. 

These oiiicers were succeeded by the commis- 
sioner of State lands, the first to occupy this position 
being J. N. Smithee, from November 12, 1874, to 



November 18, 1878; D. W. Lear, October 21, 1878, 
to November, 1882; W. P. Campbell, October 30, 
1882, to March, 1884; P. M. Cobbs, March 31, 
1884, to October 30, 1890. 

Superintendents of public instruction: Thomas 
Smith, 1868 to 1873; J. C. Corbin, July 6, 1873; 
G. W. Hill, December 18, 1875, to October, 1878; 
J. L. Denton, October 13, 1875, to October 11, 
1882; Dunbar H. Pope, October 11 to 30, 1882; 
W. E. Thompson. October 20, 1882, to 1890. 

Of the present State officers and members of 
boards, the executive department is first worthy of 
attention. This is as follows: 

Governor, J. P. Eagle; secretary of State, B. 
B. Chism; treasurer, William E. Woodruff, Jr.; 
attorney-general, W. E. Atkinson; commissioner 
of State lands, Paul M. Cobbs; superintendent 
public instruction, W. E. Thompson; State geolo- 
gist, John C. Brauner. 

Board of election canvassers: Gov, J. P. Eagle, 
Sec. B. B. Chism. 

Board of commissioners of the common school 
fund: Gov. J. P. Eagle, Sec. B. B. Chism, Supt. 
W. E. Thompson. 

State debt board: Gov. J. P. Eagle; Aud. W. 
S. Dunlop, and Sec. B. B. Chism. 

Penitentiary board — commissioners: The Gov- 
ernor; the attorney-general, W. E. Atkinson, and 
the secretary of State. 

Lessee of penitentiary : The Arkansas Indus- 
trial Company. 

Printing board: The Governor, president; W. 
S. Dunlop, auditor, and W. E. Woodruff, Jr., 
treasurer. 

Board of railroad commissioners (to assess and 
equalize the railroad property and valuation within 
the State) : The Governor, secretary of State and 
State auditor. 

Board of Trustees of Arkansas Medical College: 
J. A. Dibrell, M. D., William Thompson, M. D., 
William Lawrence, M. D. 

The Arkansas State University, at Fayetteville, 
has as its board of trustees : W. M. Fishback, Fort 
Smith; James Mitchell, Little Rock; W. B. 
Welch, Fayetteville; C. M. Taylor, South Bend; 
B. F. Avery, Camden; J. W. Kessee, Latour; Gov. 



-f\^ 



44 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



I I 



Eagle, ex-officio; E. H. Muifree, prpsident, A. I. 
U. ; J. L. Cravens, secretary. 

Of the Pine Bluff Normal, the president is J. 
Corbin, Pine Bluff; the board is the same as that 
of the State University. 

Board of dental surgery: Dr. L. Augspath, 
Dr. H. C. Howard, Dr. M. C. Marshall, Dr. L. G. 
Roberts, and Dr. N. N. Hayes. 

State board of health: Drs. A. L. Brey- 
sacher, J. A. Dibrell, P. Van Patten, Lorenzo R. 
Gibson, W. A. Cantrell, V. Brunson. 

Board of municipal corporations: Exofficio — 
The Governor, secretary of State and State auditor. 

Board of education: The Governor, secretary 
of State and auditor. 

Board of review for donation contests: The 
Governor, auditor of Slate and attorney-general. 

Board of examiners of State script: The Gov- 
ernor, secretary of State and auditor. 

Reference to the presidential vote of Arkansas, 
from the year 1836 up to and including the elec- 
tion of 1888, will serve to show in a general way 
the political complexion of the State during that 
period. The elections have resulted as follows:* 

1836— Van Buren (D), 2,4C0; Harrison (W), 
1,162; total 3,638. 

1840— Harrison (W), 5,160; Van Buren (D), 
6,049; Birney (A), 889; total 11,209. 

1844-Polk (D), 8,546; Clay (W), 5,504; 
total 15,050. 

1848— Taylor (W), 7,588; Cass (D), 9,300; 
total 16,888^ 

* Scattering votes not given. 



22,112; Seymour, 19,078; 
41,377; Greelev. 37,927; 



1852— Pierce (D), 12.170; Scott, 7,404; 
total 19,577. 

1856— Buchanan (D), 21,910; Fillmore, 10,787; 
total 32,697. 

I860 — Douglas (D), 5,227; Breckenridge, 
28,532; Bell, 20,297. 

1864— No vote. 

1868— Grant (R) 
total 41,190. 

1872— Grant (R), 
total 79,300. 

1876— Tilden (D), 58,360; Hayes (R), 38,669; 
total 97,029. 

1880— Garfield (R), 42,435; Hancock (D), 
60,475; total, 107,290. 

1884— Cleveland (D), 72,927; Blaine, 50,895; 
total, 125,669. 

1888— Harrison (R), 58,752; Cleveland (D), 
88,962; Fisk. 593; total, 155,968. 

In accepting the vote of Arkansas, 1876, objec- 
tion was made to counting it, as follows: " First, 
because the ofiScial returns of the election in said 
State, made according to the laws of said State, 
show that the persons certified to the secretary 
of said . State as elected, were not elected as 
electors for President of the United States at 
the election held November 5, 1876; and, sec- 
ond, because the returns as read by the tellers 
are not certified according to law. The objec- 
tion was sustained by the Senate but not sus- 
tained by the House of Representatives. ' ' 




r 



.[^ 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



45 



♦ > »■ 



Advanxement of the State — Misconceptions Removed— Effects of Slavery upon Agricultuke- 

EXTRAOKDIXARY IMPROVEMENT SINCE THE WAK— IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS— COMPARATIVE 

Estimate of Products— Growth of the Manufacturing Interests- 
Wonderful Showing of Arkansas— Its Desirability as a 
Place of Kesidence— State Elevations. 



Look forward what's to come, and back what's past; 
Thy life will be with praise and prudence graced; 
What loss or gain may follow thou may'st guess, 
Then wilt thou be secure of the success. — Denham. 




EFORE entering directly up- 



on the subject of the mate- 
rial life and growth of Arkan- 
sas, it is necessary to clear 
away at the threshold some 
of the obstructions that have 
lain in its pathway. From 
the earliest settlement slav- 
ery existed, and the nergo 
slave was brought with the 
first agricultural communities. Slave 
labor was profitable in but two things 
— cotton and sugar. Arkansas was 
north of the sugar cane belt, but was a 
splendid field for cotton growing. Slave 
labor and white labor upon the farms 
were never congenial associates. These 
things fixed rigidly the one road in the 
agricultural progress of the State. 
What was therefore the very richness 
of heaven's bounties, became an incubus upon the 
general welfare. The fertile soil returned a rich 
reward even with the slovenly applied energies of 
the slaves. A man could pay perhaps .§1,000 for 
a slave, and in the cotton field, but really nowhere 
else, the investment would yield an enormous profit. 



The loss in waste, or ill directed labor, in work 
carelessly done, or the want of preparation, tools 
or machinery, or any manner of real thrift, gave 
little or no concern to the average agriculturist. 
For personal comfort and large returns upon invest- 
ments that required little or no pensonal attention, 
no section of the world ever surpassed the United 
States south of the 36° of north latitude. Wealth 
of individuals was rated therefore by the number 
of slaves one possessed. Twenty hands in the cot- 
ton field, under even an indifferent overseer, with 
no watchful care of the master, none of that saving 
frugality in the farming so imperative elsewhere 
upon farms, returned every year an income which 
would enable the family to spend their lives trav- 
eling and sight-seeing over the world. The rich 
soil required no care in its tilling from the owner. 
It is the first and strongest principle in human na- 
ture to seek its desires through the least exertion. 
To raise cotton, ship to market and dispose of it, 
purchasing whatever was wanted, was the inevi- 
table result of such conditions. This was by far the 
easiest mode, and hence manufactures, diversity of 
farming or farming pursuits, were not an impera- 
tive necessity — indeed, they were not felt to be ne- 
cessities at all. The evil, the blight of slavery 






46 



HISTORY OY ARKANSAS. 



upon the whites, was well understood by the intel- 
ligence of the South, by even those who had learned 
to believe that white labor could not and never 
would be profitable in this latitude; that — most 
strange! the white man who labored at manual 
labor, must be in the severe climate and upon the 
stubborn New England soil. It was simply effect 
following cause which made these people send off 
their chiklren to school, and to buy their every want, 
both necessaries and luxuries — importing hay, corn, 
oats, bacon, mules, horses and cattle even from 
Northern States, when every possible natural ad- 
vantage might be had in producing the same things 
at ho"ie. It was the easiest and cheapest way to do. 
In the matter of dollars and cents, the destroying 
of slavery was, to the farmers of the Upper Missis- 
sippi Valley, a permanent loss. Now the New South 
is beginning to send the products of its farms and 
gardens even to Illinois. The war, the abolition 
of slavery, the return of the Confederates to their 
desolated homes, and their invincible courage in 
rolling up their sleeves and going to work, and the 
results of their labors seen all over the South, form 
one of the grandest displays of the development of 
the latent forces of the great American people 
that can be found in history. 

There is not a thing, not even ice, but that, in 
the new social order of Arkansas, it can produce 
for its own use quite as well as the most favored 
of Northern States. The one obstruction in the 
way of the completed triumph of the State is the 
lingering idea among farmers that for the work of 
raising cotton, black labor is better than white. 
This fallacy is a companion of the old notion that 
slavery was necessary to the South. Under proper 
auspices these two articles of Arkansas — cotton 
and lumber — alone may make of it the most pros- 
perous State in the Union ; and the magician's 
wand to transform all this to gold is in securing the 
intelligent laborer of the North, far more than the 
Northern capital prayed for by so many. The North 
has its homeless millions, and the recent lessons 
in the opening of Oklahoma should be promptly 
appreciated by the people of this State. For the 
next decade to manufacture every pound of cotton 
raised in the State, as well as husbanding and man- 



ufacturing all the lumber from these grand old for- 
ests, is to solve the questions in the race of State 
prosperity and general wealth among the people. 
When free labor sujjplanted slave labor what a won- 
derful advance it gave the whole section; when in- 
telligent skilled labor supplants ignorance and un- 
skilled labor, what a transcendent golden epoch 
will dawn. There is plenty of capital to-day in the 
State, if it was only f)ut in proper cooperative 
form, to promote the establishment of manu- 
factories that would liberally reward the stock- 
holders, and make them and Arkansas the richest 
people in the world. Such will attract hundreds of 
thousands of intelligent and capable wage workers 
from tlie North, from all over the world, as well as 
the nimble-witted farm labor in the gardens, the 
orchards, the fields and the cotton plantations. This 
will bring and add to the present profits on a bale 
of cotton, the far richer dividend on stocks in fac- 
tories, banks, railroads and all that golden stream 
which is so much of modern increase in wealth. 
The peojjle of Arkansas may just as well have this 
incalculable abundance as to not have it, and at the 
same time pay enormous premiums to others to come 
and reap the golden harvests. Competent labor- 
ers — skilled wage workers, the brawn and brain 
of the land — are telling of their unrest in strikes, 
lockouts, combinations and counter combinations; 
in short, in the conflict of labor and capital, they 
are appealing strongly to be allowed to come to 
Ai'kansas -not to enter the race against ignorant, 
incapable labor, but simply to find employment and 
homes, where in comfort and plenty they can rear 
their families, and while enriching themselves to 
return profits a thousand fold. Don't fret and 
mope away your lives looking and longing for capi- 
tal to enter and develoji your boundless resources. 
Capital is a royal good thing, but remember it is 
even a better thing in your own pockets than in 
some other person's. Ojien the way for proper, 
useful labor to come and find employment ; each 
department, no matter how small or humble the 
beginning, once started will grow rapidly, and the 
problem will have been solved. Only by the North 
taking the raw product of the South and putting it 
in the hands of skilled labor has their enormous 



T' 



V 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



47 



capital been secured. The profits on high priced 
labor will always far excel that on ignorant or cheap 
workmen. The time is now when this kind of 
labor and the small farmers and gardeners are i 
awaiting a bidding to enter Arkansas. When the ! 
forlorn hope returned from the late war, they met 
the stern necessity, and demonstrated the fact that 
here, at least, the people can create their own capi- \ 
tal. Let them now anticipate the futui'e by this 
heroic triumph of the past. The Gods help those 
only who help themselves. 

" The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 
but in ourselves." 

To the Northern home- seeker the thing of first 
importance is to tell of the temperate climate at all 
seasons, and its extraordinary healthfulness, cur- 
ing him of the false idea spread so wide that the 
topography of the State is seen from the decks 
of steamers, or on the lines of railroad which are 
built along the swamps and slashes, mostly on ac- 
count of the easy grades on these lines. Then show 
from the records the low rate of taxation and the 
provisions of the law by which high taxation is for- 
ever prevented. From this preliminary may be 
unfolded to him some of the wonderful natural re- 
sources which are awaiting development. Here 
both tongue and pen will fall far short of telling all 
or nearly all. In climate, health, soil, timber, 
minerals, coal, rocks, clays, marls, sand, navigable 
streams, mineral and fresh waters, Arkansas may 
challenge any similar sized spot on the globe. It 
has more miles of navigable streams than any other 
State in the Union, and these are so placed as to 
give the whole territory the advantages thereof, as 
though the engineers had located them. It has 
unequaled water power — the Mammoth Spring 
alone furnishing enough water power to propel all 
the machinery west of the Mississippi River. The 
topography of the State is one of its most inviting 
features. Its variety in this resjject is only equaled 
by the diversity of its soils. The traveler who in 
approaching this section eoncludes that it consists 
chiefly of swamp bottoms, and water- covered 
slashes, may readily learn from the records that 
three-quarters of the State's surface is uplands, 
ranging from the gentle swells of prairie and 



woodland to the grandly beautiful mountain scen- 
ery ; and on the mountain benches, and at the base, 
are as rich and beautiful valleys as are kissed by the 
rays of the sun in his season's round. Take the 
whole range of agricultural products of Ohio, Ind- 
iana, Illinois and Kansas, and all can be produced 
quite as well in Arkansas as in any of these States. 
In the fuce of this fact, for more than a genera- 
tion Arkansas raised scarcely any of the products 
of these Northern communities, but imported such 
as it had to have. It could not spare its lands from 
the cultivation of the more profitable crops of 
cotton. In a word, the truth is the State was bur- 
dened with natural wealth — this and slave labor 
having clogged the way and impeded its progress. 
With less labor, more cotton per acre and per hand, 
on an average, has been produced in Arkansas than 
in any other Southern State, and its quality has been 
such as to win the prize wherever it has been en- 
tered in competition. Its reputation as a fruit- 
growing State is not excelled. In the New Orleans 
Exposition, in California, Ohio and everywhere en- 
tered, it has taken the premium over all competi- 
tors. Its annual rainfall exceeds that of any South- 
ern State, and it cannot, therefore, suffer seriously 
from drouths. There is not a spot upon the globe 
which, if isolated from all outside of its limits, 
could sustain in health and all the civilized comforts 
a population as large as might Arkansas. Fifty 
thousand people annually come hither and are 
cured, and yet a general nebulous idea prevails 
among many in the North that the health and cli- 
mate of the State are not good. The statistics of 
the United States Medical Department show the 
mortality rate at Little Rock to be less than at any 
other occupied military post in the country. There 
is malaria in portions of the State, but considering 
the vast bottom stretches of timber-land, and the 
newness of the country's settlement, it is a remark- 
able fact that there is less of this disease here 
than in Pennsylvania; while all the severer diseases 
of the New England and Northern States, such as 
rheumatism, consumption, catarrh and blood poi- 
son, are always relieved and generally cured in 
Arkansas; malignant scarlet fever and diphtheria 
have never yet appeared. That di-eadful decimator, 



:t^ 



48 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



yellow fever, has only visited the eastern portion of 
the State, hut in eveiy case it was brought from 
abroad, and has never prevailed in this locality as an 
epidemic. Therefore, the largest factories, schools 
and universities in the world should be here. The 
densest jjoijulation, the busiest haunts of men, will 
inevitably come where their rewards will be great- 
est — the struggle for life less severe. Five hun- 
dred inhabitants to the square mile will not f)ut to 
the full test the limitless resources of this wonder- 
ful commonwealth. Ten months of summer with- 
out one torrid day, with invariable cool and re- 
freshing nights, and two months only of winter, 
where a man can work out of doors every day in 
the year in comfort, with less cost in physician's 
bills, expense in food, clothing and housing, are 
some of the inducements the State offers to the 
poor man. There are millions of acres of fertile 
lands that are offered almost without money and 
without price; laud nearly any acre of which is 
worth more intrinsically than any other similar 
sized body of laud in the world. There are 
5,000,000 acres of government lands in the State, 
aud 2,000,000 acres of State lands. The rainfall in 
1886 was 46.33; average mean temperature, 58.7°; 
highest, 97.8°; lowest, above zero, 7.6°. Of the 
33, 500, 000 acres in the State there are soils richer 
and deeper than the Nile; others that excel the 
alluvial corn belt of the Northern States; others 
that may successfully compete with the noted Cuba 
or James River, Virginia, tobacco red soil districts, 
or the most noted vineyards of France or Italy. 
Here is the land of wine and silk, where side by side 
will gi'ow the corn and the fig — the land overhung 
with the soft, blue skies, and decked with flowers, 
the air laden with the rich perfumes of the magno- 
lias, on the topmost pinnacle of whose branches the 
Southern mocking-bird by day and by night swells 
its throat with song — 

"Where all, save the sph'it of man, is divine." 

The artificial and local causes which have ob- 
structed the State's prosperity are now forever 
gone. There is yet the unsolved problem of the 
political negi'o, but this is in Illinois, Kansas and 
Ohio, exactly as it is in Arkansas. It is only the 



common problem to the Anglo-Saxon of the United 
States, which, in the future as in the past, after 
many mistakes and even great wi'ongs, he will for- 
ever settle and for the best. Throw politics to the 
winds; only remember to profit by the mistakes of 
the North in inviting immigration, and thereby 
avoid the ominous presence of anarchism, socialism, 
and those conditions of social life latent in ' ' the 
conflict of labor and capital. ' ' These are some of 
the portentous problems now confronting the older 
States that are absent from Arkansas; they should 
be kept away, by the knowledge that such ugly 
conditions are the fanged whelps of the great 
brood of American demagogues — overdoses of 
politics, washed down by too much universal vot- 
ing. It is of infinitely more importance to guard 
tax-receipts than the ballot boxes. When vice and 
ignorance vote their own destruction, there need be 
no one to compassionate their miseries, but always 
where taxes run high, people's liberties run low. 
The best government governs the least — the freest 
government taxes the least. 

Offer premiums to the immigration of well- 
informed, expert labor, and small farmers, dairy- 
men, gardeners and horticulturists and small trad- 
ers. Let the 7,000,000 acres of government and 
State lands be given in forty-acre tracts to the 
heads of families, who will come and occupy them. 
Instead of millions of dollars in donations to great 
corporations aud capitalists, give to that class which 
will create capital, develop the State, and enrich 
all the people. Railroads and capitalists will fol- 
low these as water runs down the hill. Arkansas 
needs railroads — ten thousand miles yet — it needs 
great factories, great cities, universities of learn- 
ing and, forsooth, millionaires. But its first and 
greatest needs are small farmers, j)i'actical toil- 
ers, skilled mechanics, and scattered all over the 
State beginnings in each of the various manufac- 
tures; the beginnings, in short, of that auspicious 
hour when it ceases to ship any of its raw mate- 
rials. It is a law of life, that, in a society where 
there are few millionaires, there are few paupers. 
Where the capital of a country is gathered in vast 
aggregations in the possession of a few. there the 
children cry for bread — the j)oor constantly in- 



iTi: 



•J v 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSA.S. 



49 



crease, wages fall, emplo^yment too often fails, and 
the hoarse mutterings of parading mobs and bread 
riots take the places of the laughter and the songs 
of the laborers to and from the shops and the 
fields. 

The following from the government official re- 
ports of the growth and value of the manufactures 
of the State is to be understood as reaching only 
to 1880, when it had but commenced to emerge 
from the old into the new life: 



















o 




a 


*« 




S 


a 


n 






Year. 


1 


1 


la 
S 


a 


3 




i 


o 

s 

(1. 

1 

> 


1850 


261 


S 305.045 


812 


^n 




$150,876 
554,240 
673,96S 


$ 215,789 


S 537,908 
2 S80 578 


I860 


618 


1,316,610 
1,782 913 


l,8:n 
3,077 


46 




1 "'80 503 


1870 


1,070 
1,202 


■17 


S'> 


2,506,998 


4,629,234 
6 756 159 


1880 . . 


2,953,130 


4,307 


90 


160 


925,358 


4,392,080 







Ideas of values are most easily reached by com- 
parisons. The following figures, taken from offi- 
cial government reports, explain themselves: 





Value of 
Farms. 


Machinery Live Stock. Products. 




% 74,249,655 
105,932.541 
507,430,227 
235,178,631 
193,724,260 


S 4 637 4971 S 20 472 425 543 796 26' 




7,82l),915 33.440,265 31,708,914 

29,371,884 124,715,1031 36,103,073 

9,7.34 634 60,907,149 52 240,561 








13,089,783 31,904,8211 49,468,967 





The products are the profits on the capital in- 
vested. Words can add nothing to these figures 
in demonstrating the superiority of Arkansas as 
an agricultural State, except the explanation that 
Southern farming is yet more or less carried on 
under the baneful influences of the days of slavery, 
unintentional indifPerence and the absence of 
watchful attention by the proprietor. 

Cotton grows finely in all parts of this com- 
monwealth and heretofore in two-thirds of its terri- 
tory it has been the main crop. In the fertile 
bottoms the product per acre has reached as high 
as 2,000 pounds of seed cotton, while on the 
uplands it runs from 600 to 1,000 pounds. The 
census of 1880 shows that Arkansas produces more 
cotton per acre, and at less expense, than any of 
the so-called cotton States. In 1880 the yield 
was 608,256 bales, grown on 1,042,970 acres. That 



year Georgia raised 814,441 bales, on 2,617,138 
acres. The estimated cost per acre of raising cot- 
ton is $6. It will thus be seen that it cost 
$9,444,972 in Georgia to raise 256,185 more bales 
of cotton than Arkansas had grown — much more 
than double the land to produce less than one- 
fourth more cotton. Less than one-twentieth of 
the cotton land of the latter State has been brought 
under cultivation. 

The superiority of cotton here is attested by 
the fact that the greatest cotton thread manufact- 
urers in the world prefer the Arkansas cotton to 
any other in the market. The product has for 
years carried off the first prizes over the world's 
competition. 

The extra census bulletin, 1880, gives the yield 
of corn, oats and wheat products in Arkansas for 
that year as follows: Corn, 24,156,517 bushels; 
oats, 2,219,824 bushels; wheat, 1,269,730 bushels. 
Remembering that this is considered almost ex- 
clusively a cotton State, these figures of the cereals 
will be a genuine surprise. More wheat is grown 
by 40, 000 bushels and nearly three times as much 
corn as were raised in all New England, according 
to the official figures for that year. 

From the United States agricultural reports are 
obtained these interesting statistics concerning the 
money value of farm crops per acre: 





Corn. 


Illinois 

Indiana 


1 6 77 

8 86 

11 52 

6 44 

7 52 
7 91 

11 51 


Ohio 








Arkansas 



Rye. 



Oats. 



Potatoes.' Hay. 



7 32 
9 51 



$ 6 46 


130 32 


5 92 


30 08 


7 90 


34 48 


6 12 


37 40 


5 34 


43 50 


5 73 


28 08 


11 07 


78 65 



I 7 66 

7 66 

9 85 

5 89 

17 30 

14 95 

22 94 



The following is the average cash value per 
acre on all crops taken together: 



Maine $13 51 

New Hampshire.... 13 56 

Vermont 11 60 

Massachusetts 26 71 

Rhode Island 29 32 

Connecticut 16 82 

New York 14 15 

New Jersey 18 05 

Pennsylvania 17 68 

Delaware 15 80 

Maryland 17 82 

Virtrinia 10 91 



North Carolina $10 79 

South Carolina 10 09 

Georgia 10 35 

Florida 8 .52 

Alahama 13 49 

Mississippi 14 76 

Louisiana 22 40 

Arkansas 20 41) 

Tennessee 12 39 

West Virginia. 12 74 

Kentucky 13 58 

Ohio 15 58 



1^ 



50 



HISTOEY OF AEKANSAS. 



Michigan $18 96 

Indiana U 66 

Illinois 13 47 

Wisconsin 13 80 

Slinnesota 10 29 

Iowa 8 88 

Missouri 10 78 



Kansas $ 9 11 

Nebraska 8 60 

California 17 18 

Oregon 17 11 

Nevada. Colorado and 

the Territories 16 18 

Texas U 69 



The advance of horticulture in the past decade 
in the State has been extraordinary. Twenty years 
ago its orchard products amounted to very little. 
By the census reports of 1880, the total yield of 
fruit was 1867, 426. This was $100, 000 more than 
the yield of Florida, with all the latter' s immense 
orange groves. As universally as has the State 
been misunderstood, it is probably in reference 
to its fruits and berries that the greatest errors 
have long existed. If one visits the apple and 
peach regions of the North, it is found to be the gen- 
eral belief that Arkansas is too far south to pro- 
duce either, whereas the truth is that, especially 
in apples, it has no equal either in the United 
States or in the world. This fact was first brought 
to public attention at the World's Fair, at New 
Orleans, 1884-85, where the Arkansas exhibit was 
by far the finest ever made, and the State was 
awarded the first premium, receiving the World's 
medal and a special notice by the awarding com- 
mittee. Thus encouraged, the State was repre- 
sented at the meeting of the American Pomological 
Society, in Boston, in September, 1887. Sixty- 
eight varieties of Arkansas seedling apples were in 
the exhibit, to contend with all the champion fruit 
growers of the globe. The State won the W'ilder 
medal, which is only given by reason of extraor- 
dinary merit, and in addition to this was awarded 
the first premium for the largest and best collection 
of apples, consisting of 128 varieties. 

The collection which won the Boston prizes was 
then shipped to Little Rock, and after being on 
exhibition there twenty days, was re-packed and 
shipped to the National Horticultural meeting in 
California, which met at Riverside, February 7, 
1888. Arkansas again won the first prize, invad- 
ing the very home of Pomona, and bearing off the 
first honors as it had in eastern and northern sec- 
tions of the Union. The "Arkansas Shannon" 
is pronounced by competent judges to be the finest 
apple now grown anywhere. 



Strawberries are another late discovery of the 
resources of Arkansas. The yield and quality are 
very superior. So rapidly has the industry grown 
that, during the fruit season, the Iron Mountain 
road runs a special daily fruit train, leaving Little 
Rock late in the afternoon and reaching St. Louis 
early the next morning. This luscious product, of 
remarkable size, ripens about the first of April. 

Of all cultivated fruit the grape has held its 
place in poetry and song, in sacred and profane 
history, as the first. It finds in Arkansas the same 
conditions and climate of its native countries, 
between Persia and India. The fruit and its wine 
produced here are said by native and foreign 
experts to equal, if not surpass, the most famous of 
Italy or France. The vines are always healthy 
and the fruit perfect. The wild muscadine and 
scuppernong grow vines measuring thirty-eight 
and one-half inches around, many varieties fruit- 
ing here to perfection that are not on the open air 
lists at all further north. 

The nativity of the peach is the same as that 
of the grape, and it, too, therefore, takes as kindly 
to the soil here as does the vine. Such a thing as 
budded peach trees are of very recent date, and as 
a consequence the surprises of the orchardists in re- 
spect to this fruit are many. Some of the varieties 
ripen in May, and ^o far every kind of budded 
peaches brought from the North, both the tree and 
the fruit, have improved by the transplanting. 
The vigor of the trees seems to baffle the borers, 
and no cvirled leaves have yet been noticed. In 
quality and quantity the product is most encourag- 
ing, and the next few years will see a marked 
advance in this industry. 

For fifty years after the settlement of the State 
peach seedlings were grown, and from these, as in 
the case of the apple, new and superior varieties 
have been started, noted for size, flavor, abundance 
and never failing crops. 

The Chickasaw plum is so far the most suc- 
cessfully grown, and is the best. It is a perfected 
fruit easily cultivated, and is free from the curculio, 
while the trees are healthy and vigorous beyond 
other localities. 

In vegetables and fruits, except the tropical 



-*; 



S w_ 



J i> 



HISTORl' OF ARKANSAS. 



51 



plants, Arkansas is the banner State. In the fruit 
and vegetable kingdom there is found in luxuriant 
growth everything in the long list from corn to the 

fig- 

The yield and quality of Arkansas tobacco is 
remarkable when it is remembered that this indus- 
try has received so little attention. Thirty years 
ago State Geologist Owen informed the people 
that he found here the same, if not better, tobacco 
soil, than the most favored districts of Cuba. The 
yield of tobacco, in 1880, was 970,230 pounds. 
Yet so little attention or experiment has been given 
the subject that an experimental knowledge of the 
State's resources in this respect cannot be claimed 
to have been gained. 

In 1880 the State produced: Barley, 1,952 
bushels; buckwheat, 548 biishels; rye, 22,387 
bushels; hay, 23,295 tons; Irish potatoes, 492,627 
bushels; sweet potatoes, 881,260 bushels. 

From the census reports of the same year are 
gleaned the following: Horses, total, 146,333; 
mules and asses, 87,082; working oxen, 25,444; 
milch cows, 249,407; other cattle, 433,392; sheep, 
246,757; swine, 1,565,098; wool, 557,368 pounds; 
milk, 316,858 gallons; butter, 7,790,013 pounds; 
cheese, 26,310 pounds. All parts of the State are 
finely adapted to stock-raising. The excellence 
and abundance of pure water, the heavy growth of 
blue grass, the cane brakes and abundant mast, 
sustain the animals during most of the winter 
in marketable condition. In respect to all domes- 
tic animals here are presented the same conditions 
as in nearly every line of agriculture — cheapness 
of growth and excellence of quality. 

The improvement in cattle has been retarded 
by the now conceded fact that the ' ' Texas fever ' ' 
is asserted by some to be seated in the State. 
This affects Northern cattle when imported, while 
it has no effect on native animals. Except for this 
unfortunate reality there would be but little time 
lost iu developing here the great dairy industry of 
the country. But good graded cattle are now 
being raised in every portion, and so rich is the 
locality in this regard that in stock, as in its fruits, 
care and attention will produce new varieties of 
unrivaled excellence. Arkansas is the natural home 



and breeding ground of animals, all growing to 
great perfection, with less care and the least cost. 

Taxes here are not high. The total taxation in 
Illinois in 1880, asse-ssed on real and personal 
property, as per census reports, for State, county 
and all civil divisions less than counties, was 
§24,586,018; the same year in Arkansas the total 
tax was $1,839,090. Farm lauds are decreasing 
in value in Illinois nearly as fast as they are in 
creasing in Arkansas. The total taxation in the 
United States in 1880 was the enormous sum of 
$312,750,721. Northern cities are growing, while 
their rural population is lessening. The reverse 
of this is the best for a State. The source of ruin 
to past nations and civilizations Has all arisen 
from an abuse of the taxing powers. Excessive 
taxation can only end in general ruin. This 
simple but great lesson should be instilled into the 
minds of all youths, crystallized into the briefest 
maxim, and written over every threshold in the 
land; hung in the porches of every institution of 
learning; imprinted upon every plow handle and 
emblazoned on the trees and jutting rocks. The 
State that has taxed its people to build a $25, - 
000,000 State house, has given deep shame to the 
intelligence of this age. Taxes are the insidious 
destroyer of nations and all liberty, and it is only 
those freemen who jealously guard against this 
evil who will for any length of time maintain their 
independence, equality or manhood. 

The grade profile of the Memphis Route shows 
the elevations of the various cities and towns 
along that line to be as follows in feet, the datum 
plane being tide water of the Gulf of Mexico: 
Kansas City, 765; Rosedale, 825; Merriam, 900; 
Lenexa, 1,040; Olathe, 1,060; Bonita, 1,125; 
Ocheltree, 1,080; Spring Hill, 1,020; Hillsdale, 
900; Paola, 860; Pendleton, 855; Fontana, 925; 
La Cygne, 840; Barnard, 810; Pleasanton, 865; 
Miami, 910; Prescott, 880; Fulton, 820; Ham- 
mond, 875; Fort Scott, 860; Clarksburg, 885; 
Garland, 865; all in Kansas; Arcadia, 820; 
Liberal, 875; lantha, 990; Lamar, 1,000: Keno- 
ma, 980; Golden City, 1,025; Lockwood, 1,065; 
South Greenfield, 1,040; Everton, 1,000; Ash 
Grove, 1,020; Boisd'Arc, 1,250; Campbells, 1,290; 



-^ 



52 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Nichols Junction, 1,280; Springfield, 1,300; Tur- 
ner, 1.210; Rogersville, 1,475; Fordland, 1,600; 
Seymour, 1,680; Cedar Gap, 1,085; Mansfield, 
1,520; Norwood, 1,510; Mountain Grove, 1,525; 
Cabool, 1,250; Sterling, 1,560; Willow Springs. 
1.400; Burnham, 1,360; Olden, 1,2S0; West 
Plains, 950; Brandsville, 1,000; Koshkonong, 970; 
Thayer, last point in Missouri, 575; Mammoth 



Spring, Ark., 485; Afton, 410; Hardy, 370; Willi- 
ford, 330; Ravenden, 310; Imboden, 300; Black 
Rock, 290; Portia, 285; Hoxie, 295; Sedgwick, 
270; Bonnerville, 320; Jonesboro, 275; Nettleton, 
250; Big Bay Siding, 250; Hatchie Coon, 250; 
Marked Tree, 250; Tyronza, 240; Gilmore. 225; 
Clarketon, 240; Marion, 235; West Memphis, 200; 
Memphis, 280. 



-^- 



!'((()>^*^ ^• 



SJ* 



♦^*(S- 



Politics— Importance of the Subject— The Two Old Schools of Politicians— Triumph of the 

Jacksonians— Early Prominent State Politicians— The Great Question of Secession 

— The State Votes to Join the Confederacy— Horror of the War Period— 

The Reconstruction Distress— The Baxter-Brooks Embroglio. 




In knots they stantl, or in a rank thej- walk, 

Serious in aspect, earnest in iheir lalk; 

Factious, and favouring this or t'other side, 

As their weak fancy or strong reason guide. — Dryden. 







N one sense there is no 
w^Jifeli portion of the history of 
-Sci-fe"^ Arkansas more instructive 
Ij^;? than its political history, 
^'\ because in this is the key 
^'•-t^^^Oi-^-^^^i to the character of many 
jJjS&V of its institutions, as well 

as strong indications of the trend of 
the public mind, and the characteris- 
tics of those men who shaped public 
affairs and controlled very largely in 
^^^. 1^ the State councils. 

^SjfcS' Immediately upon the formation 
of the TeiTitorial government, the Presi- 
dent of the United States sent to Ai-- 
kansas Post Gov. James Miller, Robert 
Crittenden, secretary, and C. Jouett, 
Robert P. Letcher and Andrew Scott, judges, to 
organize the new Territorial government. Gov. 
Miller, it seems, gave little attention to his oflice, 



and therefore in all the early steps of formation 
Crittenden was the acting governor; and from the 
force of character he possessed, and his superior 
strength of mind, it is fair to conclude that he 
dominated almost at will the early public affairs 
of Arkansas. 

This was at the time of the beginning of the 
political rivalry between Clay and Jackson, two of 
the most remarkable types of great political lead- 
ers this country has produced — Henry Clay, the 
superb; "Old Hickory," the man of iron; the one 
as polished a gem as ever glittered in the political 
heavens — the other the great diamond in the 
rough, who was of the people, and who drew his 
followers with bands of steel. These opposites 
were destined to clash. It is well for the country 
that they did. 

Robert Crittenden was a brother of John J. 
Crittenden, of Kentucky, and by some who knew 
him long and well he was deemed not only his 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS 



53 



brother's peer, but in many respects bis intellect- 
ual superior. It goes without the saying, he was a 
born Whig, who, in Kentucky's super-loyal fash- 
ion, had Clay for his idol, and, to put it mildly, 
Jackson to dislike. 

President Monroe had appointed the first Terri- 
torial ofiScers, but the fact that Crittenden was 
secretary is evidence that polities then were not 
running very high. Monroe was succeeded in 
1824 by John Quincy Adams. It would seem that 
in the early days in Arkansas, the Whigs stood 
upon the vantage grounds in many important 
respects. By the time Adams was inaugurated 
the war political to the death between Clay and 
Jackson had begun. But no man looked more care- 
fully after his own interests than Jackson. He 
had large property possessions just across the line 
in Tennessee, besides property in Arkansas. He 
induced, from his ranks in his own State, some 
young men of promise to come to Arkansas. The 
prize now was whether this should be a Whig 
or Democratic State. President Adams turned 
out Democratic officials and put in Whigs, and 
Robert Crittenden for a long time seemed to hold 
the State in his hand. Jackson's superiority as a 
leader over Clay is manifested in the struggles 
between the two in Arkansas. Clay's followers 
here were men after his fashion, as were Jackson's 
men after his mold. Taking Robert Crittenden 
as the best type, he was but little inferior to Clay 
himself in his magnetic oratory and purity of prin- 
ciples and public life; while Jackson sent here 
the Seviers, Conways and Rectors, men of the 
people, but of matchless resolution and personal 
force of character. No two great commanders 
ever had more faithful or able lieutenants than 
were the respective champions of Old Hickory 
and Harry of the West, in the formative days of 
the State of Arkansas. The results were, like 
those thoughout the Union, that Jackson triumphed 
in the hard strife, and Arkansas entered the Union, 
by virtue of a bill introduced by James Buchanan, 
as a Jackson State, and has never wavered in its 
political integrity. 

As an evidence of the similarity of the con- 
tests and respective leaders of the two parties 



here to those throughout the country, it is only 
necessary to point out that Crittenden drew to 
his following such men as Albert Pike, a genius 
of the loftiest and most versatile gifts the country 
has so far produced, while Jackson, ever supplying 
reinforcements to his captains, sent among others, 
as secretary of the Territory, Lewis Randolph, 
grandson of Thomas Jefferson, and whbse wife 
was pretty Betty Martin, of the White House, a 
niece of Jackson's. Randolph settled in Hemp- 
stead County when it was an unbroken wilder- 
ness, and his remains are now resting there in an 
unknown grave. 

Clay, it seems, could dispatch but little addi- 
tional force to his followers, even when he saw they 
were the hardest pressed by the triumphant enemy. 
There was not much by which one could draw 
comparisons between Clay and Jackson — unless 
it was their radical difference. As a great ora- 
tor. Clay has never been excelled, and he lived in 
a day when the open sesame to the world's de- 
lights lay in the silver tongue; but Jackson was 
a hero, a great one, who inspired other born 
heroes to follow him even to the death. 

Arkansas was thus started permanently along 
the road of triumphant democracy, from which 
it never wotild have varied, except for the war 
times that brought to the whole country such con- 
fusion and political chaos. Being a Jackson 
State, dominated by the blood of the first governor 
of Tennessee^Gen. John Sevier, a man little in- 
ferior to Jackson himself — it was only the most 
cruel circumstance that could force the State into 
secession. When the convention met on the 4th 
of March, 1861, "on the state of the Union," its 
voice was practically unanimous for the Union, 
and that body passed a series of as loyal resolu- 
tions as were ever penned, then adjourning to 
meet again in the May following. The conven- 
tion met May 6, but the war was upon the coun- 
try, and most of the Gulf States had seceded. 
Every one knew that war was inevitable; it was 
already going on, but very few realized its immen- 
sity. The convention did not rush hastily into 
secession. An ordinance of secession was intro- 
duced, and for days, and into the nights, run- 



rr?" 



o-t 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ning into the small hours, the matter was delib- 
erated upon — no preliminary test vote was forced 
to an issue. Delegates were present in anxious 
attendance from the Carolinas, Alabama and 
Georgia. They knew that the fate of their action 
lafgely depended upon the attitude of Arkansas. 
If Arkansas voted no, then the whole secession 
movement would receive a severe blow. The after- 
noon before the final vote, which was to take place 
in the evening, these commissioners from other 
States had made up their minds that Arkansas 
might possibly vote down secession. When the con- 
vention adjourned for supper, they held a hurried 
consultation, and freely expressed their anxiety 
at the outlook. It was understood that the dis- 
cussion was closed, and the night session was 
wholly for the purpose of taking a vote. All was 
uncertainty and intense excitement. Expressions 
of deepest attachment to the Union and the old 
flag were heard. The most fiery and vehement 
of the secessionists in the body were cautious and 
deliberative. There was but little even of vehe- 
ment detestation of the abolitionists — a thing as 
natural then for a Southern man to despise as 
hatred is natural to a heated brain. 

At a late hour in the evening, amid the most 
solemn silence of the crowded hall, an informal 
vote was taken. All except six members voted to 
secede. A suppressed applause followed the 
announcement of the vote. A hurried, whispered 
conference went on, and the effort was made to 
have the result unanimous. Now came the final 
vote. When the name of Isaac Murphy, afterward 
the military governor, was reached, it was passed 
and the roll call continued. It was so far unani- 
mous, with Mr. Murphy' s name still to call. The 
clerk called it. Mr. Murphy arose and in an 
earnest and impressive manner in a few words ex- 
plained the dilemma be was in, but said, " I cannot 
violate my honest convictions of duty. I vote 
'No.'" 

When the day of reconstruction began, at first 
it was under the supervision of the military, and 
it is yet the greatest pity that Congress did not let 
the military alone to rehabilitate the States they had 
conquered. Isaac Murphy was made governor. 



No truer Union man lived than he. He knew the 
people, and his two years of government were 
fast curing the wounds of war. But he was 
turned out of office. 

The right to vote compels, if it is to be other 
than an evil, some correct and intelligent under- 
standing of the form of government prevailing in 
the United States, and of the elementary prin- 
ciples of political economy. The ability to read 
and write, own property, go to Congress or edit a 
political paper, has nothing to do with it, no more 
than the color of the skin, eyes or hair of the voter. 
The act of voting itself is the sovereign act in the 
economic affairs of the State; but if the govern- 
ment under its existing form is to endure, the 
average voter must understand and appreciate the 
fundamental principles which, in the providence 
of God, have made the United States the admira- 
tion of the world. 

Arkansas, the Democratic State, was in political 
disquiet from 1861 to 1874 — the beginning of the 
war and the end of reconstruction. When in the 
hands of Congress it was returned at every regular 
election as a Republican party State. The brief 
story of the political Moses who led it out of the 
wilderness is of itself a strange and interesting 
commentary on self-government. 

When the war came there lived in Batesville 
Elisha Baxter, a young lawyer who had been 
breasting only financial misfortunes all his life. 
Utterly failing as a farmer and merchant, he had 
been driven to study law and enter the practice 
to make a living. An honest, kind-hearted, good 
man, loving his neighbor as himself, but a patriot 
every inch of him, and loving the Union above all 
else, his heart was deeply grieved when he saw 
his adopted State had declared for secession. He 
could not be a disunionist, no more than he could 
turn upon his neighbors, friends and fellow-citi- 
zens of Arkansas. He determined to wash his 
hands of it all and remain quietly at home. Like 
all others he knew nothing of civil war. His 
neighbors soon drove him from his home and 
family, and, to save his life, he went to the North- 
ern army, then in Southern Missouri. He was 
welcomed and offered a commission in the Federal 



^: 



HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 



00 



army and an opportunity to return to his State. 
He declined the ofFer; he could not turn and shed 
the blood of his old neighbors and former friends. 
In the vicissitudes of war this non-coajbatant was 
captured by an Arkansas command, paroled and 
ordered to report to the military authorities at Lit- 
tle Rock. He made his way thither, and was 
thrown into a military prison and promptly indicted 
for high treason. Then only he began to under- 
stand the temper of the times, for the chances of 
his being hanged were probably as a thousand to 
one to acquittal. In this extremity he broke jail 
and fled. He again reached the Northern army 
in which he accepted a commission, and returned 
to his old home in Batesville, remaining in mili- 
tary command of the place. He was actively 
engaged in recruiting the Union men of Northern 
Arkansas and forming them into regiments. It 
goes without saying that Baxter never raised a 
hand to strike back at those who had so deeply- 
wronged him, when their positions were reversed 
and he had the power in his hands. 

At the fall election, 1871, Baxter was the regu- 
lar Republican candidate for governor, and Joseph 
Brooks was the Independent Republican nom- 
inee. The Republican party was divided and each 



bid for the Democratic vote by promises to the 
ex- Confederates. Brooks may have been elected, 
but was counted out. Baxter was duly inaugu- 
rated. When he had served a year the politicians, 
it is supposed, who controlled Arkansas, finding 
they could not use Baxter, or in other words that 
they had counted in the wrong man, boldly pro- 
ceeded to undo their own acts, dethrone Baxter and 
put Brooks in the chair of State. An account of 
the Baxter-Brooks war is given in another chapter. 

Thus was this man the victim of political cir- 
cumstances; a patriot, loving his country and his 
neighbors, he was driven from home and State; a 
non-combatant, he was arrested by his own friends 
as a traitor and the hangman's halter dangled in 
his face; breaking prison and stealing away like a 
skulking convict, to return as ruler and master by 
the omnipotent power of the bayonet; a non-party 
man, compelled to be a Republican in politics, and 
finally, as a Republican, fated to lead the Demo- 
cratic party to success and power. 

The invincible Jacksonian dynasty, built up in 
Arkansas, with all else of public institutions went 
down in the sweep of civil war. It has not been 
revived as a political institution. But the Demo- 
cratic party dominates the State as of old. 




k^ 



-^1 a 



56 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



CiliTlR ¥11. 



* > ♦ < « 



Societies, State Institutions, etc.— The Ku Klux Klan— Independent Order of Odd Fellows- 
Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons— Grand Army of the EEPUiiLic— Bureau of Mines — 
Arkansas Agricultural As.sociations— State Horticultural Society — The Wheel 
—The State Capital— The Capitol Building — State Libraries — State 
Medical Society— State Board of Health— Deaf Mute Institute 
—School for the Blind— Arkansas Lunatic Asylum— Ar- 
kan.sas Industrial UNivErtsiTY— The State Debt. 



Heaven forming each on other to depend, 

A master, or a servant, or a friend. 

Bids each on other for assistance call. 

Till one man's weakness grows the strength of all. 



-Pope. 




^'pECRET societies are a form of 
social life aud expression which, 
in some mode of existence, 
antedate even authentic his- 
tory. Originally a manner 
of securing defense from the 
common enemies of tribes 
and peoples, they have developed 
into social and eleemosynary insti- 
tutions as advances in civilization 
have been made. At first they 
were l)ut a severe necessity, and as 
that time slowly passed away, they 
became a luxury and a pleasure, 
having peculiar and strong attrac- 
tion to nearly all men. That part of 
one's nature which loves to lean 
upon others for aid, even in the social scale, finds 
its expression in some of the many forms of 
societies, clubs, organizations or institutions that 
now pervade nearly all the walks of life. In every 
day existence, in business, church, state, politics 
and pleasure, are societies and organizations every- 
where — for the purposes of gain, charity and 



comfort — indeed, for the sole purpose of finding 
something to do, would be the acknowledgment of 
many a society motto. The causes are as diversi- 
fied as the bodies, secret and otherwise, are 
numerous. 

The South furnishes a most remarkable instance 
of the charm there is in mystery to all men, in the 
rise and spread of the Ku Klux Klan, a few years 
ago. Three or four young men, in Columbia, 
Tenn., spending a social evening together, con- 
cluded to organize a winter's literary society. All 
had just returned from the war, in which they had 
fought for the "lost cause," and found time 
hanging dull upon them. Each eagerly caught at 
the idea of a society, and soon they were in the 
intricacies of the details. Together, from their 
sparse recollections of their schoolbooks, they 
evolved the curious name for the society. The 
name suggested to them that the sport to be 
derived from it might be increased by making it a 
secret society. The thing was launched upon this 
basic idea. In everything connected with it each 
one was fertile it seems in adding mystery to mys- 
tery in their meetings and personal movements. 



^ Xrf 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



57 



The initiation of a new member was made a grand 
and rollicking afPair. So complete had the mem- 
bers occasioned their little innocent society to be 
a mystery, that it became in an astonishingly brief 
time a greater enigma to themselves than even to 
outsiders. It swiftly spread from the village to the 
county, from the county to the State, and overran 
the Southern States like a racing prairie fire, 
changing in its aims and objects as rapidly as it 
had grown. From simply frightening the poor 
night-prowling darkeys, it became a vast and 
uncontrollable semi-military organization; inflict- 
ing punishment here, and there taking life, until 
the State of Tennessee was thrown into utter con- 
fusion, and the military forces were called out; 
large rewards were offered for the arrest even of 
women found making any of the paraphernalia of 
the order. Government detectives sent to pry into 
their secrets were slain, and a general reign of 
terror ensued. No rewards could induce a mem- 
ber to betray his fellows; and the efforts of the 
organizers to control the storm they had raised, 
were as idle as the buzzing of a summer fly. 
Thousands and thousands of men belonged to 
it, who knew really little or nothing about it, and 
who to this day are oblivious of the true history 
of one of the most remarkable movements of large 
bodies of men that has ever occurred in this or 
perhaps any country. It was said by leading 
members of the order that they could, in twenty- 
four hours, put tens of thousands of men in line of 
battle, all fully armed and equipped. It was 
indeed the "Invisible Empire." By its founders 
it was as innocent and harmless in its purposes as 
a Sunday-school picnic, yet in a few weeks it spread 
and grew until it overshadowed the land — but little 
else than a bloody, headless riot. The imagina- 
tions of men on the outside conjured up the most 
blood-curdling falsehoods as to its doings; while 
those inside were, it seems, equally fertile in 
schemes and devices to further mystify people, 
alarm some and terrify others, and apparently the 
wilder the story told about them, the more they 
would enjoy it. Its true history will long give it 
rank of first importance to the philosophic and 
careful, painstaking historian. 

4 



Among societies of the present day, that 
organization known as the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows is recognized as a prominent one. The 
Grand Lodge of the order in Arkansas was organ- 
ized June 11, 1849. Its first past grand master 
was John J. Horner, elected in 185-1. His siicces- 
sors to date have been as follows : James A. Henry, 
1858 ; P. O. Hooper, 1859-1866 ; Richard Bragg, 
Sr., 1862; Peter Brugman, 1867, 1868, 1871; Isaac 
Eolsom, 1873; Albert Cohen, 1874; John B. Bond, 
1876; E. B. Moore, 1878 f James S. Holmes, 1880; 
Adam Clark, 1881 ; W. A. Jett, 1882 ; James A. 
Gibson, 1884 ; George W. Hurley, 1885 ; H. S. 
Coleman, 1886, and A. S. Jett, 1887. The pres- 
ent able officers are R. P. Holt, grand master; 
J. P. Woolsey, deputy grand master; Louis C. 
Lincoln, grand warden ; Peter Brugman, grand 
secretary; H. Ehrenbers, grand treasurer; H. S. 
Coleman, grand representative; A. S. Jett, grand 
representative; Rev. L. B. Hawley, grand chap- 
lain; John R. Richardson, grand marsiial; J. G. 
Parker, grand conductor; William Mosby, grand 
guardian ; W. J. Glenn, grand herald. In the 
State there are eighty-two lodges and a total mem- 
bership, reported by the secretary at the October 
meeting, 1888, of 2,023. The revenue from sub- 
ordinate lodges amounts to $13,832, while the 
relief granted aggregates $2,840. There were 
sixteen Rebekah lodges organized in 1887-88. 

The Masonic fraternity is no less influential 
in the affairs of every part of the country, than the 
society just mentioned. There is a tradition — too 
vague for reliance — that Masonry was introduced 
into Ai'kansas by the Spaniards more than 100 
years ago, and that therefore the first lodge was 
established at Arkansas Post. Relying, however, 
upon the records the earliest formation of a lodge 
of the order was in 1819, when the Grand Lodge 
of Kentucky granted a dispensation for a lodge at 
Arkansas Post. Robert Johnson was the first mas- 
ter. Judge Andrew Scott, a Federal judge in the 
Territory, was one of its members. But before 
this lodge received its charter, the seat of govern- 
ment was removed to Little Rock, and the Arkan- 
sas Post lodge became extinct. No other lodge 
was attempted to be established until 1836, when 



!.<£ 



58 



HISTORY OF AKKANSAS. 



a dispensation was graiited Washington Lodge No. 
82, at Fayetteville, October 3, 1837. Onesimns 
Evans, was master; James McKissick, senior war- 
den; Mathew Leeper, junior warden. 

In ] 838 the Grand Lodge of Louisiana granted 
the second dispensation for a lodge at Arkansas 
Post — Morning Star Lodge No. 42; the same year 
granting a charter to Western Star Lodge No. 43, 
at Little Rock. Of this Edward Cross was master; 
Charles L. Jeffries, senior warden ; Nicholas Peay, 
junior warden. About this time the Grand Lodge 
of Alabama granted a charter to Mount Horeb 
Lodge, of Washington, Hempstead County. 

November 21, 1838, these four lodges held a 
convention at Little Rock and formed the Grand 
Lodge of Arkansas. 

The representatives at this convention were: 
From Washington Lodge No. 82, of Fayetteville, 
Onesimus Evans, past master; Washington L. Wil- 
son, Robert Bedford, Abraham Whinnery, Richard 
C. S. Brown, Samuel Adams and Williamson S. 
Oldham. 

From Western Star Lodge No. 43, of Little 
Rock, William Gilchrist, past master; Charles L. 
Jeffries, past master; Nicholas Peay, past master; 
Edward Cross, past master; Thomas Parsel, Alden 
Sprague and John Morris. 

From Morning Star Lodge No 42, of the Post 
of Arkansas. John W. Pullen. 

From Mount Horeb Lodge, of Washington, 
James H. Walker, Allen M. Oakley, Joseph W. Mc- 
Kean and James Trigg. 

Of this convention John Morris, of Western 
Star Lodge No. 43, was made secretary. Mr. 
Morris is still living (1889), a resident of Auburn, 
Sebastian County, and is now quite an old man. 
Mr. John P. Karns, of Little Rock, was in 
attendance at the convention, although not a dele- 
gate. These two are the only ones surviving who 
were present on that occasion. 

The Grand Lodge organized by the election of 
William Gilchrist, grand master; Onesimus Evans, 
deputy grand master; James H. Walker, grand sen- 
ior warden; Washington L. Wil-son, grand junior 
warden; Alden Sprague, grand treasurer, and 
George C. Watkins, grand secretary. 



The constituent lodges, their former charters be- 
ing extinct by their becoming members of a new jur- 
isdiction, took new numbers. Washington Lodge, 
at Fayetteville, became No. 1; Western Star, of 
Little Rock, became No. 2; Morning Star, of the 
Post of Arkansas, became No. 3, and Mount Horeb, 
of Washington, became No. 4. Of these Wash- 
ington No. 1, and Western Star No. 2, are in vig- 
orous life, but Morning Star No. 3, and Mount 
Horeb No. 4, have become defunct. 

From this beginning of the four lodges, with a 
membership of probably 100, the Grand Lodge 
now consists of over 400 lodges, and a member- 
ship of about 12,000. 

The following are the officers for the present 
year: R. H. Taylor, grand master, Hot Springs; 
J. W. Sorrels, deputy grand master. Farmer, 
Scott County; D. B. Warren, grand lecturer, 
Gainesville; W. A. Clement, grand orator. Rover, 
Yell County; W. K. Ramsey, grand senior ward- 
en, Camden; C. A. Bridewell, grand junior ward- 
en, Hope; George H. Meade, grand treasurer. Lit- 
tle Rock; Fay Hempstead, grand secretary. Little 
Rock; D. D. Leach, grand senior deacon, Augusta; 
Samuel Peete, grand junior deacon, Batesville; H. 
W. Brooks, grand chaplain, Hope; John B. Baxter, 
grand marshal, Brinkley; C. C. Hamby, grand 
sword bearer, Prescott; S. Solmson, senior grand 
steward, Pine Bluff: A. T. Wilson, junior grand 
steward, Eureka Springs; J. C. Churchill, grand 
pursuivant, Charlotte, Independence County: Ed. 
Metcalf, grand tyler. Little Rock. 

The first post of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, Department of Arkansas, was organized under 
authority from the Illinois Commandery, and called 
McPherson Post No. 1, of Little Rock. The 
district then passed under command of the Depart- 
ment of Missouri, and by that authority was or- 
ganized Post No. 2, at Fort Smith. 

The Provisional Department of Arkansas was 
organized June 18, 1883, Stephen Wheeler being 
department commander, and C. M. Vaughan, adju- 
tant general. A State encampment was called to 
meet at Fort Smith, July 11, 1883. Six posts were 
represented in this meeting, when the following 
State officers were elected: S. Wheeler, com- 



3<i; 



l]±. 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



59 



mander; M. Mitchell, senior vice; R. E. Jackson, 
junior vice; H. Stoue. quartermaster, and the 
following council: John F. Owen, A. S. Fowler, 
\y. W. Bailey, A. Walrath, Benton Turner. 

There are now seventy-four posts, with a mem- 
bership of 2,500, in the State. The present offi- 
cers are: Department commander, A. S. Fowler; 
senior vice commander, JohnVaughan; junior vice 
commander, E. A. Ellis; medical director, T. G. 
Miller; chaplain, T. R. Early. 

The council of administration includes A. A. 
Whissen, Thomas Boles, W. S. Bartholomew, R. 
E. Renner and I. B. Lawton. The following were 
the appointments on the staff of the department 
commander: Assistant adjutant-general, N. W. Cox; 
assistant quartermaster-general, Stejahen Wheeler; 
judge advocate, S. J. Evans; chief mustering 
officer, S. K. Robinson; department inspector, 
R. S. CuiTy. Headquarters were established at 
Little Rock, Ark. 

There are other bodies in the State whose aims 
and purposes differ materially from those previously 
mentioned. Among these is the Arkansas Bureau 
of Mines, Manufactures and Agriculture, which 
was organized as a State institution at the session 
of the legislature in 1889. The governor ap- 
pointed M. F. Locke commissioner, the latter mak- 
ing M. W. Manville assistant. They at once pro- 
ceeded to organize the dej)ai-tment and open an 
office in the State-house. The legislature appro- 
priated for the next two years for the bureau the 
sum of §18,000. 

This action of the legislatm-e was in response 
to a demand from all parts of the State, which, 
growing in volume for some time, culminated in 
the meeting in Little Rock of numerous promi- 
nent men, and the organization of the Arkansas 
State Bureau of Immigration, Januarj- 31, 1888. 
A demand from almost every county prompted 
Gov. Senior P. Hughes to issue a call for a State 
meeting. The meeting was composed only of the 
best representative citizens. Gov. Hughes, in hia 
address, stated that ' ' the State should have an 
agricultural, mining and manufacturing bureau, 
which shou.ld be a bui-eau of statistics and immi- 
gration, also." Hon. Logan H. Roots was elected 



president of the convention. He voiced the pur- 
poses of the meeting still further when he said, 
" We want to educate others on the wealth-mak- 
ing properties of our State." A permanent State 
organization was effected, one delegate from each 
county to constitute a State Board of Immigra- 
tion, and the following permanent officers were 
chosen: Logan H. Roots, of Little Rock, presi- 
dent; Dandridge McRae, of Searcy, vice-president; 
H. L. Remmel, of Newport, secretary ; George R. 
Brown, of Little Rock, treasurer; J. H. Clen- 
dening, of Fort Smith, A. M. Crow, of Arkadel- 
phia, W. P. Fletcher, of Lonoke, additional exec- 
utive committee. The executive committee issued 
a strong address and published it extensively, giv- 
ing some of the many inducements the State had 
to ofPer immigrants. The legislature conld not 
fail to properly recognize such a movement of the 
people, and so provided for the long needed bu- 
reau. 

Arkansas Agricultural Association was organ- 
ized in 1885. It has moved slowly so far, but is 
now reaching the condition of becoming a great 
and prosperous institution. The entire State is soon 
to be made into sub-districts, with minor organ- 
izations, at least one in each Congressional district, 
with a local control in each, and all will become 
stockholders and a part of the parent concern. 
A permanent State fair and suitable grounds and 
fixtures are to be provided in the near future, when 
Arkansas will successfully vie with any State in 
the Union in an annual display of its products. 

The officers of the Agricultural Association for 
1889, are as follows: Zeb. Ward, president, Little 
Rock; B. D. Williams, first vice-president. Little 
Rock; T. D. Culberhouse, vice-president First 
Congressional district; D. McRae, vice president 
Second Congressional district; W. L. Tate, vice- 
president Third Congressional district ; J. J. Sump- 
ter, vice-president Fourth Congressional district; J. 
H. Vanhoose, vice-president Fifth Congressional 
district; M. W. Manville, secretary; D.W. Bizzell, 
treasurer. 

Arkansas State Horticultural Society was or- 
ganized May 24, 1879, and incorporated January 
31, 1889. Under its completed organization the 



4t 



60 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



first fair was held in Little Rock, commencing 
Wednesday, May 15, 1889. President, E. F. Bab- 
cock; secretary, M. W. Manville; executive com 
mittee, S. H. Nowlin, chairman, Little Rock; 
George P. C. Rumbough, Little Rock; Rev. S. H. 
Buchanan, Little Rock; E. C. Kinney, Judsonia, 
and Fred Dengler, Hot Springs, constitute the 
official board. 

In 1S81 three farmers of Prairie County met 
and talked over farm matters, and concluded to 
organize a society for the welfare of the farming 
community. The movement grew with astonish- 
ing rapidity. It was organized as a secret, non- 
political society, and in matters of trade and com- 
merce proposed to give its members the benefit 
of combination. In this respect it advocated ac- 
tion in concert with all labor unions or organiza- 
tions of laborers. A State and National organiza- 
tion was efPected, and the sub-organizations, ex- 
tending to the smallest school districts, were re- 
quired to obtain authority and report to the State 
branch and it in return to the National head. Thus 
far its originators sought what they believed to be 
the true co-operative method in their business af- 
fairs. 

The next object was to secure beneficial legis- 
lation to farmers — each one to retain his polit- 
ical party afliliations, and at the ballot-box to vote 
for either farmers or those most closely identified 
with their interests as might be found on the 
respective party tickets. 

The officers of the National society are: Isaac 
McCracken, president. Ozone, Ark., and A. E. 
Gardner, secretary and treasurer, Dresden, Tenu. 
The Arkansas State Wheel officers are: L. P. 
Featherstone, president, Forrest City; R. H. 
Morehead, secretary, White Chapel, and AV. H. 
Quayle, treasurer, Ozan. 

The scheme was inviting to honest farmers and 
the humble beginning soon grew to be a most pros- 
perous society — not only extending over the State, 
but reaching boldly across the line into other 
States. When at the zenith of its prosperity, it 
is estimated there were 60,000 members of the 
order in A rkansas. This was too tempting a pros- 
pect for the busy political demagogues, and to the 



amazement of the better men in the society, they 
soon awoke to the fact that they were in the hands 
of the wily politicians. It is now estimated that 
the ranks in Arkansas are reduced to 20,000 or 
less — all for political causes. The movement now 
is to purge the society of politics and in the near 
future to meet the Farmer's Alliance in St. Louis, 
and form a combination of the two societies. - It 
is hoped by this arrangement to avoid the dema- 
gogues hereafter, and at the same time form a 
strong and permanent society, which will answer 
the best interests of the farming community. 

As stated elsewhere, the location of a capital 
for Arkansas early occupied the attention of its 
citizens. On November 20, 1821, William Rus- 
sell and others laid off and platted Little Rock 
as the future capital of the Territory and State. 
They made a plat and a bill of assurances thereto, 
subdividing the same into lots and blocks. They 
granted to Pulaski County Lots 3 and i in trust 
and on the conditions following, viz. : ' " That the 
said county of Pulaski within two years ' ' should 
erect a common jail upon said Lots 3 and 4. Out 
of this transaction grew a great deal of litigation. 
The first jail was built of pine logs in 1823. It 
stood until 1837, when it was burned, and a brick 
building was erected in its stead. This stood for 
many years, but through the growth of the city, it in 
time became a public nuisance and was condemned, 
and the location moved to the present site of the 
stone jail. 

The Territory was organized by Congress in 
1819, and the seat of government located at the 
Post of Arkansas. In the early part of 1820 
arose the question of a new site for the seat of 
government, and all eyes turned to Pulaski County. 
A capital syndicate was formed and Little Rock 
Bluff fixed upon as the future capital. The one 
trouble was that the land at this point was not yet 
in market, and so the company secured ' ' sunk land 
scrip ' ' and located this upon the selected town 
site. The west line of the Quapaw Indian reser- 
vation struck the Arkansas River at ' ' the Little 
Rock" and therefore the east line of the contem- 
plated capital had to be west of this Quapaw line. 
This town survey "west of the point of rocks. 



:f\~. 






HISTORY or ARKANSAS. 



61 



immediateh- south of the Arkansas River, and 
west of the Quapaw line," was surveyed and re- 
turned to the recorder at St. Louis as the new town 
site and Territorial capital — called Little Rock. 
The dedication of the streets, etc. , and the plat as 
laid off, was dated November 10, 1821. Grounds 
were given for a State house, and other public 
buildings and purposes, and for " the permanent 
seat of justice of said county (^Pulaski)" was ded- 
icated an entire half square, ' ' bounded on the north 
by Markham Street and on the west by Spring 
Street and on the south by Cherry (now Second) 
Street" for court house purposes. In return the 
county was to erect a court house and jail on the 
lots specified for these purposes, "within ten 
years from the date hereof. ' ' A market house was 
to be erected by the city on Lots 4 and 5, Block 99. 
The latter in time was built on these lots, the upper 
story containing a council chamber, which was in 
public use until 1S04, when the present city hall 
was erected. 

By an act of the legislature, October 24, 1821, 
James Billingsly, Crawford County, Samuel C. 
Roane, Clark County, and Robert Bean, Inde- 
pendence County, were appointed commissioners, 
"to fix on a proper place for the seat of justice of 
the County of Pulaski;" the act further specify- 
ing "they shall take into consideration donations 
and future divisions." The latter part of the 
sentence is made still more important by the fact 
that at that time the western boundary of Pulaski 
County was 100 miles west, at the mouth of Petit 
Jean, and the eastern boundary was a few miles 
below Pine Bluff. 

October 18,1820, the Territorial seat of govern- 
ment was removed from the Post of Arkansas to 
the Little Rock, the act to take effect June 1, 1821. 
It provided "that there shall l)e a bond * * * 
for the faithful performance of the promise and 
good faith by which the seat of government is 
moved. ' ' 

In November, 1821, about the last of the belong- 
ings of the Territorial capital at the Post were 
removed to Little Rock. It was a crossing point 
on the river of the government road leading to 
Missouri, and the i^lace had often been designated 



as the "Missouri Crossing," but the French had 
generally called it Arkapolis. 

During the short time the Territorial capital 
was at Arkansas Post, no effort was made to erect 
public buildings, as from the first it was under- 
stood this was but a temporary location. When 
the capital came to Little Rock a one -story double 
log house was liuilt, near the spot where is now 
the Presbyterian Church, or near the corner of 
Scott and Fifth Streets. This building was in 
the old style of two rooms, with an open space 
between, but all under the same roof. In 1826 
the log building was superseded by a one-story 
frame. March 2, 1831, Congress authorized the 
Territory to select ten sections of land and appro- 
priate the same toward erecting capitol buildings; 
and in 1832 it empowered the governor to lease 
the salt springs. With these different funds was 
erected the central building of the present capitol, 
the old representative hall being where is now the 
senate chamber. In 1886, when Arkansas became 
a State, there was yet no plastering in any part of 
the brick building, and in the assemlsly halls were 
plain pine board tables and old fashioned split 
bottomed chairs, made in Little Rock. 

In 1886. at the remarkably small cost of $35,000, 
were added the additions and improvements and 
changes in the capitol building, completing it in 
its present form. And if the same wisdom con- 
trols the State in the future that has marked the 
past, especially in the matter of economy in its 
public buildings, there will be only a trifling 
additional expenditure on public biiildings during 
the next half century. The State biaildings are 
sufficient for all public needs; their plainness and 
cheapness are a pride and glory, fitting monuments 
to the past and present generation of rulers and 
law makers, testifj'ing to their intelligence and 
integrity. 

The State library was started March 3, 1838, at 
first solely as a reference and exchange medium. 
It now has an annual allowance of $100, for pur- 
chasing books and contains 25,000 volumes, really 
more than can suitably be accommodated. 

The Supreme Court library was established in 
January, 1851. It has 8,000 volumes, including 



A, a 



^ 9 



62 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



all the reports and the leading law works. The 
fees of attorneys' license upon admission to the 
bar, of ten dollars, and a dollar docket fee in each 
case in court, constitute the fund provided for the 
library. 

The State Medical Society, as now constituted, 
was formed in May, 1875. It held its fourteenth 
annudl session in 1889, at Pine BlufF. Edward 
Bentley is the acting president, and L. P. Gibson, 
secretary. Subordinate societies are formed in all 
parts of the State and are represented by regular 
delegates in the general assemblies. In addition to 
the officers for the current year above given are 
Z. Orts, assistant secretary, A. J. Vance, C S, 
Gray, B. Hatchett and W. H. Hill, vice presidents 
in the order named. 

The State Board of Health was established by 
act of the legislature, March 23, 1881. It is com- 
posed of six commissioners, appointed by the gov- 
ernor, "a majority of whom are to be medical grad- 
uates and of seven years ' practice in the profes- 
sion. " The board is required to meet once in 
every three months. The secretary is allowed a 
salary of $1,000 per annum, but the others receive 
no compensation except traveling expenses in the 
discharge of official duties. 

The present board is composed of Dr. A. L. 
Breysacher, president ; Dr. Lorenzo R. Gibson, sec- 
retary ; Doctors J. A. Dibrell, P. Van Patton, W. 
A. Cantrell and V. Brunson. 

The beginning which resulted in the present 
elegant State institution for deaf mutes was a school 
established near the close of the late war, in Little 
Rock, by Joseph Mount, an educated mute, who 
gathered a few of these unfortunate ones together 
and taught a private school. The State legislature 
incorporated the school and made a small provision 
for it, July 17, 1868, the attendance that year 
being four pupils. The buildings are on the beau- 
tiful hill just west of the Union Depot, the im- 
provement of the grounds being made in 1869. 
The attendance in 1870 was 43 pupils, which in 
the last session's report, 1888, reached the number 
of 109; and the superintendent, anticipating an at- 
tendance for the cuiTent two years of 150, has 
solicited appropriations accordingly. 



The board of trustees of the Deaf Mute Insti- 
tute includes: Hon. George E. Dodge, president; 
Col. S. L. Griffith, vice-president; Maj. R. H. Par- 
ham, Jr., secretary; Hon. W. E. Woodruff, treas- 
urer; Maj. George H. Meade and Col. A. R. Witt. 
The officers are: Principal, Francis D. Clarke; 
instructors: John W. Michaels, Mrs. I. H. Carroll, 
Miss Susan B. Harwood, Miss Kate P. Brown, Miss 
Emma Wells, S. C. Bright; teacher of articulation, 
Miss Lottie Kirkland. Mrs. M. M. Beattie is 
matron; Miss Lucind:i Nations, assistant ; Miss 
Clara Abbott, supervises the sewing, and Mrs. 
Amanda Harley is housekeeper. The visiting phy- 
sician is J. A. Dibrell, Jr. , M. D. ; foreman of the 
printing office, T. P. Clarke; foreman of the shoe 
shop, U. G. Dunn. Of the total appropriations 
asked for the current two years, $80,970, $16,570 
is for improvements in buildings, grounds, school 
apparatus, or working departments. 

The Arkansas School for the Blind was incor- 
porated by act of the legislature, February 4, 1859, 
and opened to pupils the same year in Arkadel- 
phia. In the year of 1868 it was removed to Little 
Rock, and suitable grounds purchased at the foot 
of Center Street, on Eighteenth Street. 

This is not an asylum for the aged and infirm, 
nor a hospital for the treatment of disease, but a 
school for the young of both sexes, in which are 
taught literature, music and handcraft Pupils 
between six and twenty-six years old are received, 
and an oculist for the purpose of treating pupils 
is a part of its benefits; no charge is made for 
board or tuition, but friends are expected to fur- 
nish clothing and traveling expenses. 

It is estimated there are 300 blind of school 
age in the State. The legislature has appro- 
priated $140 a year for each pupil. On this allow- 
ance in two years the steward reported a balance 
unexpended of $1,686.84. In 1886 was appro- 
priated $6,000 to build a workshop, store-room, 
laundry and bake-oven. In 1860 the attendance 
was ten — five males and five females; in 1862, 
seven males and six females. The year 1888 
brought the attendance U2) to fifty males and fifty- 
two females, or a total of 102. During the last 
two years six have graduated here — three in the 



^: 



J '*y " 



v^- 



HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 



63 



industrial dejaaitment, and three in the industrial 
and literary dejaattment. Four have been dis- 
missed on account of recovered eyesight. 

The trustees of the school are: J. E. Right- 
sell, S. M. Marshall. W. C. Katcliffe, J.W. House, 
and D. G. Fones; the superintendent being John 
H. Dye. 

Another commendable institution, carefully 
providing for the welfare of those dethroned of 
reason, is the Arkansas State Lunatic Asylum, 
which was authorized by act of the legislature of 
1873, when suitable grounds were purchased, and 
highly improved, and buildings erected. The in 
stitution is three miles west of the cajaitol and one- 
half mile north of the Mount Ida road. Eighty acres 
of ground were originally purchased and enclosed 
and are now reaching a high state of improve- 
ment. The resident population of the asylum at 
present is 500 souls, and owing to the crowded 
conditions an additional eighty acres were pur- 
chased in 1887, making in all 160 acres. A care- 
ful inquiry shows there are in the State (and not in 
the asylum, for want of room) 198 insane persons, 
entitled under the law to the benefits of the insti- 
tution. Of the 411 patients in the asylum in 1888, 
only four were pay patients. 

John G. Fletcher, R. K. Walker, A. L. Brey- 
sacher, John D. Adams and A^illiam J. Little are 
trustees of the institution, while Dr. P. O. Hooi^er 
is superintendent. 

In 1885 the legislature made an appropriation 
of $92,500 for the erection of additional buildings 
and other needed improvements. This fund was 
not all used, but the remainder was returned into 
the State treasury. The total cuiTent expenses for 
the year 1887 aggregated $45, 212. 60. The current 
expenses on patients the same year were $29, 344. 80. 
The comfort of the unfortunates — the excellence of 
the service, the wholesome food given them, and at 
the same time the minimum cost to the tax payers, 
prove the highest possible commendation to those 
in charge. 

The Arkansas Industrial University is the prom- 
ise, if not the present fulfillment, of one of the 
most important of State institutions. It certainly 
deserves the utmost attention from the best people 



of the State, as it is destined to become in time one 
of the great universities of the world. It should 
be placed in position to be self-supporting, be- 
cause education is not a public pauper and never 
can be permanently successful on charity. Any 
education to be had mttst be earned. This law of 
nature can no more be set aside than can the law 
of gravitation, and the ignorance of such a simple 
fact in statesmen and educators has cost our civili- 
zation its severest pains and penalties. 

The industrial department of the institution 
was organized in June, 1885. The act of incor- 
poration provided that all males should work at 
manual labor three hours each day and be paid 
therefor ten cents an hour. Seven thousand 
dollars was appropriated to equip the shops. Prac- 
tical labor was defined to be not only farm and 
shop work, but also surveying, drawing and labor- 
atory practice. Mechanical arts and engineering 
became a part of the curriculum. The large major- 
ity of any people must engage in industrial pur- 
suits, and to these industrial development and 
enlightenment and comfort go hand-in-hand. 
Hence the real people's school is one of manual 
training. Schools of philosophy and literature will 
take care of themselves; think of a school (classical) 
endeavoring to train a Shakespeare or Burns ! To 
have compelled either one of these to graduate at 
Oxford would have been like clipping the wings 
of the eagle to aid his upward flight. In the edu- 
cation at least of children nature is omnipotent and 
pitiless, and it is the establishment of such train- 
ing schools as the Arkansas Industrial University 
that gives the cheering evidence of the world's 
progress. In its continued prosperity is hope for 
the near future; its failure through ignorance or 
bigotry in the old and worn out ideas of the dead 
past, will go far toward the confirmation of the 
cruel cynicism that the most to be pitied animal 
pellmelled into the world is the new-born babe. 

The University is situated at Fayetteville, 
Washington County. It was organized by act of 
the legislature, based on the "Land Grant Act" 
of Congress of 1862, and supplemented by liberal 
donations from the State, the County of Wash- 
ington, and the city of Fayetteville. The school 



p ;. 



64 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



was opened ia 1872. March 30, 1877, the legisla- 
ture passed the act knowu as the ' ' Barker Bill, ' ' 
which made nearly a complete change in the pur- 
view of the school and brought prominently for- 
ward the agricultural and mechanical departments. 
"To gratify om- ambitious" [but mistaken] 
"youth," says the prospectus, " we have, under 
Section 7 of the act, provided for instruction in the 
classics." 

Under the act of Congress known as the 
"Hatch Bill," an Agricultural Experimental Sta- 
tion has been organized. Substantial buildings 
are now provided, and the cost of board in the in- 
stitution is reduced to $S per month. The attend- 
ance at the present time is ninety -sis students, 
and steps are being taken to form a model stock- 
farm. The trustees, in the last rejjort, say: "We 
recommend that girls be restored to the privi- 
leges of the institution." The law only excludes 
females from being beneficiaries, and females may 
still attend as pay students. 

A part of the University is a branch Normal 
School, established at Pine Bluff, for the purpose 
of educating colored youth to be school teachers. 
These Normal Schools have for some years been 
a favorite and expensive hobby in most of the 
Northern States. There is probably no question 
that, for the promotion of the cause of education 
among the negroes, they offer unusual attractions. 

The following will give the reader a clear com- 
Drehension of the school and its purposes. Its 
departments are: 

Mechanic arts and engineering, agriculture, 
experiment station, practical work, English and 
modern languages, biology and geology, military 



science and tactics, mathematics and logic, prepara- 
tory department, drawing and industrial art, and 
music. 

To all these departments is now added the med- 
ical department, located at Little Rock. This 
branch was founded in 1871, and has a suitable 
building on Second Street. The tenth annual 
course of lectures in this institution commenced 
Octobers, 1888; the tenth annual commencement 
being held March 8, 1889. The institution is self- 
supporting, and already it ranks among the fore- 
most medical schools in the country. The graduat- 
ing class of 1888 numbered twenty. 

The State Board of Visitors to the medical 
school are Doctors W. W. Hipolite, W. P. Hart, 
W. B. Lawrence, J. M. Keller, I. Folsom. 

The debt of Arkansas is not as large as a cur- 
sory glance at the figures might indicate. The 
United States government recently issued a statis- 
tical abstract concerning the public debt of this 
State that is very misleading, and does it a great 
wrong. In enumerating the debts of the States it 
puts Arkansas at $12,029, 100. This error comes 
of including the bonds issued for railroad and levee 
purposes, that have been decided by the Supreme 
Court null and void, to the amount of nearly 
110,000,000. They are therefore no part of the 
State indebtedness. 

The real debt of the State is S2, 111,000, 
including principal and accumulated interest. 
There is an amount in excess of this, if there is 
included the debt due the general government, 
but for all such the State has counter claims, and 
it is not therefore estimated in giving the real 
indebtedness. 




rnc 






HISTORY OF AEKAXSA.S. 



65 



W W 



-!-»-!- 



The Bench and Bar— An Analytic View of the Profession of Law— Spanish and French Laws- 
English Common Law— The Legal Circuit Eiders- Territorial Law and Lawtees 
—The Court Circuits— Early Court Officers- The Supreme Court— Projii- 
NENT Members of the State Bench and Bar— The Standard 
of the Execution of Law in the State. 



Laws do not put the least restraint 
Upon our freedom, but maintain 't; 
Or if tiiey do. 'tis for our good. 
To give us freer latitude; 
For wholesome laws preserve us free 
By stinting of our liberty. — Butler. 




HE Territory when under 
Spanish or French rule 
was governed by much the 
same laws and customs. 
The home government ap- 
pointed its viceroys, who 
were little more than nomi- 
nnder the control of the 
king, except in the general laws 
of the mother country. The neces- 
sary local provisions in the laws 
j r were not strictly required to be 
I , tc) submitted for approval to the mas- 
' iV^ter powers before being enforced 
in the colony. Both govern- 
ments were eqtially liberal in 
bestowing the lands upon sub- 
jects, and as a rule, without cost. But the shadow 
of feudal times still lingered over each of them, 
and they had no conception that the real people 
would want to be small landholders, supposing 
that in the new as in the old world they would 
drift into villanage, and in some sense be a part 
of the possession of the landed aristocracy. Hence, 



these governments are seen taking personal charge 
as it were of the colonies; providing them masters 
and protectors, who, with government aid, would 
transport and in a certain sense own them and 
their labor after their arrival. The grantee of cer- 
tain royal rights and privileges in the new world 
was responsible to the viceroy for his colony, and 
the viceroy to the king. The whole was anti-dem- 
ocratic of course, and was but the continued and 
old, old idea of "the divine rights of rulers." 

The commentaries of even the favorite law- 
writers today in this democratic country are 
blurred on nearly every page with that monstrous 
heresj', "the king can do no wrong'' — the gov- 
erning power is infallible, it needs no watching, no 
jealous eye that will see its errors or its crimes ; a 
fetich to be blindly worshiped, indiscriminately, 
whether it is an angel of mercy or a monster of 
evil. When Cannibal was king he was a god, with 
no soul to dictate to him the course he pursued. 
"The curiosities of patriotism under adversity" 
just here suggests itself as a natitral title-page to 
one of the most remarkable books yet to be written. 

The bench and bar form a very peculiar result 



-^ 



66 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of modern civilization — to-day figbting the most 
heroic battles for the poor and the oppressed ; to- 
morrow, perhaps, expending equal zeal and elo- 
quence in the train of the bloody usurper and ty- 
rant. As full of inconsistencies as insincerity it- 
self, it is also as noted for as wise, conservative and 
noble efforts in behalf of our race as ever distin- 
guished patriot or sage. 

The dangers which beset the path of the law- 
yer are a blind adherence to precedent, and a love 
of the abstruse technicalities of the law practice. 
When both or either of these infirmities enter the 
soul of the otherwise young and rising practitioner, 
his usefulness to his fellow man is apt to be perma- 
nently impaired. He may be the "learned judge," 
but will not be the great and good one. 

The history of the bench and bar should be 
an instructive one. The inquirer, commencing in 
the natural order of all real history, investigating 
the cause or the fountain source, and then follow- 
ing up the efPects flowing from causes, is met at 
the threshold with the question, Why ? What 
natural necessity created this vast and expensive 
supernumerary of civilization ? The institution in 
its entirety is so wide and involved, so comprehen- 
sive and expensive, with its array of court officials, 
great temples, its robes, ermine and wool-sacks; its 
halls, professors, schools and libraries, that the 
average mind is oppressed with the attempt to 
grasp its outlines. In a purely economic sense it 
produces not one blade of grass. After having 
elucidated this much of the investigation as best 
he can, he comes to a minor one, or the details 
of the subject. For illustration's sake, let it be 
assumed that he will then take up the considera- 
tion of grand juries, their origin, history and present 
necessity for existence. These are mere hints, but 
such as will arrest the attention of the student of law 
of philosophical turn of mind. They are nothing 
more than the same problems that come in every 
department of history. The school of the lawyer 
is to accept precedent, the same as it is a common 
human instinct to accept what comes to him from 
the fathers— assuming everything in its favor and 
combating everything that would dispute "the 
old order." It is the exceptional mind which 



looks ancient precedent in the face and asks ques- 
tions, W'hence ? Why ? Whither ? These are gen- 
erally inconvenient queries to indolent content, 
but they are the drive- wheels of moving civiliza- 
tion. 

One most extraordinary fact forever remains, 
namely, that lawyers and statesmen never unfolded 
the science of political economy. This seems a 
strange contradiction, but nevertheless it is so. 
The story of human and divine laws is much alike. 
The truths have not lieen found, as a rule, by the 
custodians of the temples. The Rev. Jaspers are still 
proclaiming ' ' the world do move. ' ' Great states- 
men are still seriously regulating the nation's 
' ' balance of trade, ' ' the price of interest on money, 
and through processes of taxation enriching peo- 
ples, while the dear old precedents have for 100 
years been demonstrated to be myths. They are 
theoretically dead with all intelligent men, but 
are very much alive in fact. Thus the social 
life of every people is full of most amusing curi- 
osities, many gf Ihem harmless, many that are not. 

The early bench and bar of Arkansas produced 
a strong and virile race of men. The pioneers of 
this important class of community possessed vigor- 
ous minds and bodies, with lofty ideals of personal 
honor, and an energy of integrity admirably litted 
to the tasks set before them. 

The law of the land, the moment the Louisi- 
ana purchase was effected, was the English com- 
mon law, that vast and marvelous structure, the 
growth of hundreds of years of bloody English 
history, and so often the apparent throes of civil- 
ization. 

The circuit riders composed the first bench 
and bar here, as in all the western States. In 
this State especially the accounts of the law prac- 
tice —the long trips over the wide judicial circuits; 
the hardships endured, the dangers encountered 
from swollen streams ere safe bridges spanned 
them; the rough accommodations, indeed, some- 
times the absence of shelter from the raging ele- 
ments, and amid all this their jolly happy-go-lucky 
life, their wit and fun, their eternal electioneering, 
for every lawyer then was a politician ; their quick- 
ened wits and schemes and devices to advantage 



^; 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



67 



each other, both in and out of the courts, if all 
could be told in detail, would read like a fascinat- 
ing romance. These riders often traveled in com- 
panies of from three to fifteen, and among them 
would be found the college and law-school gradu- 
ates, and the brush graduates, associated in some 
cases and opposed in others. And here, as in all 
the walks of life, it was often found that thorough, 
self educated men overmatched the graduates in 
their fiercest contests. While one might understand 
more of the books and of the learned technicalities 
of law, the other would know the jury best, and 
overthrow his antagonist. In the little old log 
cabin court rooms of those days, when the court 
was in session, the contest of the legal gladiators 
went on from the opening to the closing of the 
term. Generally the test was before a jury, and 
the people gathered from all the surrounding coun- 
try, deeply interested m every movement of the 
actors. This was an additional stimulus to the 
lawyer politicians, who well understood that their 
ability was gauged by the crowd, as were their suc- 
cesses before the jury. Thus was it a combination 
of the forum and "stumj)." Here, sometimes in 
the conduct of a noted case, a seat in Congress 
would be won or lost. A seat in Congress, or on 
the "wool sack," was the ambition of nearly every 
circuit rider. Their legal encounters were fought 
out to the end. Each one was dreadfully in earn- 
est — he practiced no assumed virtues in the strug- 
gle; battling as much at least for himself as his 
client, he would yield only under compulsion, even 
in the minor points, and, unfortunately, sometimes 
in the heat of ardor, the contest would descend 
from a legal to a personal one. and then the handy 
duello code was a ready resort. It seems it was 
this unhappy mixture of law and politics that 
caused many of these bloody personal encounters. 
In the pure practice of the law, stripped of polit- 
ical bearings, there seldom, if ever, came misunder- 
standings. 

They must have been a fearless and earnest 
class of men to brave the hardships of professional 
life, as well as mastering the endless and involved 
intricacies of the legal practice of that day. The 
law then was but little less than a mass of un- 



meaning technicalities. A successful practitioner 
required to have at his fingers' ends at least Black- 
stone' s Commentaries and Chitty's Pleadings, and 
much of the wonders contained in the Rules of 
Evidence. Libraries were then scarce and their 
privations here were nearly as great as in the com- 
mon comforts for "man and beast." There have 
been vast improvements in the simplifying of the 
practice, the abolition of technical pleadings es- 
pecially, since that time, and the young attorney 
of to-day can hardly realize what it was the pio- 
neers of his profession had to undergo. 

A judicial circuit at that early day was an im- 
mense domain, over which the bench and bar 
regularly made semi-annual trips. Sometimes 
they would not more than get around to their 
starting point before it would be necessary to 
go all over the ground again. Thus the court was 
almost literally ' ' in the saddle. ' ' The saddle-bags 
were their law offices, and some of them, upon 
reaching their respective county-seats, would sig- 
nalize their brief stays with hard work all day in 
the court-room and late roystering at the tavern 
bar at night, regardless of the demurrers, pleas, 
replications, rejoinders and surrejoinders, declara- 
tions and bills that they knew must be confronted 
on the morrow. Among these jolly sojourners, 
"during court week" in the villages, dignity and 
circumspection were often given over exclusively 
to the keeping of the judge and prosecutor. Cir- 
cumstances thus made the bench and bar as social 
a set as ever came together. To see them return- 
ing after their long journeyings, sunburned and 
weatherbeaten, having had but few advantages of 
the laundry or bathtub, they might have passed for 
a returning squad of cavalry in the late war. One 
eccentric character made it a point never to start 
with any relays to his wardrobe. When he reached 
home after his long pilgrimage it would be noticed 
that his clothes had a stuffed appearance. The 
truth was that when clean linen was needed he 
bought new goods and slipped them on over the 
soiled ones. He would often tell how he dreaded 
the return to his home, as he knew that after his 
wife attended to his change of wardrobe he was 
' ' most sure to catch cold. ' ' 



:rz 



v> 



68 



HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 



On one occasion two members of the bar met 
at a county seat ■where court was in session a week. 
They had c me from opposite directions, one of 
them riding a borrowed horse seventy miles, while 
the other on his own horse had traveled over 100 
miles. Upon starting home they unwittingly ex- 
changed horses, and neither discovered the mistake 
until informed by friends after reaching their des- 
tination. The horses could hardly have been more 
dissimilar, but the owners detected no change. It 
was nearly the value of the animals to make the 
return exchange, yet each set out, and finally re- 
turned with the projser horse. No little ingenuity 
must have been manifested in finally unraveling 
the great mystery of the afPair. 

Surrounded as they were with all these ill con- 
ditions, as a body of men they were nevertheless 
learned in the law, great in the forum, able and 
upright on the bench. Comparisons are odious, 
but it is nothing in disparagement to the present 
generation of courts and lawyers, to say that to be 
equally great and worthy with these men of the 
early bench and bar of Arkansas, is td exalt and 
ennoble the profession in the highest degree. 

Sixty years have now passed since the first 
coming of the members of this calling to the State 
of Arkansas. In IS 19 President Monroe appointed 
James Miller, governor, Robert Crittenden, secre- 
tary, and Charles Jouitt, Andrew Scott and Robert 
P. Letcher, judges of the Superior Court, for the 
new Territory of .Arkansas. All these, it seems, 
except Gov. Miller, were promptly at the post of 
duty and in the discharge of their respective ofiices. 
In the absence of Mr. Miller, Mr Crittenden was 
acting governor. These men not only constituted 
the first bench and bar, but the first Territorial offi- 
cials and the first legislature. They were all lo- 
cated in the old French town of Arkansas Post. 
The lawyers and judges were the legislative body, 
which enacted the laws to be enforced in their re- 
spective districts. At their first legislative session 
they established but five statute laws, and from 
this it might be inferred that there were few and 
simple laws in force at that time, but the reader 
will remember that from the moment of the Louis- 
iana purchase all the new territory passed under 



the regulation and control of the English common 
law — substantially the same system of laws then 
governing England. 

It is a singular comment on American juris- 
prudence that this country is still boasting the pos- 
I session of the English habeas corpus act, wrung 
I by those sturdy old barons from King John, — a 
government by the people, universal suffrage, 
! where the meanest voter is by his vote also a sov- 
j ereign, and therefore he protects himself against 
! — whom? — why. against himself by the English 
, habeas corpiis act, which was but the great act of 
j a great people that first proclaimed a higher right 
I than was the " divine right of kings. ' ' When these 
j old Englishmen presented the alternative to King 
I John, the writ or the headsman's ax, he very sensi- 
( bly chose the lesser of the two great inconven- 
iences. And from that moment the vital meaning 
of the phrase '"the divine right of kings" was 
dead in England. 

In America, where all vote, the writ of habeas 
corpus has been time and time again suspended, 
and there are foolish men now who would gladly 
resort to this untoward measure, for the sake of 
party success in elections. There is no language of 
tongue or pen that can carry a more biting sar- 
casm on our boasted freemen or free institutions 
than this almost unnoticed fact in our history. 

One of the acts of the first legislative session 
held in August, 1S19, was to divide the Territory 
into two judicial circuits. As elsewhere stated, the 
counties of Arkansas and Lawrence constituted the 
First circuit; Pulaski, Clark and Hempstead Coun- 
ties forming the Second. 

The judges of the Superior Courts were as- 
signed to the duties of the difPerent circuits. At 
the first real Territorial legislature, composed of 
representatives elected by the people, the Territory 
was divided into three judicial circuits. The 
courts, however, for the different circuits, were all 
held at the Territorial capital. There was no cir- 
cuit riding, therefore, at this time. 

Judicial circuits and judges residing therein 
were not a part of judiciary affairs until 1823. The 
judges of the First circuit from that date, with time 
of appointment and service, were: T. P. Eskridge, 






N" 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



69 



December 10, 1823; Andrew Scott, April 11, 1827; 
Sam C. Roane, April 17, 1829-36. The list of 
prosecuting attorneys includes: W. B. R. Horner, 
November 1, 1823; Thomas Hubbard, November 
5, 1828, to February 15, 1832; G. D. Royston, 
September 7, 1833; Shelton Watson, October 4, 
1835; A. G. Stephenson, January 23, 1836. 

Of the Second circuit the judges were: Richard 
Searcy, December 10, 1828, and J. W. Bates, 
November, 1825, to 1836; while the prosecuting 
attorneys were R. C. Oden, November 1, 1823; A. 
H. Sevier, January 19, 1824 (resigned); Sam C. 
Roane, September 26, 1826; Bennett H. Martin, 

January 30, 1831; Absalom Fowler. ; D. L. 

F. Royston, July 25, 1835; Townsend Dickin- 
son, November 1, 1823; A. F. May, March 29, 
1825 (died in office); W. H. Parrott, April 21, 
1827; S. S. Hall, August 31, 1831; J. W. Robert- 
son, September 17, 1833; E. B. Ball, July 19, 
1836. 

Samuel S. Hall was judge of the Third circuit, 
serving from December, 1823, to 1836. As pros- 
ecuting attorneys, are found the names of T. Dick- 
inson, January 10, 1823; A. D. G. Davis, June 
21, 1829; S. G. Sneed, November 11, 1831; David 
Walker, September 13, 1833; Thomas Johnson, 
October 4, 1835; W. F. Denton, January 23, 1836. 

The appointment of Charles Caldwell as judge 
of the Fourth circuit dates from December 27, 
1828; while E. T. Clark, February 13, J 830; J. C. 
P. Tolleson, February 1, 1831; and W. K. Sebas- 
tian, from January 25, 1833, served as prosecuting 
attorneys. 

The Supreme Court of Arkansas has ever com- 
prised among its members men of dignity, wisdom 
and keen legal insight. The directory of these 
officials contains the names of many of those whose 
reputation and influence are far more than local. 
It is as follows: 

Chief justices: Daniel Ringo, 1836; Thomas 
Johnson, 1844; George C. Watkins, 1852 (re- 
signed); E. H. English, 1854 (also Confederate); 
T. D. W. Yonley. 1864 (Murphy constitution); E. 
Baxter, 1864 (under Murphy regime); David 
Walker, 1866 (ousted by military); W. W. Wil- 
shire, 1868 (removed); John McClure, 1871, (re- 



ipoved); E. H. English, 18(4. Sterling R. Cock- 
rill is pi-esent chief justi? 

Associate justices: Thomas J. Lacey, 1836; 
Townsend Dickinson, 1836; George W. Paschal, 
1842; W. K. Sebastian, 1843; W. S. Oldham, 
1845; Edward Cross, 1845; William Conway, 1846; 
C. C. Scott, 1848; David Walker, 1847 and 1874; 
Thomas B. Hanley, 1858 (resigned); F. I. Batson, 
1858 (resigned); H. F. Fairchild, 1860 (died); 
Albert Pike, 1861 (also Confederate); J. J. Clen- 
denin, 1866 (ousted); T. M. Bowen, 1868; L. 
Gregg, 1868; J. E. Bennett, 1871; M. L. Steph- 
enson, 1872; E. J. Searle, 1872; W. M. Harrison, 
1874; J. T. Bearden, 1874 (appointed); Jesse 
Turner, 1878; J. R. Eakin, 1878; W. W. Smith, 
1882; B. B. Battle, 1885, re-elected. By law 
three additional judges were elected April 2, 1889: 
Simon B. Hughes, \V. E. Hemingway and Mont. 
H. Sandels. 

Reporters: Alberl Pike, N. W. Cox, E. H. 
English. J. M. Moore, L. E. Barber, B. D. Turner 
and W. W. Mansfield (present incumbent). 

Clerks: H. Haralson, L. E. Barber, N. W. Cox, 
and W. P. Campbell (in office). 

Special chief justices: William Story, F. W. 
Compton, J. L. Witherspoon, S. H. Hempstead, 

C. B. Moore, Thomas Johnson, R. A. Howard, 
George A. Gallagher, B. B. Battle, Sam W. Will- 
iams, A. B. Williams, G. N Cousin, Isaac Strain, 
N'. Haggard, Edward Cross, R. C. S. Brown, L. 
A.. Pindall, Sam C. Roane, George Conway, Sack- 
field Macklinin, John Whytock, C. C. Farrelley, 
W. W. Smith, W. I. Warwick, B. B. Morse, B. 

D. Turner, George W. Caruth, S. H. Harring- 
ton. 

In this list are the names of nearly all early 
members of the Arkansas bar. Commencino- here 
as young attorneys in their profession, many of • 
them have left illustrious names — names that adorn 
the history of the State and Nation, and time 
will not dim nor change the exalted esteem now 
given them. Not one of them but that was an ex- 
ample of that wonderful versatility of American 
genius — the young lawyer becoming great in the 
practice of his profession in the wild wood; or cel- 
ebrated on the bench for decisions that came to the 



2iJ. 



-^ 9 



70 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



world like beacon lights from the. unknown land; 
or as senators holding civilized people spellbound 
by their wisdom and eloquence; and all, at all times, 
listening for their country's call to play as con- 
spicuous a part in camp and field as they had in 
the walks of civil life. To undertake all these 
things is not wonderful with a people so cosmopol- 
itan as those of the west, but to be preeminent in 
each or all alike is most remarkable. 

Of this brilliant galaxy of pioneer legal lights 
— giants indeed — there now remain as a connect- 
ing link with the present generation only the ven- 
erable Gren. Albert Pike, of Washington City, and 
Judge Jesse Turner, of Van Buren. 

Writing in a reminiscent way of the bench and 
bar, Albert Pike says: "When I came to the bar 
there were William Cummins, Absalom Fowler, 
Daniel Ringo, Chester Ashley, and Samuel Hall, 
at Little Rock. I served on a jury in 1834 where 
Robert Crittenden was an attorney in the case ; the 
judge was Benjamin Johnson, who died in Decem- 
ber, 1834, at Vicksburg. Parrott and Oden died 
before I went to Little Rock. Judge William 
Trimble was an old member of the bar when I en- 
tered it, as was Col. Horner, of Helena. Thomas 
B. Hanley had recently come to Helena from Louis- 
iana. I think Maj. Thomas Hubbard and George 
Conway were practicing at Washington in 1835. 
Judge Andrew Scott had been Territorial judge, but 
retired and lived in Pope County. Frederick W. 
Trapnall and John W. Cocke came from Kentucky 
to Little Rock in 1836, and also William C. Scott 
and his f)artner, Blanchard. I think Samuel H. 
Hempstead and John J. Clendenin came in 1836. 
John B. Floyd lived and practiced law in Chicot 
County. ' ' Gen. Pike further mentions Judge David 
Walker, John Linton, Judges Hoge and Sneed, 
John M. Wilson, Alfred W. Wilson, Archibald 
Yell, Judge Fowler, Judge Richard C. S. Brown, 
Bennett H. Martin, Philander Little, Jesse Turner 
and Sam W. Williams as among the eminent law- 
yers of the early courts of Arkansas. 

The list of those who have occupied positions 
as circuit judges and prosecuting attorneys in the 
various circuits, will be found of equal interest 
with the names mentioned in connection with a 



higher tribunal. It is as below, the date affixed 
indicating the beginning of the term of service: 

Judges of the First circuit: W. K. Sebastian, 
November 19, 1840; J. C. P. Tolleson, February 
8, 1843; JohnT. Jones, December 2,1842; MarkW. 

Alexander, ; George W. Beasley, September 

6, 1855; C. W. Adams. November 2, 1852; Thomas 

B. Hanley, ; E. C. Bronough, August 25, 

1858; O. H. Gates, March 3, 1859; E. C. Bronough, 
August 23, 1860; Jesse M. Houks, September 17, 
1865; John E. Bennett, July 23, 1868; C. C. Wat- 
ers, February 23, 1871; M. L. Stephenson, March 
24, 1871; W^ H. H. Clayton, March 10, 1873; J. 
N. Cypert, October 31, 1874; M. T. Saunders, 
October 30, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: W. S. 
Mosley, November 14, 1840; A. J. Greer, Novem- 
ber 9, 1841; S. S. Tucker, January 20, 1840; 
Alonzo Thomas, August 5, 1842; W. N. Stanton, 
December 2, 1842; N. M. Foster, December 4, 
1843; A. H. Ringo, March 2, 1849; H. A. Bad- 
ham, March 12, 1851; L. L. Mack, September 
6, 1855; S. W. Childress, August 30, 1856; Lin- 
coln Featherstone, August 23, 1860; Z. P. H Farr, 
December 1, 1862; B. C. Brown, January 7, 1865; 
P. O. Thweat, October 15, 1866; C. B. Fitzpatrick, 
March 16, 1871; W. H. H. Clayton, March 23, 
1871; Eugene Stephenson, April 23, 1878; C. A. 
Otey. October 31, 1874; D. D. Leach, October 13, 
1876; P. D. McCulloch (three terms); Greenfield 
Quarles, October 30, 1884; S. Brundridge, October 
30, 1886. 

Judges of the Second circuit: Isaac Baker, 
November 23, 1840; John C. Murray, August 18, 
1851; W. H. Sutton, January 11, 1845; John C. 
Murray, August 22, 1858; Josiah Gould, Febru- 
ary 26, 1849; W. M. Harrison, May 17, 1865; 
T. F. Sorrells, August 22, 1853; W. C. Hazeldine, 
April 14, 1871; J. F. Lowery, December 12, 
1863; L. L. Mack, October 31, 1874; William 
Story, July 23, 1868; W. F. Henderson. April 26, 
1874; J. G. Frierson, October 31, 1882; W. A. 
Case, vice Frierson, deceased, March 17, 1884, 
elected September 1, 1884; J. E. Riddick, Oc- 
tober 30, 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: John S. 
Roane, November 15, 1840; Samuel Wooly, Sep- 
tember 19, 1842: J. W. Bocage, November 20, 



^. 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



71 



1843; S. B. Jones, April 20, 1840; T. F. Sorrells, 
February 26, 1849; W. P. Grrace, August 22, 
1853; S. F. Arnett, August 23. 1856; D. W. 
Carroll, August 30, I860: C. C. Godden, May 17, 
1865; W. F. Slemmons, October 15, 1866; D. 
D. Leach, December 16, 1868; R. H. Black, May 
6, 1873; J. E. Riddick, October 13, 1876; W. A. 
Gate, October 14, 1878; E. F. Brown, May 5, 
1870; W. B. Edrington (four terms), October 30, 
1880; J. D. Block, October, 1888. 

Judges of the Third circuit: Thomas Johnson, 
November 13, 1840; William Conway, November 
15, 1844; W. C. Scott, December 11, 1846; R. 
H. Nealy, February 28,1851; W. C. Bavins, August 
23, 1856; W. R. Cain, August 23, 1860; L. L. 
Mack, March 15, 1866; Elisba Baxter, July 23, 
1868; James W. Butler, March 10, 1873; William 
Byers, October 30, 1874; R. H. Powell (threes 
terms), October 30, 1882; J. W. Butler, May, 18S7. 
Prosecuting attorneys: N. Haggard, November 30, 
1840; S. S. Tucker, January 20, 1842; S. H. 
Hempstead. February, 1842; A. R. Porter, Decerc- 
ber 2, 1842; S. C.Walker, December 2, 1846; J. H. 
Byers, March 5, 1849; W. K. Patterson, August 
30, 1856; F. W. Desha, August 30, 1800; L. L. 
Mack, July 8, 1861; T. J. Eatcliff, July 9, 1865; 
M. D. Baber, October 15, 1866: W. A. Inman, 
December 8, 1808; J. L. Abernathy, October 31, 
1874; Charles Coffin, October 14, 1878; M. N. 
Dyer (two terms), October 30, 1882; W. B. Padgett, 
October 30, 1886; J. L. Abernathy, October, 1888. 

Judges of the Fourth circuit: J. M. Hoge, 
November 13, 1840; S. G. Sneed, November IS, 
1844; A. B. Greenwood, March 3, 1851; F. I. 
Batson, August 20, 1853; J. M. A\'ilson, Febru- 
ary 21, 1859; J. J. Green, August 23. 1860; Y. 
B. Sheppard, May 9, 1863; Thomas Boles, 
August 3, 1865; ^V. N. May. April 24, 1868; 
M. L. Stephenson, July 23, 1868; C. B. Filz- 
patrick, March 23, 1871; J. Huckleberry, April 
10, 1872; J. M. Pittman, October 31, 1874; J. H. 
Berry, October 21, 1878; J. M. Pittman (three 
terms), October 31, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: 
Alfred M. Wilson, November 13, 1840; A. B. 
Greenwood, January 4. 1845; H. F. Thomasson, 
September 6, 1853; Lafayette Gregg, August 23, 



1856; B. J. Brown, December 1, 1862; J. E. 
Cravens, January 7, 1865; Squire Boon, October 
15, 1866; Elias Harrell, August 11, 1868; S. W. 
Peel, April 26, 1873; E. I. Stirman, October 13, 
1876; H. A. Dinsmore (three terms), October 14, 
1878; J. Frank Wilson, October 30. 1884; J. W. 
Walker, October 30, 1866; S. M. Johnson, Octo- 
ber 30, 1888. 

Judges of the Fifth circuit: J. J. Clendenin. 
December 28, 1840; W. H. Field, December 24, 
1846; J. J. Clendenin, September 6, 1854; Liberty 
Bartlett, November 12, 1854; E. D. Ham, July 23, 
1868; Benton J. Brown, September 30, 1874; AV. 
W. Mansfield, October 31, 1874; Thomas W. 
Pound, September 9, 1878; W. D. Jacoway, Oc- 
tober 31, 1878; G. S. Cunningham (three terms). 
October 31, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: R. W. 
Johnson. December 29, 1840; George C. Watkins, 
January 11, 1845; J. J. Clendenin, February 17, 
1849, to 1854; J. L. Hollowell, Septembers, 1858, 
to 1860; Snm W. Williams, May 10, 1860; Pleas- 
ant Joi'dan, September 7, 1861; Sam W. Williams, 
July 6, 1S03; John Whytock, December 19, 1865; 
R. k. Dedman. October 15, 1866; N. J. Temple, 
August 15, 1808; Arch Young, August 24, 1872; 
Thomas Barnes, April 23, 1873; J. P. Byers, Oc- 
tober 31, 1873; A. S. McKennon, October 14, 
1878; J. G. Wallace (two terms), October 31, 
1882; H. S. Carter, October 30,' 1886. 

Sixth circuit — judges: William Conway, De- 
cember 19, 1840; John Field, February 3, 1843; 
George Conway, August 1, 1844; John Quillin, 
March 2, 1849; Thomas Hubbard, August 22, 
1854; A. B. Smith, February 7, 1850; Shelton Wat- 
son, September 26, 1858; Leu B. Green, April 5, 
1858; A. B. Williams, January 28, 1865; J. T. 
Elliott, October 2, 1805; J. J. Clendenin. October 
81, 1874; J. W. Martin. October 31, 1878; F. T. 
Vaughan, October 31, 1882: J. W. Martin, Octo- 
ber 30, 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: G. D. Roys- 
ton, November 11, 1840; O. F. Rainy, June 12, 
1843; Isaac T. Tupper, January 18, 1844; A. W. 
Blevins, January 11, 1847; E. A. Warner, March 
3, 1851; Orville Jennings, August 23, 1853; E. 
W. Gantt, August 22, 1854; James K. Young, 
August 30, 1860; Robert Carrigan, September 13. 



J IS 



J, 



72 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



1865; J. F. Ritchie, October 15, 1866; T. B. Gib- 
son, January 11, 1868; Charles C Reid, Jr., April 
30, 1871; F. T. Vaughan, September 18, 1876; 
T. C. Trimble, September 30, 1878; F. T. Vaughan, 
September 30, 1880; T. C. Trimble, October 31, 
1882; R. J. Lea, October 80, 1884; Gray Carroll, 
October 30, 1886; R. J. Lea, October 30, 1888. 

Seventh circuit — judges: R. C. S. Brown, 1840; 
W. W. Floyd, November 30, 1846. (December 
20, 1849, the State was re districted into six cir- 
cuits. Hence this was abolished for the time.) 
William Byers, July 8, 1861; R. H. Powell, May 
11, 1866; John Whytock, July 23, 1868; J. J. 
Clendenin, May 29, 1874; Jabez M. Smith, Oc- 
tober 31, 1874; J. P. Henderson (three terms), Oc- 
tober 31. 1882. Prosecuting attorneys: John M, 
Wilson, November 20, 1840; J. M. Tebbetts, De- 
cember 5, 1844; Elisha Baxter, December 7, 1861; 
W. B. Padgett, August 29, 1865; W. R. Coody. 
October 15, 1866; E. W. Gantt, July 31. 1868; 
J. M. Harrell, May 5, 1873; M. J. Henderson, 
October 31, 1874; James B. Wood, October 14, 
1878; J. P. Henderson (three terms), October 31, 
1882; W. H. Martin, October 30, 1888. 

Eighth circuit — judges: C. C. Scott, December 
2, 1846; William Davis, July 3, 1848 (abolished 
December 20, 1849); James D. Walker, July 25, 
1861; Elias Harrell, May 8, 1865; William Story. 
March 27, 1867; E. J. Earle, July 23, 1868; T. G. 
T. Steele, February 23, 1873; L. J. Joyner, Octo- 
ber 31, 1874; H. B. Stuart, October 31, 1878; 
R. D. Hearn, October 30, 1886. Prosecuting attor- 
neys: Richard Lyons, February 5, 1847; N. W. Pat- 
terson, October 25, 1865; C. G. Reagan, January 
7, 1865; J. C. Pratt, July 23, 1868; T. M. Gun- 
ter, October 15, 1866; Duane Thompson, January 
4, 1874: George A. Kingston, July 26, 1871; J 
D. McCabe, October 31, 1874; J. H. Howard, April 
26, 1873; Rufus D. Hearn (three terms), July 6, 
1874; Lafayette Gregg, November 13, 1862; W. 
M. Green (three terms), October 30, 1884. 

Ninth circuit — judges: H. B. Stuart. Novem- 
ber 28, 1862; W. N. Hargrave, , 1865; E. J. 

Searle, Februa'ry 25, 1867; G. W. McCowan, July 
23, 1868; J.T. Elliott, April 26, 1873; J. K. Young, 
October 31, 1874; C. F. Mitchell, October 31, 1882; 



L. A. Byrne. November 4, 1884; A. B. Williams, 
vice Mitchell, resigned, September 10, 1884; C. E. 
Mitchell, October 30, 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: 

A. J. Temple, July 8, 1861; A. T Craycraft, 
January 7, 1865; E. J. Searle, February 19, 1866; 
R. C. Parker, October 15, 1866; N. J. Temple, 
January 20, 1867; J. R. Page, January 9, 1869; 
J. M. Bradley, April 26, 1873; Dan W. Jones, 
October 31, 1874; B. W. Johnson, October 13, 
1876; John Cook. October 14, 1880; T. F. Web- 
ber (four terms), October 31, 1882. 

Judges of the Tenth circuit: H. P. Morse, 
July 23, 1868; D. W Carroll, October 28, 1874; 
T. F. Sorrells, October 31, 1874; J. M. Bradley, 
October 30, 1882; C. D. Wood, October 30, 1886. 
Prosecuting attorneys: J. McL. Barton, March 

29, 1869; H. King White, April 20, 1871; M. Mc- 
Gehee, April 29. 1873; J. C. Barrow, October 31, 
1874; C. D. Woods, October 30, 1882; M. L. 
Hawkins, ince Woods, October 10, 1886; R. C. 
Fuller, October 30, 1888. 

Eleventh circuit — judges: J. W. Fox, April 

30, 1873; H. N. Hutton, July 24, 1874; John A. 
Williams, October 31, 1874; X. J. Pindall, Octo- 
ber 31, 1878; J. A. Williams (two terms), October 
30, 1882. Prosecuting attorneys- H. M. McVeigh, 
April 26, 1873; Z. L. Wise, October 31, 1874; T. 

B. Martin, October 10, 1878; J. M. Elliott (five 
terms), October 10, 1880. 

Twelfth circuit — judges: P. C. Dooley, April 
26, 1873; J. H. Rogers, April 20, 1877; R. B. 
Rutherford, October 2, 1882; John S. Little, Octo- 
ber 20, 1 886. Prosecuting attorneys : D. D. Leach, 
April 26, 1873; John S. Little (three terms),^April 
2, 1877; A. C. Lewers (two terms), September 20, 
1884; J. B. McDonough, October 30, 1888. 

Thirteenth circuit — judges: M, D. Kent, April 
20, 1873; B. F. Askew, October 30, 1882; C. W. 
Smith, October 30, 1886. Prosecuting attorneys: 
W. C. Langford, April 26, 1873; W. F. Wallace, 
June 5, 1883; H. P. Snead (three terms), Octo- 
ber 30, 1884. 

Fourteenth circuit — judges: George A. King- 
ston, April 26, 1873; R. H. Powell, May, 1887. 
Prosecuting attorneys: Duane Thompson, April 
26, 1873; De Ross Bailey, May, 1887. 



^i 






HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



L. D. Belden was appointed judge of the Fif- 
teenth circuit April 26, 1873, the prosecuting at- 
torney being G. G. Lotta, elected April 23, 1873. 

Sixteenth circuit — judge: Elisha Mears, April 
26, 1873. Prosecuting attorneys: H. N. Withers, 



September 27, 1873; V. B. Shepard, April 30, 
1874. 

By an act of April 16, 1873, the State was di- 
vided into sixteen judicial circuits, but two years 
later a reduction to eleven in number was made. 



mkwfm IX. 

The Late Civil War— Analytical View of the Troublous Times— Passage of the Ordinance of 
Secession— The Call to Arms— The First Troops to Take the Field— Invasion of the State 
BY THE Federal Army — Sketches of the Regiments— Xames of Officers— Outline of 
Field Operations— Claibourne and Yell — Extracts from Private Memo- 
randa — Evacuation of the State— Re-Occupation— The AVar of 1812— 
The Mexican War— Standard of American Generalship. 







The cannon's hush'd! nor dium nor clarion sound; 
Helmet and hauberk gleam upon the ground; 
Horsemen and horse lie weltering in their gore; 
Patriots are dead, and heroes dare no more; 
While solemnly the moonlight shrouds the plain, 
And lights the lurid features of the slain. — Montgomery. 




RKANSAS was not among 
the States that may be call- 
ed leaders in inaugurating 
the late war. It only pass- 
ed a secession ordinance 
May 6, 1861, nearly a 
month after hostilities had 
commenced, and Lincoln had issued 
his call for 75,000 ninety-day troops 
• • to put down the rebellion. " The re- 
luctance with which the State finally 
joined its sister States is manifested 
by the almost unanimous refusal of 
the State convention, which met in 
March, 1861 — the day Lincoln was in- 
augurated — and nearly unanimously voted down 
secession and passed a series of conservative resolu- 
tions, looking to a national convention to settle in 



some way the vexed question of slavery, and then 
voting a recess of the convention. When this 
reassembled war was upon the country, and the 
ordinance of secession was passed, only, however, 
after full di.scussion, pro and con. There was 
but one vote against secession finally, and that was 
given by Isaac Murphy — afterward the military 
governor of Arkansas. 

Local authorities received instructions to arm 
and equip forty regiments of State troofis. The 
ruling minds of the State were averse to war, 
and resisted it until they were forced into the po- 
sition of siding with their neighbors or with the 
Union cause. In the South, as in the North, 
there were inconsiderate hot-heads, who simply 
wanted war for war's sake — full of false pretexts, 
but eager for war with or without a pretext. These 
extremists of each party were, unconsciously, per- 



l^i 



:^ 



^1 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



haps, but in fact, the two blades of the pair of 
scissors, to cut asunder the ties of the Union of 
States. Slavery, possibly not directly the cause of 
the war, was the handiest pretext seized upon at 
the time, with such disastrous results. In the dis- 
pensations of heaven, had the fanatics of the North 
and the fire-eaters of the South been hung across 
the clothesline, as a boy sometimes hangs cats, 
and left in holy peace to fight it out, what a bless- 
ing for mankind it would have been! 

The history of the late war cannot yet be writ- 
ten. Its most profound effects are not yet evolved. 
The actual fighting ceased nearly a generation ago, 
and the cruel strife is spoken of as over. It is the 
effects that true history observes. The chronicler 
records the dates and statistics, and files these 
away for the future historian. It is highly prob- 
able that there is no similar period in history 
where the truth will be so distorted as by him 
who tells ' ' the story of the war. ' ' 

Anyone can begin to see that there are many 
things now that were unknown before the war. 
Great changes are still being worked out, and 
whether or not yet greater ones are to come, no one 
knows. The abolitionists thirty years ago hated 
the slave owners, — the slave holders loved slaverj\ 
The former thought to forever end slavery on this 
continent by liberating the slaves, and now the 
once alarmed slave owner has discovered that the 
great benefits of the abolition of slavery have been 
to the whites far more than to the blacks. 

There is little idea of what the real historian 
one hundred years from now will be compelled to 
say of these ' ' blessed times. ' ' He will most prob- 
ably smile in pity upon all this self-laudation and 
wild boast. If men could have known the effects 
to follow in all the important movements of peo- 
ples, it is highly probable there would have been no 
civil war. Those who "sectioually hated" may 
sleep quietly in their graves, because they died 
unconscious as to whether their supposed bloody 
revenge, driven hurtling at the enemy, was a bullet 
or a boomerang. 

The Southern individual may look with envy to 
the pension fund now being poured out in North- 
ern States, while, instead of this, he should only 



remember that the Southern soldier is making his 
way unaided in the world. It should not be for- 
gotten that the rapid development of the South is 
sadly in want of the constant labor of thousands of 
immigrants, and that the New South is just entering 
upon a period of surprising and unexampled pros- 
perity, which certainly must continue. 

In Arkansas, as in Illinois, when Fort Sumter 
was fired on, instantly there was a storm of excite- 
ment to ' ' let slip the dogs of war. " Action took 
the place of argument. The best men in the com- 
munity, those who had so long talked and pleaded 
against war, closed their mouths, and with sore 
hearts turned their eyes away from the sad outlook. 
The young and the inconsiderate seized the power 
to rule, and (though they knew it not) to ruin. 
Bells were rung, drums were beaten, and fifes made 
strident martial music, and people rushed into the 
streets. Open air meetings for the Confederate 
cause gathered, and songs and speeches inflamed 
the wildest passions of men. Poor men ! they 
little recked the cruel fate into which they were 
plunging their country — not only themselves, but 
generations to come. A fifer and drummer march- 
ing along the streets, making harsh and discordant 
noises, were soon followed by crowds of men, 
women and children. Volunteers were called for 
by embryo captains, and from these crowds were 
soon recruited squads to be crystallized into armies 
with heavy tramp and flying banners — the noisy 
prologue to one of the bloodiest tragedies on which 
time has ever rung up the curtain. 

The first official action of the State was that 
authorizing the raising and equipping of seven 
regiments. These were soon ready to report with 
full ranks. Seven regiments ! Even after the 
war was well on foot, men were forming companies 
in hot haste, in fear that before they could reach 
the field of action the war would be over. And 
after they were mustered in and at their respective 
rendezvous, without uniforms and with sticks for 
guns, learning the rudiments of drill, they were 
restless, troubled seriously with the fear that they 
would never see or feel the glory of battle. The 
youths of the State had rushed to the recruiting sta- 
tions with the eager thoughtlessness with which 



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■> \' 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



(0 



they would have put down their names for picnic, 
hunting or fishing expeditions, and the wild delights 
of a season of camj) life. Perhaps to some came 
indistinct ideas of winning glory on the field and a 
triumphant return home, to be met by the happy 
smiles of a people saved — when the bells would 
ring and flowers be strewn in the highway. 

The seven regiments first authorized by the 
military board (the board consisting of the gov- 
ernor. Col. Sain W. Williams and Col. B. C. Tot- 
ten) had hardly been formed when more soldiers 
were wanted. Ten additional regiments were 
authorized, and of the ten seven were recriiited 
and organizeti. Fourteen infantry regiments be 
sides the cavalry and artillery had been a strong 
demand on the people, but the calls for men were 
increased. By vohintary enlistments twenty-one 
infantry regiments were finally in the field. In- 
cluding cavalry and artillery, Arkansas had about 
25,000 volunteer soldiery. 

Then came the remorseless conscription. The 
glamour of soldiering was now all gone. Ragged, 
hungry, wounded and worn with hard marches, 
men had suffered the touch of the hand of the 
angel of destruction. The relentless conscripting 
went on. The number of years before old age 
exempted was lengthened, and the age of youth 
exemjDting was shortened, until as said by Gen. 
Grant, they were ' ' robbing the cradle and the 
grave ' ' to recruit their decimated ranks in the 
army. 

There are no records now by which can be told 
the number of men Arkansas had in the Confeder- 
ate army, but it is supposed by those best informed 
to have had nearly 40, 000. In addition to this the 
State fui-nished soldiers to the Union army. In 
the history of wars it is doubtful if there is anything 
to exceed this in the heroic sacrifices of any people. 

The original seven regiments were authorized 
as the first exuberant war expression of the State. 
They were State troops, armed and equipped by 
the State; but the fact is that the poorest men went 
into the army at their individual expense and armed 
and equipped themselves. This was the rule — not 
by men only who were fighting for their slave 
property, but largely by men who had never owned 



or expected to own a slave. When the Union army 
under Gen. Curtis was bearing down to invade Ar- 
kansas, ten more regiments were authorized and 
responded to this call, and seven additional regi- 
ments were raised and mustered into the State's 
service. 

A military board had been provided for, con- 
sisting of three men, the crovernor and two advis- 
es ' t^ 

ors, who had a general supervision in organizing 
and equipping the army. 

The first regiment raised in the State is known 
as the Pat Cleburne regiment. Patrick A. Cleburne, 
colonel, was soon made a general, and took his 
brigade east of the Mississippi River The gal- 
lant and dashing leader was killed in the battle of 
Franklin, November 30, 1864. At the first call 
to arms he raised a company and named it the Yell 
Rifles, of which he was first captain, and on the 
formation of the first regiment he became colonel, 
rising up and up by rapid promotions to a major- 
generalship. 

The names of Yell and Pat Cleburne are en- 
twined closely in the hearts of the people of Arkan- 
sas. Yell was killed at the bloody battle of Buena 
Vista, Mexico, at the head of his charging column. 
The military lives and deaths of the two men were 
much alike. Their names and fames are secure in 
history. Th^re is a touch of romance about Pat 
Cleburne's life in Arkansas. A Tipperary boy, of 
an excellent family, born in 1828, he had, when not 
more than sixteen years of age, joined the English 
army, where he was for more than a year before his 
whereabouts became known. His friends secured 
his release from the army, when he at once bade 
adieu to his native land and sailed for America. 
Stopping in 1849, a short time in Cincinnati, he 
was for a while a drug clerk. In 1859 he came 
to Helena, Ark., and engaged here also as a pre- 
scription clerk, in the meantime reading law; he 
was made a licensed attorney in 1856. In the 
bloody street affray soon after, between Hindman 
and Dorsey Rice, he was drawn into the fi-acas and 
was shot through the body by a brother of Rice's, 
who came upon the ground during the melSe. The 
latter noticed the encounter, and seeing that Cle- 
burne stood at one side, pistol in hand, fired. On 






76 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



tui-ning tc see who had shot him, Cleburne saw 
James Marriott, a brother-iu-law of Dorsey Rice, 
with pistol in hand, and under the mistake that 
he was the assailant, shot him dead. Cleburne 
lingered a long time from his wound but finally 
recovered. 

In the yellow fever scourge in Helena, in 1855, 
he was at one time about the only well person re- 
maining to care for the sick and dying. He was a 
strict member of the church and for some years a 
vestryman in St. John's Episcopal Church, Helena. 
He was engaged to wed Miss Tarleton, of Mobile, 
when he fell upon the battle field, and the dead 
soldier lay upon the ground, with his arms folded 
over his breast, as if even in death he would pro- 
tect the sacred tokens of love that he wore next his 
heart. 

The military board elected two brigadier-gen- 
erals — James Yell and N. B. Pierce. The latter 
was sent to Northwestern Arkansas, where was 
fought the first battle on Arkansas soil — Pea Ridge, 
or as it is better known in the South, Elkhorn. 
This was a severe engagement, and a decisive one. 

There is yet some confusion in referring to the 
respective numbers of the Arkansas regiments. 
Gen. Pierce, supposing he had full power, gave 
numbers Third, Fourth and Fifth to what the 
board, the proper and only authority, designated 
as numbers Second, Third and Fourth, The fol- 
lowing shows the board's numbering and names 
of the colonels : 

First, Col. P. H. Cleburne; Second, Col. 
Gratiot; Third, Col. Dockery; Fourth, Col. Davis 
Walker; Fifth, Col. D. C. Cross; Sixth, Col. Lyon; 
Seventh, Col. Shaver; Eighth, Col. W. K. Patter- 
son; Ninth, Col. John Roane; Tenth, Col. T. D. 
Merrick; Eleventh, Col. Jabez M. Smith; Twelfth, 
Col. E. W. Gantt; Thirteenth, Col. J. C. Tappan; 
Fourteenth, Col. W. C. Mitchell, .(never com- 
pleted); Fifteenth, Col. Dawson; Seventeenth, Col. 
G. W. Lamar, Lieut. -Col. Sam W. Williams. 

In the scraps of records now to be found there 
are mentioned as the different arms in the Confed- 
erate service of Arkansas men, in addition to those 
above given, the following: Light artillery. Hill's; 
batteries, Blocher's, Brown's, Etter's, Hughey's, 



Marshall's and West's; cavalry battalions, Chris- 
man's, Crawford's. Hill's, Witherspoou's; detached 
companies. Brown's, Coarser' s, Desha's. Ranger's, 
Fitz William's, Miller's and Palmer's; regiments, 
Carroll's, Dobbins', Newton's; infantry, regiments 
from one to thirty-nine, inclusive. 

Four regiments of infantry of Federal recruits 
were raised in Arkansas, the First commanded by 
Col. M. La Rue Harrison; the Fourth by Elisha 
Baxter. The First Arkansas Light Artillery was 
150 strong. The Arkansas Infantry Brigade was 
under command of Col. James M. True. August 
5, 1863, Adj't Gen. Thomas made a trip to the 
Southwest for the purpose of gathering in all the 
negroes possible by scouting bands, and to enlist 
the able bodied men. The First Arkansas Battery 
was commanded by Capt. Dent D. Stark, and the 
First Arkansas Cavahy by Maj. J. J. Johnson. 
The Second Arkansas Cavalry is mentioned. 
Lieut. -Col. E. J. Searle, authorized to raise the 
Third Arkansas Cavalry, reported 400 strong. 
The Foui'th Arkansas Cavalry comprised nine 
companies, commanded by Capt. W. A. Martin. 

The Second and Third Arkansas colored in- 
fantry regiments are mentioned, in addition to the 
Second and Third white regiments. 

In the spring of 1861, the Richmond govern- 
ment authorized Col. T. B. Flournoy to raise a reg-" 
iment. It was collected in and about Little Rock 
and Col. Fagan was elected commander. This 
command went to Virginia. Gen. Churchill oi'gan- 
ized the first regiment of cavalry, with rendezvous 
at Little Rock. Gen. T. C. Hindman organized 
Hindman's Legion. It consisted of infantry and 
cavalry and had fifteen companies. He took his 
command east of the river. Under the direction of 
the military board Col. Rosey Carroll's regiment 
of cavalry was raised. The Second Arkansas Reg- 
iment of Mounted Infantry was mustered at Osage 
Springs, by Col. Dandridge McRea. James Mcin- 
tosh became colonel and Capt. H. H. Brown, major. 
J. P. Eagle was first lieutenant-colonel and after- 
ward colonel. Col. Mcintosh was killed at Pea 
Ridge, but had been promoted a brigadier-general 
a few days before his death. 

The absence of war archives from the State, 






r 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



I i 



the most of them that were preserved until after 
the war being now in Washington, and the pass- 
ing away of so many of the promioent participants, 
and a common fault of human memory, make it 
well-nigh impossible to gather for permanent form 
any satisfactory roster of the different Confederate 
commands or the order of their organization. No 
Arkansan so far, .which is much to be regretted, 
has attempted to write a history of the State in 
the ciyil struggle. 

Gov. J. P. Eagle happened to keep dupli- 
cates of certain reports he made while in the ser- 
vice, and discovered them recently where they had 
been laid away and forgotten among old papers. 
Fortunately when he made the reports the idea 
occurred to him to keep a copy for himself, that 
some day he might look over them and be inter- 
ested. 

' ' This is a list of the killed and wounded in my 
regiment," he remarked, "the Second Arkansas, 
fi'om May 8 to August 31, 1864, and the other is a 
report of the same from November 26, 1864, to 
March 21, 1865." 

The Second Arkansas at the beginning of the 
war was a mounted regiment, commanded by Col. 
James Mcintosh. It was dismounted early in the 
conflict. Col. Mcintosh was promoted to the rank 
of brigadier-general in the spring of 1862. He 
led his brigade bravely into the heaviest fighting 
at the battle of Elkhorn (Pea Ridge), where he 
was killed. He was succeeded by Col. Embry, 
who was soon after succeeded by Col. Flannagin, 
afterwards the "War Governor" of Arkansas. 
Flannagin was succeeded by Col. James William- 
son, who lost a leg at the battle of Resaca, Ga. , 
May 14, 1864. Col. J. T. Smith then became 
colonel. He was killed July 28 following, in the 
tight at Lick Skillet Road, and J. P. Eagle, now 
governor of Arkansas, became colonel. Col. 
Eagle had been wounded at Moore's Mills, and at 
the time of his promotion was not with the famous 
regiment. He remained in command until the 
regiment was consolidated with other regiments 
and the whole formed into one regiment, with Col. 
H. G. Bunn commanding. Gov. Eagle became 
lieutenant-colonel and George Wells, major. 



The battle of Elkhorn checked the advance of 
Cm-tis' army into Arkansas, and the Federals re- 
mained hovering in the southwest of Missouri and 
northwest of Arkansas for some time. Immedi- 
ately after the fight Van Dorn's forces were with- 
drawn and taken east of the Mississippi to resist 
the Federal advance down the river to Vicksburg. 
Gen. T. C. Hindman returned and took command 
of the Confederates in Arkansas and established 
headquarters at Little Rock and slightly fortified 
the place. 

Gen. Curtis then moved with the Federal army 
down the valley of White River, acting in con- 
junction with the river fleet, and when he reached 
Cotton Plant a flank attack was made on his army 
and the battle of Cotton Plant was fought. The 
Confederates were repulsed, and Curtis moved on 
and took possession of Helena, the Confederates 
retiring. Northern and Northeastern Arkansas 
were then in the possession of the Union army. 
The Federals were in the possession of the Missis- 
sippi down to a point just above Vicksburg. The 
Confederates made a futile effort to re-capture 
Helena, July 4, 1803, but heavy rains, swollen 
streams and impassable roads thwarted every 
move. 

June 2, 1862, Gov. Rector issued the following: 

"It being essential that but one military organization 
shall exist within the Trans-Mississippi department, all 
Arkansas troops are hereb}' transferred to the Confeder- 
ate service." (Signed) H. M. Rector. 

Gov. & Piest. Mil. Board. 

The authorities at Richmond, as well as in the 
Trans-Mississippi district, were anxiously awaiting 
news of the war steamer, "Arkansas," then build- 
ing up the mouth of Red River. June 2, 1862, 
she steamed out of that river and passed the fleet 
guarding the river for the purpose of capturing the 
rebel steamer. The attempt and success in run- 
ning the fiery gauntlet was one of the most exciting 
scenes ever witnessed on western rivers. Proudly 
the vessel kept on her coui'se, sending volleys into 
every vessel to the right and left, and at nearly 
every turn of her wheels encountering new enemies. 
A Federal surgeon of the Union fleet said that 
wonderful trip of the "Arkansas" reminded him 



'.It- 



78 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of the Irishman's advice on going into the "free 
tight " — • ' wherever you see a head hit it. ' ' The 
Confederate reports say two Federal gun-boats 
were captured and others disabled. 

August 7, following, the ' 'Arkansas, ' ' when five 
miles above Baton Rouge on her way down the 
river, again encountered Federal gun-boats. Her 
machinery being disabled, after she had fought 
long and well, her crew "blew her up, and all 
escaped. ' ' 

January 3, 1863 Gen. J. M. Schofield wrote to 
Gen. Curtis, from Fayetteville, Ark. : •' The oper- 
ations of the army since I left it have been a series 
of blunders, from which it narrowly escaped dis- 
aster * * At Prairie Grove (fought in Decem- 
ber, 1862) Blunt and Herron were badly beaten in 
detail and owed their escape to a false report of 
my arrival with re-enforcements." It now is 
revealed that Hindman did not know the extent 
of his victory, but supposed he was about to be 
overwhelmed by the enemy. Thus the two armies 
were as secretly as possible running away from 
each other. 

July 13, 1863, Gen. E. Kirby Smith wrote from 
Shreveport, headquarters of the Trans-Mississippi 
district, to Govs. Thomas C. Reynolds, F. R. Lub- 
bock, H. Flannagin and Thomas O. Moore, calling 
on these, as the heads of their respective States, to 
meet him at Marshall, Tex., August 15, following: 
"I have attempted to impartially survey the field 
of my labor. * * I found on my arrival the 
headquarters of Arkansas district at Little 
Rock. * * Vicksburg has fallen. The enemy 
possesses the key to this department. * * The 
possession of the Mississippi River by the enemy 
cuts off this department fi-om all communication 
with Richmond, consequently we must be self- 
sustaining, and self-reliant in every respect. * * 
With God's help and yours I will cheerfully 
grapple with the difficulties that surround us," etc. 

This was a gloomy but a correct view of the 
situation west of the Mississippi River after the 
fall of Vicksburg. 

On January 11, 1863, from Helena, Gen. Fiske 
reported to Washington: ' ' Found Gorman actively 
organizing expedition to go up W^hite River to 



co-operate with Gen. McClernand on Arkansas 
River. Twenty-five transports are waiting the 
signal to start. ' ' 

Fti'om "Prairie Landing, twenty-five miles up 
Arkansas, January 13, 1863," Amos F. Eno, sec- 
retarj' pro tern of Arkansas and adjutant-general, 
telegraphed Staunton: " Left Helena on 11th, and 
took with me books and papers of office of military 
government of Arkansas. ' ' 

January 1-t, 1863, the Federals captured St. 
Charles, the Confederates evacuating the day before. 

January 18, Gen. W. A. Gorman occupied 
Devall's Bluff, which the Confederates had also 
evacuated. 

These captures and evacuations were the pre- 
liminary movements looking toward Little Rock, 
the Federals clearing out the small outposts, and 
the Confederates gathering in their forces. 

On August 5, 1863, Gen. Frederick Steele 
"assumed the command of the army to take the 
field from Helena, and advance upon Little Rock." 

In his order for movement mention is made of 
the following: First division — cavalry under 
command of Gen. J. W. Davidson; Second division 
—Eighteenth, Forty-third, Fifty-fourth, Sixty- 
fii'st. One Hundred and Sixth, and One Hundred 
and Twenty-sixth regiments, Illinois Infantry; 
Twelfth Michigan, Twenty-second Ohio, Twenty- 
seventh Wisconsin, Third Minnesota, Fortieth 
Iowa and Forty-third Indiana Infantry regiments; 
Third division — Twenty-ninth, Thirty-third and 
Thirty sixth Iowa, Forty-third Indiana, Twenty- 
eighth Wisconsin, and Seventy-first Ohio Infantry 
regiments; and the Fifth Kansas, First Indiana 
Cavalry, and a brigade under Col. Powell Clayton. 
Pour batteries of field pieces — five wagons to each 
regiment; 160 rounds of ammunition, 40 rounds to 
each cartridge-box; 400 rounds to each jiiece of 
artillery, and sixty days' rations for the whole 
army, were the supplies granted these forces. 

Gen. Steele was occupied in the expedition 
from Helena to Little Rock, fi-om August 5 to Sep- 
tember 10. The cavalry under Gen. Davidson 
had to scour the country to the right and left as 
they made their slow advance. Twelve miles east 
of Little Rock, at Bayou Meta bridge, was a heavy 



^ i 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



79 



skirmish, indeed, a reo^ular battle, being the first 
serious effort to check the Federal advance upon 
the capital. Again there was heavy fighting six 
miles east of Little Rock, at what is now the 
Brugman place. Here Confederate Col. Coffee, 
of Texas, was killed. This was the last stand 
made in defense of the city, and in a short time 
Davidson's cavalry appeared in Argenta, and 
trained their field pieces on the city, and fired a 
few shots, when the place was surrendered by the 
civil authorities, September 10, 1863. The Con- 
federates had evacuated but a few hours before 
the Federal civalry were galloj)iug through the 
streets, and y t . ng sentinels here and there. 

There was no confusion, no disorder, and none 
of the usual crimes of war under similar circum- 
stances. In an hour after Gen. Steele was in 
possession of the city he had it under strict con- 
trol, and order prevailed. Gen. Reynolds was put 
in command of Little Rock. * 

The Confederates wisely retreated to Arkadel- 
phia. They were pursued by the Federals as far 
as Malvern, but no captures were made and no 
heavy skirmishing occurred. 

It is said that Price evacuated Little Rock un- 
der the impression that his force was far inferior 
to that of Gen. Steele. Those who were Confeder- 
ate ofliceis and in Little Rock now believe that his 
force was equal at least in numbers to Steele's. 

*Abstract from consolidated tri-monthly report of the 
Army of Arkansas, Maj.-Gen. Frederick Steele command- 
ing, for September 10, 1863; headquarters. Little Rock: 



Command. 


Present for 
duty. 


£ 

£ 

< 


too! 
•5 




2 

e 

o 


a 
S 


o 

i 




200 
140 
123 
S9 
80 
15 
4 


3,328 

2.04T 

1,683 

1,796 

445 

495 

64 


5,372 

2,990 

2,316 

3,260 

736 

607 

91 


7,735 
6,885 
4,007 


18 


Second Division (Englemann) 

Third Divi-ioni Rice) 






2,825 6 




1,200 5 




844 28 




12- 






"57 


Total 


619 


9,854 


14,362 


23,620 





Gfin Price had not made a mistake of the comparative 
strength of the two armies. The commissary informs 
me that on the morning of the evacuation he issued 8,000 
rations — full number. 



They think that Price had based his idea of the 
enemy's numbers by allowing the usual proj)or- 
tion of armies of infantry and artillery to cavalry. 
They believe also that the Confederates at Little 
Rock at the evacuation had between 11,000 and 
12,000 men present — not the number for duty — 
basing this upon the number of rations issued 
that day. 

After the occupation of Little Rock the Federals 
dominated all that portion of the State north and 
east of the Arkansas River, and yet their actual 
occupied posts were the only grounds over which 
Confederate rangers were not frequently roving 
with impunity. 

The Confederates exercised ruling power all 
south and west of the Ouachita River, and for quite 
a while the territory between the Arkansas and 
Ouachita Rivers was a kind of "No Man's Land" 
so far as the armies were concerned. 

Steele early in 1864, having been re-enforced, 
began to move on Arkadelphia. Price retreated to 
Camden, where the Confederates had several fac- 
tories for the manufacture of war materials. 

Price made a stand against Steele and fought 
the battle of Prairie D'Ann, but there was noth- 
ing decisive in this engagement, although it was 
a severe one. Price withdrew and fell back on 
Rondo, in the southwest corner of the State. 

In the meantime Banks' expedition was as- 
cending Red River, the plan being to catch Price 
between Banks and Steele, and destroy the Con- 
federate army. Price and Gen. Dick Taylor did 
not wait for Banks, but met and overwhelmingly 
defeated him. Having defeated Banks, they turned 
and gave Steele battle at Jenkins' Ferry, and de- 
feated him. This was the great and decisive bat- 
tle of the Trans-Mississippi district. 

Steele retreated and fell back on Little Rock, 
his superior generalship being shown in extricat- 
ing his badly crippled army and saving it on the 
withdrawal. 

The Federal expeditions were well planned for 
' 'bagging' ' the whole Confederate Trans-Mississippi 
army, but the vicissitudes of war ordained other- 
wise. Banks' expedition and its overwhelming mis- 
fortunes ruined him as a military man throughout 



:i: 



80 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



the North, while the brilliant successes of Price 
raised the hopes of the Confederacy. Some, how- 
ever, still criticise. 

Price failed to follow xip his advantage and 
either destroy or capture Steele's entire army. 
Had he fully known the condition of affairs at 
Richmond possibly he might have adopted that 
course. The Federals were confined within their 
fortified posts and Confederate bands were again 
scouring over the State. 

Price, losing no time, then started on his raid 
back into Missouri to carry out his long cherished 
hope of re-possessing that State. The history of 
that raid and the dissolution and end of the Con- 
federacy are a familiar part of the country's 
history. 

Other wars than that mentioned have occupied 
the attention of people of this section, though 
perhaps not to such an extent as the great civil 
strife. There were not people in Arkansas to go 
to the War of 1812, and the State becomes con- 
nected with that struggle chiefly because Archibald 
Yell, the brave young hero, was at the battle of 
New Orleans, and afterward became one of the most 
prominent citizens of Arkansas. He was born in 
North Carolina, in August, 1797, and consequently 
was but fifteen years of age when the second war 
with England began. But the lad then and there 
won the inalienable friendshij^ of Gen. Jackson. 

Arkansas acquired no little fame iu the Mexican 
War, chiefly, however, through the gallantry and 
death of Gov. Yell, the leader of the Arkansas 
forces. When troops were called for in the year 
1840, in the war with Mexico, Yell was a member 
of Congress. A regiment of cavalry was raised 
and he was asked to take the command, and obedi- 
ent to this request he promptly resigned his seat 
to assume leadership. Albert Pike was a captain 
in the regiment. 

At the battle of Buena Vista, on February 22, 
1847, Yell led his cavalry command in one of the 
most desperate charges in the annals of war. In 
his enthusiasm he spurred on his horse far in 
advance of his men. He was charging the enemy, 
which outnumbered his force more than five to 
one. He reached the ranks of the enemy almost 



alone, and raising himself in the saddle commenced 
to slash right and left, totally unmindful that it 
was one against thousands. Just as the foremost of 
his men came up he was run through the body and 
killed. William A. L. Throckmorton, of Fayette- 
ville, it is agreed, was the first to reach the side 
and catch the falling form of his loved leader. Mr. 
Throckmorton says he saw the man who gave the 
fatal thrust and quickly killed him, thus avenging 
so far as the wretched greaser's life could go the 
life of as gallant and noble a knight as ever re- 
sponded to bugle call. He was the dashing cava- 
lier, great in peace, superb in war. Leading his 
trusty followers in any of the walks of life, death 
alone covild check him, nothing could conquer him. 

After the war was over the government brought 
his remains and delivered them to his friends in 
Fayetteville, his home, who lovingly deposited 
them beneath the cold white marble shaft which 
speaks his fame. The burial ceremony occurred 
August 3, 1847, and a vast concourse of people, 
the humblest and highest iu the State, were the 
sincere and deep mourners on the occasion. 

Arkansas won everlasting laurels through its 
gallant soldiers in the Mexican War. 

Omitting all reference to the Revolutionary 
War, there are conclusions to be drawn from the 
wars our countrymen have been engaged in since 
the days when Gen. Jackson was the national hero. 
None of these were significant enough to be used 
by the philosophic historian from which to draw 
conclusions as to the character of modern or 
contemporary Americans as warriors, or their dis- 
tinguishing characteristics as a warlike nation. 
The late Civil War, however, furnishes a wide and 
ample field for such investigation. An impartial 
view of the late struggle presents first of all this 
remarkable fact. In by far the longest and great- 
est war of modern times, neither side has given 
the age a great captain, as some call greatness, 
though one furnished Grant, the other, Lee, both 
men without a superior; whilst in the ranks and 
among the sub-commands, no battles in history 
are at all comparable for excellence and superior 
soldiership to those of the great Civil War. On 
both sides there were any number of great field 



^-* 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



81 



commanders, as great as ever drew a sword. But 
they received orders, did not give them, and in 
the esecutioQ of orders never were excelled. Lee, 
Grant, Jackson, Sherman, Hancock, Johnston, 
Sheridan and hundreds of others on both sides, to 
the humblest in the ranks, were immortal types of 
the soldier in the field. These men were like 
Napoleon's marshals — given a command or order 
they would risk life itself to execute it. But on 
neither side was there the least exhibition of the 
qualities of a Napoleon or Von Moltke. 

Napoleon was his own secretary of war, gov- 
ernment, cabinet, and commander in the field, and 
for this very reason, he was Von Moltke' s inferior 
as a great commander, whose genius saw the weak 
point, the point of victory on the map of the 
enemy's country, and struck it with a quick and 
decisive blow. 

Our Civil War and the Franco- German War 
were closely together in time. War was hardly over 
iQ America when it commenced in Europe. Any 
student of German history who has studied the 
German-Prussian war, can not but know that Von 
Moltke was the pre-eminent captain in all the his- 
tories of wars. Had Washington or Richmond had 
his peer at the commencement of our struggle, the 
high probabilities are that the war would have 
been over before the first twelve months had ex- 
pired. 

In war, it is a fact, that it is the strategy be- 
fore the armies meet in battle array which decides 
the struggle. It is only thus that one man can 



become more powerful than a million with guns in 
their hands. It is in this sense — this application 
of the science of modern warfare, that a com- 
mander wins battles and decides victories. He 
conquers enemies, not by drawing his sword, but, 
studying his maps in his qaiet den when others 
sleep, he directs the movements of his armies and 
leaves the details of the actual fight to others. He 
is indifferent to the actual fighting part of it, be- 
cause he has settled all that long beforehand by 
his orders. 

In all actual battles, as was testified by the 
Federal commanders before Congress about the 
battle of Gettysburg, if victory is not organized 
beforehand, all is chance, uncertainty, and both 
armies are little else than headless mobs — ignorant 
of whether they are whipping or being whipi)ed. 
The field commander may save the day and turn 
the tide and gain a victory, but what is it after all, 
— so many men killed and captured on either side, 
and then recruited up, and rested a little, onlj' to 
repeat the bloody carnage again and again. 

Let it be assumed that the absence of great mil- 
itary genius on both sides is the highest compli- 
ment that can be paid to American civilization. War 
is barbarism. The higher civilization will eradi- 
cate all practical knowledge of the brutality of 
warfare from men's minds. Then there will be 
no wars, save that of truth upon the false — intelli- 
gence upon ignorance How grandly divine will 
be, not only the great leaders in this holy struggle 
for victory, but the humblest of all privates! 




:f^ 



m( 



-•-^H"^ 



Public Enterprises— The Real Estate Bank of Arkansas— State Koads and other Highways- 

TiiE Military Roads— Navigation Within the State from the Earliest Tijies to the 

Present— Decadence of State Navigation— Steamboat Racing— Accidents to 

Boats— The Rise and Growth of the Railroad Systems— x\ Sketch 

OF THE Different Lines — Other Important Considerations. 



From the blessings they bestow 

Our times are dated, and our eras move. — Prior. 




*HE first session of the new 
State legislature, among 
other acts, incorporated the 
State Bank, and as if fur- 
ther determined to show 
that the legislature was at 
least in the front in those 
days of wild-cat bank enterprises, 
proceeded to make money cheap 
and all rich by incorporating the 
celebrated Real Estate Bank of 
Arkansas. Already John Law's 
Mississippi bubble had been for- 
13^ gotten — the old continental money 
f[^ and the many other distressing 
instances of those cruel but fas- 
cinating fictions of attempts to 
make credits wealth. No statesman in the world's 
history has ever yet made an approach to the 
accomplishment of such an impossibility, and still 
nearly all financial legislation is founded upon 
this basic idea. State and national banks have 
been the alluring will-o'-the-wisps in this per- 
sistent folly. All experience teaches that the 
government that becomes a money-changer soon 
becomes the powerful robber, and the places of 
just rulers are filled with tax bandits — there the 



lordly rulers are banditti, and the people the most 
wretched of slaves. 

The State Bank was, as were all such institu- 
tions of that day in any of the States, demoraliz- 
ing in the financial affairs of the people, encourag- 
ing extravagance and debt, and deceiving men with 
the appearances of wealth to their ultimate ruin. 

The Real Estate Bank, as its name indicates, 
was for the purpose of loaning money on real 
estate security. Up to that time the American 
farmer had not learned to base his efPorts upon any- 
thing except his labor. To produce something and 
sell it was the whole horizon of his financial educa- 
tion. If, while his crop was maturing, he needed 
subsistence he went to his merchant and bought 
the fewest possible necessities on credit. It was 
an evil hoiu- when he was tempted to become a 
speculator. Yet there were some instances in 
which the loans on real estate resulted in enabling 
men to make finely improved cotton plantations. 
But the rule was to get people in debt and at the 
same time exhaust the cash in the bank. The 
bank could collect no money, and the real estate 
owner was struggling under mortgages he could 
not pay. Both lender and borrower were sufPerers, 
and the double infliction was upon them of a public 
and individual indebtedness. The Real Estate 



^i 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



83 



Bank made an assignment in 1842, and for years 
was the source of much litigation. It practicall}" 
ceased to do business years before it had its doors 
closed and was wound up, and the titles to such 
lands as it had become the possessor of passed to 
the State. 

The old State Bank building, in front of the 
State house, is the only reminder of the institution 
which promised so much and did so little for the 
public. The old building is after the style of all 
such buildings — a low, two-story brick or stone, 
with huge Corinthian cohimns in front, having 
stone steps to ascend to the first floor. Similar 
structures can be found in Illinois Missouri and 
all the Western and Southern States. The one in 
Little Rock is unsightly and gloomy and does little 
else but cumber the ground. It is in the way, ow- 
ing to a difficulty in the title, of such a modern 
and elegant building as would be in keeping with 
the rapidly advancing and beautiful ' ' City of 
Roses." 

Roads and highways have always occupied pub- 
lic consideration. Being so crossed with rivers 
passing from the west toward the Mississippi 
River, the early settlers all over the confines of this 
State jsassed up the streams and for some time 
used these as the only needed highways. In the 
cour.se of time they began to have bridle-paths 
crossing from settlement to settlement. 

The United States military road from Western 
Missouri passed through Arkansas and led on to 
Shreveport, La. This extended through East- 
ern Arkansas, and Arkansas Post was an import- 
ant point on the route. It was surveyed and 
partially cut out early in the nineteenth century. 
A monthly mail proceeded over the route on horse- 
back, the mail rider generally being able to carry 
the mail in his pocket. 

A trail at first was the road from the mouth of 
the White River to Arkansas Post. This portage 
soon became a highway, as much of the business 
and travel for the Post was landed at the month of 
White River and transported across to the Red 
River. 

In 1821 Congress authorized the survey and 
opening of a public highway from Memphis, via 



Little Rock, to Fort Smith. The work was com- 
pleted in 1823. This was the first highway of 
any importance in the Territory. The other roiites 
mentioned above were nothing more than trails, or 
bridle-paths. A weekly mail between Little Rock 
and Memphis was established in 1829. 

In 1832 a government road leading on a di- 
rect line fi'om Little Rock to Batesville was cut 
out, and the Indians removed from Georgia were 
brought by water to the capital and taken over 
this road. At tliat time it was the best public 
course as well as the longest in the State, and be- 
came in time the main traveled road from the 
northern part of the State to its center. 

Arkansas was settled sparsely along the Missis- 
sippi River some years before Fulton invented the 
steamboat. The first steamboat ever upon western 
waters passed down that river in the latter part 
of 1811— the "Orleans," Capt. Roosevelt. 

The Indians had their light cedar bark canoes, 
and were remarkably expert in handling them. 
These were so light that the squaws could carry 
them on their backs, and in their expeditions in 
ascending the streams frequently saved much time 
by traveling across the great bends of the river 
and carrying their conveyances. Of course in going 
with the current, they kept the stream, skimming 
over the waters with great speed. At one time the 
migratory Indians at stated seasons followed the 
buffalo from the Dakotas to the Gulf, the buffalo 
remaining near, and the Indians on the streams. 
The latter could thus out-travel the immense 
herds and at certain points make forays upon 
them and so keep an abundant supply of meat. 
The buffalo had the curious habit of indulging 
in long stops when they came to a large river in 
their course, as if dreading to take to the water 
and swim across. They would gather on the bank 
of the river at the selected crossing- place, and 
after having devoured everything near at hand 
and hunger began to pinch, would collect into a 
close circle and begin to move, circling round 
and round, the inside ones ever crowding the out- 
side ones closer and closer to the water. This 
continued until some one, crowded into the deep 
water, had to make the plunge, when all followed. 



^FW 



■2 k^ 



84 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



These animals when attacked by other animals, 
or when danger threatened, formed in a compact 
circle, with the cows and calves on the inside and 
the bnlls on the outer ring. In this battle array 
there was nothing in the line of beasts that dared 
molest them. 

The white man came and to the canoe he added 
the skifp, the pirogue, the raft, the keel boat and 
the flat boat. The raft never made but one trip 
and that was down stream always, and when its 
destination was reached it was sold to be converted 
into lumber. Other water crafts could be hauled 
back by long tow lines, men walking on the banks 
and pulling them up stream. There are those now 
living who can remember when this was the only 
mode of river navigation. The younger people of 
this generation can form no adequate idea of the 
severity of the toil and the suffering necessarily in- 
volved in the long trips then made by these hardy 
pioneers. If the people of to-day were compelled 
to procure the simple commodities of life at such 
hard sacrifices, by such endurance, they would do 
without them, and go back to fig leaves and nuts 
and roots for subsistence. 

When Fulton and Livingston had successfully 

navigated their boat from Pittsburgf to New Or- 
es o 

leans, they made the claim of a sort of royal patent 
to the exclusive navigation of the Mississippi River 
and its tributaries. This claim was put forth in 
perfect good faith and it was a new question as 
well as a serious one for the courts, when these 
claimants arrested Captain Shreve upon his arrival 
in New Orleans with his boat, and carried him be- 
fore the court to answer in damages for navi- 
gating by steam the river that belonged to them 
as the first steam navigators. This curious inci- 
dent indicates how little even the inventor of the 
steamboat appreciated of what vast importance to 
civilization his noble invention really was. To 
him and his friend it was but a small personal 
right or perquisite — a licensed monopoly, out of 
which they could make a few dollars, and when 
they passed away probably the invention too would 
die and be forgotten. How infinitely greater had 
the noble, immortal originator builded than he 
knew! The revolving paddles of the steamboat 



were but the wheels now whirling so rapidly be- 
neath the flying railroad trains over the civilized 
world. From this strange, rude craft, the ' ' Or- 
leans," have evolved the great steamships, iron-clad 
war vessels, and the palatial steamboats plying the 
inland waters wherever man's wants or luxuries 
are to be supplied. The genius and glory of such 
men as Fulton belong to no age, much less to 
themselves — they and theirs are a part of the world, 
for all time. 

In 1812 Jacob Barkman opened up a river 
trade between Arkadelphia and New Orleans, car- 
rying his first freights in a pirogue. It took six 
months to make a round trip. He conveyed to New 
Orleans bear skins and oil, pelts, and tallow se- 
cured from wild cattle, of which there were a great 
many; these animals had originally been brought 
to the country by the Spaniards and French, and 
had strayed away, and increased into great herds, 
being as wild and nearly as fleet as the deer. He 
brought back sugar, coffee, powder, lead, flints, 
copperas, camphor, cotton and wool cards, etc., 
and soon after embarking was able to own his 
negro crews. He purchased the steamboat ' ' Dime ' ' 
and became one of the most extensive and enter- 
prising men in the State. With his boat he ascended 
rivers, and piu'chased the cotton, owning his cargo, 
for a return trip. 

In 1819, James Miller, the first governor of the 
Territory, and a military suite of twenty persons, 
embarked at Pittsburg in the United States keel- 
boat, ' ' Arkansas, ' ' for Arkansas Post. The trip 
occupied seventy days, reaching the point of desti- 
nation Jantiary 1, 1820. It was difficult to tell 
which excited the greatest curiosity among the 
natives — the new governor or the keel -boat. 

The flood-tide of western river navigation 
reached its highest wave soon after the close of the 
late war. The Mississipjai River and tributaries 
were crowded with craft, and the wharves of cities 
and towns along the banks were lined with some 
of the finest boats ever built, all freighted to the 
water's edge and crowded with passengers. Build- 
ers vied with each other in turning out the most 
magnificent floaters, fitted with every elegance and 
luxury money could procure. The main point after 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



85 



elegance, in which they rivaled most, was the speed 
of their respective craft. From the close of the 
war to 1870, steamboating was the overshadowing 
business on western waters. Of the boats of this 
era, some will go into history, noted for their 
fleetness, but unlike the fleet horses of history, 
they could not leave their strain in immortal de- 
scendants, rivaling their celebrated feats. Racing 
between boats that happened to come together on 
the river was common, and sometimes reckless 
and dangerous, as well as exciting. Occasionally 
a couple of "tubs," as the boys called a slow 
boat, engaged in a race and away they would go, 
running for hours side by side, the stokers all 
the time piling in the most inflammable material 
they could lay hands on, especially pine knots and 
fat bacon, until the eager flames poured out 
of the long chimney tops; and it was often told 
that the captain, rather than fall behind in the 
race, would seat a darkey on the end of the lever 
of the safety valve, and at the same time scream 
at the stokers to pile on the bacon, pine knots, oil, 
anything to make steam. Roustabouts, ofiScers, 
crew and passengers were all as wildly excited as 
the captain, and as utterly regardless of dangers. 
From such recklessness accidents of course did hap- 
pen, but it is wonderful there were so few. 

Not infrequently commanders would regularly 
engage beforehand for a race of their boats ; fixing 
the day and time and as regularly preparing their 
vessels as a jockey trains and grooms his race-horse. 
The two most noted contests of this kind on the 
Mississippi River were, first, in the early times, 
between the "Shotwell" and "Eclipse," from 
Louisville to New Orleans. The next and greatest 
of all was just at the time of the commencement of 
the decline in steamboating, between the steamers 
"Robert E. Lee" and "Natchez," from New Or- 
leans to St. Louis. The speed, the handling of 
these boats, the record they made, have never been 
equaled and probably never will be, unless steam- 
boating is revived by some new invention. The 
race last mentioned took place in 1868. 

Fearful steamboat calamities, from explosions 
and from tires, like the awful railroad accidents, 
have marked the era of steam navigation. 



The most disastrous in history occurred in 1865, 
in the loss of the " Sultana," on the Mississippi, a 
few miles above Memphis, a part of the navigable 
waters of Arkansas. The boat was on her way up 
stream from New Orleans laden principally with 
soldiers, some of them with their families, and 
several citizens as passengers. There were 2,350 
passengers and crew on the vessel. A little after 
midnight the sudden and awful explosion of the 
boilers came, literally tearing the boat to pieces, 
after which the wreck took fire. Over 2,000 peo- 
ple perished. 

The early decline of the steamboat industry 
kept even pace with the building of railroads over 
the country. Main lines of railroads were soon 
built, the streams being used as natural road beds 
through the rock hills and mountains. In passing 
over the country in trains one will now often see 
the flowing river close to the railroad track on one 
hand, when from the opposite "window the high 
rock mountain wall may almost be touched. Then, 
too, the large towns were along the navigable riv- 
ers, lakes and ocean. The sage conclusion of the 
philosopher when he went out to look at the world, 
and was impressed with the curious coincidence 
that the rivers ran so close by the big towns, is a 
trite one: A great convenience to those who used 
water. 

The first railroad built in Arkansas was the 
Memphis & Little Rock Railroad. Work was com- 
menced with the intention of first constructing it 
from Little Rock to Devall's Bluft', on White 
River, whence passengers might proceed by boat 
to Memphis. It was started at both ends of the 
line and finished in 1859, the next year being 
extended to St. Francis River, and then in 1860 
completed to the river opposite Memphis. When 
the Federal army took possession of the Mississippi 
River, and their forces began to possess the north- 
eastern portion of the State, the Confederates as 
they retired toward Little Rock destroyed the road 
and burned the bridges. Indeed, when the war 
ended in 1865, Arkansas was without a mile of 
railroad. Soon after the war closed the road was 
rebuilt and put in operation, and for some time 
was the only one in the State. 



:rr 



86 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



The next was the old Cairo & Fulton Railroad, 
now the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern 
Road. It was organized in 1853, and in 1854-55 
obtained a large Congressional land grant in aid 
of the enterprise, and built first from Fulton to 
Beebe, in 1872; it was completed to Tesarkana 
in 1873, and soon came to be the most important 
line in the State. The Camden branch, from Gur- 
don to Camden, was completed in 1882. The Mem- 
phis branch, from Bald Knob to Memphis, ninety- 
three miles, was finished and the first passenger 
train passed over the line May 10, 1888. The 
branch from Newport to Cushman, a distance of 
forty six miles, was built in 1882. The Helena 
branch, from Noble to Helena, 140 miles, was com- 
pleted in 1882. 

The main line of the St. Louis & Iron Moun- 
tain Railroad enters the State on the north, at 
Moark (combination for Missouri and Arkansas), 
and passes out -at Texarkana (combination for 
Arkansas and Texas). The distance between these 
two points is 305 miles. 

The first section of the St. Louis, Arkansas & 
Texas Railroad, from Clarendon to Jonesboro, was 
built in 1882, and the next year completed to Tex- 
arkana. It was built as a narrow gauge and made 
a standard gauge in 1886. Its northern terminus 
for some time was Cairo, where it made its St. 
Louis connection over the St. Louis & Cairo Nar- 
row Gauge Road, now a standard, and a part of the 
Mobile & Ohio system. The Magnolia branch of 
this road runs from McNeal to Magnolia, about 
twenty miles, and was btiilt in 1885. The Althei- 
mer branch, from Altheimer to Little Rock, was 
constructed and commenced operation in 1888. 
The main line of this road enters the State from 
the north in Clay County, on the St. Francis River, 
penetrating into Texas at Tesarkana. 

The Little Rock, Mississippi River & Texas 
Railroad, now in course of constniction, is a much 
needed road from Little Rock to Pine Bluff, on to 
Warren and Mississippi, and will form an important 
outlet for Arkansas toward the Gulf. This was 
built from Arkansas City to Pine Bluff, and then 
completed to Little Rock in 1880. 

The Pine Bluff & Swan Lake Railroad was 



built in 1885. It is twenty-six miles long, and 
runs between the points indicated by its name. 

The Arkansas Midland Railroad, from Helena 
to Clarendon, was built as a narrow gauge and 
changed to a standard road in 1886. 

The Batesville & Brinkley Railroad is laid as 
far as Jacksonport. It was changed in 1888 to a 
standard gauge, and is now in course of construc- 
tion on to Batesville. 

The Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Rail- 
road enters the State at Mammoth Spring, and 
ri^ns to West Memphis. Its original name was 
Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad. It 
now is a main line from Kansas City to Birming- 
ham, Ala. 

Work was commenced on the Little Rock & 
Fort Smith Railroad in 1871 at Little Rock, and 
built to Ozark; later it was finished to Van Buren, 
there using a transfer, and was completed to Fort 
Smith. 

The Hot Springs Railroad, from Malvern, on the 
main line of the Iron Mountain Railroad, to Hot 
Springs, was built and is owned by "Diamond 
Joe ' ' Reynolds. Operations were commenced in 
1874. 

The line of the St. Louis & San Francisco Rail- 
road passes near the west line of Arkansas adjacent 
to Fort Smith. There is a branch road of this 
line from Jensen to Mansfield, sixteen miles long. 

It looks a little as though the sponsor for the 
name of the Ultima Thule, Arkadelphia & Missis- 
sijipi Railroad intended to use the name for a main 
track through the State. It was built in 1887 for 
the use of the Arkadelphia Lumber Company. 
Eureka Springs branch runs from Seligman to Eu- 
reka Springs. Another branch goes from Rogers 
to Bentonville. Still another, extending from Fay- 
etteville to St. Paul, is thirty-five miles in length. 
The branch from Fayetteviile is now in course of 
building. 

The Russellville & Dardanelle Railroad is four 
miles long, extending from the south bank of the 
Arkansas River to Russellville. 

The Southwestern, Arkansas & Indian Terri- 
tory Railroad indicates that there is nothing in a 
name, as this road is but twenty-seven miles long, 



^^ 5>J'V 




running from Southland to Okolona on the west, 
and also extending east from the main line. 

A line is being surveyed and steps actively 
taken to build a road from Kansas City to Little 
Rock, which is to cross the Boston Mountains near 
the head waters of White River. 

Several other important lines are at this time 



making preijarations to build in the near future. 
Charters for nearly 100 routes in the State have 
been secured since 1885. There is not only plenty 
of room, but a great necessity for yet hundreds of 
miles of new roads here. They will greatly facili- 
tate the development of the immense resources of 
this favored locality. 



;iiff SK x{. 



■ > * < * 



The Counties of the State— Their Formation and Changes or Boundary Lines, etc.— Their 

County Seats and other Items of Interest Concerning Them— Defunct Counties- New 

Counties— Population of all the Counties of the State at every General Census. 




Not chaos-like, toffelher crusb'd and bruised; 

But as the world, harmoniously confused: 

Wliere order in variety we see. 

And where, though all things differ, they agree, — Pope. 



■ ERHAPS to many, no more 
interesting subject in the 
history of the State can be 
presented than that refer- 
ring to the name, organiza- 
tion, etc., of each county 
within its limits. Careful 
research has brought forth the fol- 
lowing facts presented in a concise, 
but accurate manner: 

Arkansas County was formed 
December 13, 1813. As the first 
municipal formation within the 
boundary of the State, in Lower Mis- 
souri Territory, it was first a parish 
under Spanish rule and then under 
French. October 23. 1821, a part 
of Phillips County was added to it; the line be- 
tween Pulaski and Arkansas was changed October 
30, 1823; Quapaw Purchase divided between Ar- 



kansas and Pulaski October 13, 1827; line between 
Arkansas and Phillips defined November 21, 1829; 
boundaries defined November 7, 1836. County 
seat, De Witt; first county seat, Arkansas — oppo- 
site Arkansas Post. 

Ashley, formed November 30, 1848, named for 
Hon. Chester Ashley, who died a United States 
Senator; line between Chicot changed January 19, 
1861. County seat, Hamburg. 

Baxter, March 24, 1873; line between Izard and 
Fulton defined October 16, 1875; line between 
Marion changed March 9, 1881. County seat. 
Mountain Home. 

Benton, September 30, 1830, named in honor 
of Hon. Thomas H. Benton. County seat, Ben- 
tonville. 

Boone, April 9. 1869 ; named for Daniel 
Boone; line between Marion defined December 9, 
1875. Harrison, county seat. 

Bradley, December 18, 1840; part of Calhoun 



""TU 



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_* s 



88 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



attached October 19, 1862; part restored to Ashley 
County January 1, 1859. Warren, county seat. 

Calhoun, December 6, 1850; named for John 
C. Calhoun; part added to Union and Bradley 
November 19, 1862. County seat, Hampton. 

Carroll, November 1, 1833; named in honor of 
the signer of the declaration; boundary defined 
December 14, 1838; line between Madison defined 
January, 11, 1843, and again January 20, 1843; 
line between Marion defined December 18, 1846; 
line between Madison defined December 29, 1854, 
and again January 16, 1857; part of Madison 
attached April 8, 1869. Berryville, county seat. 

Chicot, October 25, 1823; boundary defined 
November 2, 1835; part attached to Drew Decem- 
ber 21, 1846; line between Ashley changed 
January 19, 1861; line between Drew changed 
November 30, 1875; line changed between Desha 
February 10, 1879. Lake Village, county seat. 

Clark, December 15, 1818, while Lower Mis- 
souri Territory; named in honor of Gov. Clark, 
of Missouri; the line between Pulaski and Clark, 
changed October 30, 1823; divided November 2, 
1829; line between Hot Springs and Dallas changed 
April 3, 1868; line between Pike defined April 
22, 1873; line between Montgomery changed April 
24, 1873; line between Pike changed March 8, 
1887. Arkadelphia, county seat. 

Clay, March 24, 1873; named for Henry Clay. 
This county, formed as Clayton County, was changed 
to Clay on December 6, 1875. The act of March 
24, 1873. changed the boundaries of a larsre num- 
ber of counties. Boydsville and Corning, county 
seats. 

Cleburne, formed February 20, 1883; named 
in honor of Gen. Patrick A. Cleburne. Heber is 
the county seat. 

Cleveland, formed in 1885; named for President 
Cleveland ; was formed as Dorsey County. Toledo, 
county seat. 

Columbia, December 17, 1852; part of Lnion 
County added December 21, 1858; line between 
Nevada defined April 19, 1873. Magnolia, county 
seat. 

Conway, December 7, 1825; named after the 
noted Con ways; the northeast boundary defined 



October 27, 1827; line between Pulaski and Con- 
way defined October 20, 1828; part of Indian pur- 
chase added October 22, 1828; line between Con- 
way, Pulaski and Independence defined November 
5, 1831; part added to Pope January 6, 1853: 
part added to White January 11, 1853; act of 
March, 1873; line between Pope defined May 28, 
1874. County seat, Morrillton. 

Craighead, formed February 19, 1850. Jones- 
boro, county seat. 

Crawford, October 18, 1820; boundary was 
changed October 30, 1823; divided and county 
of Lovely established October 13, 1827; part of 
the Cherokee Country attached to, October 22, 
1828; boundary defined December 18, 1837; line 
between Scott defined; line between Washington 
defined November 24, 1846; line between Frank- 
lin defined March 4, 1875; line changed between 
Washington March 9, 1881. Van Buren, county 
seat. 

Crittenden, October 22, 1825; named for Rob- 
ert Crittenden; St. Francis River declared to be 
the line between St. Francis and Crittenden Coun- 
ties November, 1831; portion attached to Missis- 
sippi County January, 1861; act, March, 1873. 
Marion, county seat. 

Cross, November 15, 1862, 1866, 1873. Witts- 
burg, the county seat. 

Dallas, January 1, 1845; line between Hot 
Springs and Clark changed April 3, 1869. Prince- 
ton the county seat. 

Desha, December 12, 1838; named for Hon. 
Ben Desha; portion attached to Drew January 21, 
1861; part of Chicot attached February 10, 1879; 
also of Lincoln, March 10. 1879. Arkansas City, 
county seat. 

Drew, November 26, 1846; part Chicot attached 
December 21, 1846; part of Desha attached Jan- 
uary 21, 1861; March, 1873; line between Chicot 
changed November 30, 1875. Monticello, county 
seat. 

Faulkner, April 12, 1873; line defined Decem- 
7, 1875. Conway, county seat. 

Franklin, December 19, 1837; line between 
Johnson defined December 14, 1833; line between 
Crawford defined March 4, 1875. Ozark, county seat. 






w 

^ 



HISTOEl OF ARKANSAS. 



89 



Fulton, December 21, 1842; part attached to 
Marion County January 18, 1855; part of Law- 
rence attached January 18, 1855, March, 1S73; 
line between Baxter and Izard defined February 
16. 1875. County seat, Salem. 

Garland, April 5, 1873; named after Got. 
A. H. Garland. Hot Springs, county seat. 

Grant, Febniary 4, 1869. Sheridan, county 
seat. 

Greene, November 5, 1833; act March, 1873. 
Paragould, county seat. 

Hempstead, December 15, 1818, when this 
was Lower Missouri Territory ; Lafayette County 
carved out of this territory October 15, 1827; line 
between Pike defined December 14, 1838. Wash- 
ington, county seat. 

Hot Spring, November 2, 1829; certain lands 
attached to March 2, 1838; Montgomery taken out 
of December 9, 1842; line between Saline defined 
December 23, 1846; line between Montgomery 
changed December 27, 1848; line between Saline 
changed February 19, 1859, and changed again 
January 10, 1861; line between Clark and Dallas 
changed April 3, 1869; March, 1873. Malvern, 
county seat. 

Howard, April 17, 1873. County seat. Centre 
Point. 

Independence, October 20, 1820; part of east- 
ern boundary defined October 30, 1823; Izard 
County formed of October 27, 1825; part of Inde- 
pendence added October 22, 1828; line between 
Independence and Izard defined November 5, 1831 ; 
line between Independence and Conway, November 
5, 1831; between Independence and Jackson, No- 
vember 8, 1836; betweenlzardFebruary 21, 1838; 
December 14, 1840; Lawrence changed December 
26, 1840; March. 1873; Sharp County defined Feb- 
ruary 11, 1875. Batesville, county seat. 

Izard, October 27, 1825; western boundary 
line extended October 13, 1827; part of the Indian 
purchase added October 22, 1828; between Inde- 
pendence and Izard defined November 5, 1831; 
between Conway and Izard, November 5, 1831; 
southern boundary established November 11, 1833; 
line between Independence defined February 21, 
1838, and December 14, 1838, and December 21, 



1840; western boundary line defined December 24, 
1840, March, 1873: between Baxter and Fulton 
defined February 16, 1875; between Sharp changed 
March 9, 1877. Melbourne, county seat. 

Jackson, November 5, 1829; line between In- 
dependence defined November 8, 1836; part of 
St. Francis attached January 10, 1851. Jackson- 
port, county seat. 

Jefferson, November 2, 1829; boundaries de- 
fined November 3, 1831, and again October 29, 
1836; line changed between Lincoln and Desha 
March 20, 1879. Pine BlufF, county seat. 

Johnson, November 16, 1833; southern line 
defined November 3, 1835; east line defined Octo- 
ber 5, 1830; line between Franklin defined Decem- 
ber 14, 1838, 1848; between Pope February 19, 
1859, again March 27, 1871; line between Pope 
re-established on March 6, 1875; between Pope 
changed March 9, 1877. Clarksville, county seat. 

Lafayette, October 15, 1827; the line between 
Union defined November 26, 1846. Lewisville, 
county seat. 

Lawrence, on January 15, 1815, while Lower 
Missouri Territory; east line defined October 30, 
1823; between Independence changed December 
20, 1840; part attached to Fulton January 18, 
1855; part attached to Randolph January 18, 
1861; nearly half the county cut off the west side 
to form Sharp Count}', 1868. Powhatan, county 
seat. 

Lee, April 17, 1873. Marianna, county seat. 

Lincoln, March 28, 1871; part transferred to 
Desha County, March 10, 1879. Star City, county 
seat. 

Little River, March 5, 1867. Richmond is the 
county seat. 

Logan, originally Sarber County, March 22, 
1871; amended, February 27, 1873; changed to 
Logan, December 14, 1875; line between Scott 
changed, March 21, 1881. Paris, county seat. 

Lonoke, April 16, 1873; named for the lone 
oak tree, by simply spelling phonetically — the 
sucfgestion of the chief engineer of the Cairo & 
Fulton Railroad. Line between Prairie defined 
November 30, 1875, and again, December 7, 1875. 
Lonoke, county seat. 



^-. 



\ 



90 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Lovely, October 13, 1827; abolished October 
17, 1828. 

Matlison, September 30, 1836; west boundary 
changed on November 26, 1838; between Carroll 
defined January 11, 1843, and again January 20, 
1843, 1846; between Newton, December 21, 1848; 
between Carroll, April 8, 1869. Huntsville, county 
seat. 

Marion, September 25, 1836; originally Searcy 
County; changed to Marion, September 29, 1836 
(Searcy County created out of December 13, 1838); 
west boundary defined November 18,1837; between 
Carroll defined December 18, 1846; part of Fulton 
attached January 18, 1855; between Van Buren 
and Searcy defined January 20, 1855, and March, 
1873; line between Boone defined December 9, 
1875; line between Baxter changed March 9, 1881. 
Yellville, county seat. 

Miller, April 1, 1820; the greater portions fell 
within the limits of Texas; county abolished there- 
fore, 1836; re-established, December 22, 1874, and 
eastern boundary extended. Texarkana, county seat. 

Mississippi, November 1, 1833, 1859; portion 
of Crittenden attached, January 18, 1861. Osceola, 
county seat. 

Monroe, November 2, 1829 ; boundaries defined 
December 25, 1840; line between Prairie changed 
December 7, 1850; line changed April 12, 1869, 
March, 1873, April, 1873, and May 27, 1874. 
Clarendon, county seat. 

Montgomery, December 9, 1842; line between 
Yell defined January 2, 1845; between Perry, 
December 23, 1846; between Perry re-established 
December 21, 1848; between Hot Spring changed 
December 27, 1848; between Polk changed Feb- 
ruary 7,1859, March, 1873; between Clark changed 
April 24, 1873; line between Pike defined Decem- 
ber 16, 1874. Mount Ida, county seat. 

Nevada, March 20, 1871; line between Colum- 
bia defined Ajjril 10, 1873. Prescott, county seat. 

Newton, December 14, 1842; line between 
Madison defined December 21,1848; between Pope 
January 10, 1853. Jasper, county seat. 

Ouachita, November 29, 1842; line between 
Union changed January 6, 1853. Camden, county 
seat. 



Perry, December 18, 1840; line between Pul- 
aski, Saline and Montgomery defined December 
23, 1846; old line between Montgomery re-estab- 
lished December 21,1848. Perryville, county seat. 

Phillips, May 1, 1820; part attached to Arkan- 
sas County October 23, 1881; west boundary 
defined October 30, 1823; act to divide and create 
Crittenden County October 22, 1825; divided and 
St. Francis County created October 13, 1827; line 
between Arkansas County defined November 21, 
1828, 1840, March, 1873. Helena, county seat. 

Pike, November 1, 1833; line between Sevier 
defined November 15,1833; between Hempstead, 
December 14, 1838; between Clark, April 22, 
1873; between Montgomery, December 16. 1874; 
between Clark defined March 8, 1877. Murfrees- 
boro, county seat. 

Poinsett, February 28, 1838, 1859. Harris- 
burg, county seat. 

Polk, November 30, 1844; line between Mont- 
gomery changed February 7, 1859; part of Sebas- 
tian County added by ordinance of convention, 
June 1, 1861. Dallas, county seat. 

Pope, November 2, 1829; part added to Yell 
January 5, 1853; part of Conway attached Janu- 
ary 6, 1853; line between Newton, January 10, 
1853; part of Van Buren attached Januai-y 12, 
1853; between Van Buren defined February 17, 
1859; between Johnson, October 19, 1859, March, 
27, 1871; between Conway, May 28, 1874; between 
Johnson re-established March 6, 1875; between 
Johnson changed March 9, 1877. Dover, county 
seat. 

Prairie, October 25, 1846; between Pulaski 
changed December 30, 1848; between Monroe 
changed December 7, 1850; line changed April 12, 
1869; between White defined April 17, 1873; line 
changed April 26, 1873, May 27, 1874; between 
Lonoke changed November 30, 1875; separated 
into two districts, 1885. Devall's Bluff', county 
seat. 

Pulaski, December 15, 1818, while a part of 
Lower Missouri Territory; line between Arkansas 
and Pulaski October 30, 1823; between Clark 
changed October 30, 1823; divided October 20, 
1825; Quapaw Purchase divided— Arkansas and 



^ 



I? *^ 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



91 



Pulaski, October 13, 1827; northwest boundary- 
defined October 23, 1827; between Pulaski and 
Conway, October 20, 1828; line between Saline 
defined February 25, 1838, December U, 1838; 
between White changed February 3, 1843; between 
Saline defined December 21, 1846; between Perry 
defined December 23, ]8-l:6; between Prairie 
changed December 30, 1848; between Saline de- 
fined April 12, 1873; again, December 7, 1875. 
Little Rock, county seat. 

Randolph, October 29, 1835; part of Lawrence 
attached January 18, 1864, March, 1873. Poca- 
hontas, county seat. 

Saline, November 2, 1835; boundaries defined 
November 5, 1836; between Pulaski, February 25, 
1838, December 14, 1838, December 21, 1846; be- 
tween Hot Spring, December 23, 1846, February 
19, 1859. January 19,1861; between Pulaski, April 
12, 1873, December 17, 1875. Benton, county 
seat. 

Scott, November 5, 1833; boundaries defined 
October 24, 1835; between Crawford, December 
16, 1838; part of Sebastian attached by conven- 
tion June 1, 1861; line between Logan changed 
March 21, 1873. Waldron, county seat. 

Searcy, No.vember 5, 1835; boundaries defined 
September 26, 1836; name changed to Marion 
September 29, 1836; county created out of Marion 
December 13, 1838; between Van Buren defined 
October 2, 1853; between Van Buren and Marion 
defined October 20, 1855, March, 1873. Marshall, 
county seat. 

Sebastian, January 6, 1851; part attached to 
Scott and Polk by the convention June 1, 1861. 
Fort Smith and Greenwood, county seats. 

Sevier, October 17, 1828; boundaries defined 
November 8, 1833; between Pike, November 15, 
1833; southeast boundary defined October 29, 
1836. Lockesburg, county seat. 

Sharp. July 18, 1868; act March 3, 1873; be- 
tween Independence defined February 11, 1875; 



line between Izard changed March 9, 1877, 1883. 
Evening Sh^de, county seat. 

St. Francis, October 13, 1827; St. Francis 
River declared boundary line between Crittenden 
November 3, 1831; part attached to Jackson Jan- 
uary 1, 1851, March, 1873. Forrest City, county 
seat. 

Stone, April 21, 1873. Mountain View, county 
seat. 

Union, November 2, 1829; boundaries defined 
November 5, 1836; line between Lafayette, 
November 26,1846; line between Ouachita changed 
January 6. 1853; part added to Columbia, Decem- 
ber 21, 1851; part of Calhoun attached October 
19, 1862. El Dorado, county seat. 

Van Buren, November 11, 1833; boundaries 
defined November 4, 1836; part attached to Pope 
January 12, 1853; between Searcy and Marion 
defined January 20, 1855; between Pope defined 
February 17, 1859. Clinton, county seat. 

Washington, October 17, 1828; certain lands 
declared to be in Washington County October 26, 
1831; line between Crawford defined November 
24, 1846; line changed between Crawford March 
8, 1883. Fayetteville. county seat. 

White, October 23, 1835; line between Pulaski 
changed February 3, 1843; part of Conway at- 
tached January 11, 1853; line between Prairie 
defined April 17, 1873. Searcy, county seat. 

Woodruff, November 26, 1862; but vote, in 
pursuance to ordinance of conventions 1861, 1866, 
1869; line changed April 26, 1873. Augusta, 
county seat. 

Yell, December 5, 1840; northern boundary, 
December 21, 1840; line between Montgomery, 
January 2, 1845; part Pope attached January 6, 
1853. Danville and Dardanelle, county seats. 

The following table will prove valuable for 
comparison in noting the growth in population 
of the coimties throughout the State in the various 
decades from their organization: 



^-. 



92 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



AGGEEG.ITE 


POPULATION BY 


COUNTIES 






AGGREGATE POPULATION BY 


COUNTIES. 






Counties iu 


1880 


1870 


1860 


1850 


1840 


1830 


1820 


1810 1 


Counties in 
the State. 


1880 1870 


1860 


1850 1 1840 

1 


1830 1820 


1810 


the State. 


892,525 


484,471 


435,450 


209,897 


97,574 


30,388 14,235 

1 


1,062 


802,525' 484,471 


435,450 


1 
209,897' 97,574 


30,388 14,255 


1,062 




8,038 

10,156 

6,004 

20,387 

12,146 

6,285 

5,671 

1.3,337 

10,117 

15,771 

7,213 

14 090 

l-',7.55 

7,037 

14,740 

9,415 

.^,050 

6,5' 15 

8,S73 

8,370 

12,231 

12.786 

14.951 

6,720 

9,023 

6,185 

7,480 

19,015 

7,775 

9,917 

18,086 

10,857 

10,877 

22,386 

11,565 

5,730 

8,782 


8,238 
8,042 


8,884 


3246 


1,340 


1,426 1260 


1,062 ' 


Lee 












. j 




Ashley 


8,590 1 2,058 






Lincoln 

Little River 


9,255 
6,405 
14,885 
12,146 
11 455 










1 














3,246 












Benton 


13,831 
7,032 
8,046 
3,853 
6,780 
7,214 

11,953 

il'.397 
8,112 
4.577 
8,957 
3,831 
3,915 
5,707 
6,125 


9,306 


3,710 


3,228 






1 


















1 


Lonoke 

Madison 
















Bradley 


8,.388 
4,103 
9,383 
9,234 
9,735 

i2,'459 
6,697 
3,06« 
7,850 
4,920 


3,829 








a '731 


7,740 
6,192 


4,823 
2,308 


2,775 
1,325 












1 










Carroll 


4,617 
5,115 
4,070 


2,814 
8,806 
2,300 






Miller 


9,919 
7,142 
9,574 
5,729 

12.959 
6,120 

11,7.58 
3,872 

21,262 
6,345 
2,192 
6,857 

14,322 
8.435 

32,616 

11,724 
8.389 
8,963 
9,174 
7,278 

19,560 
0,192 


• 










1,165 
1.369 




Mississippi 

Munroe 

Montgomery 

Nevada 


3,633 
8,336 
2,984 


3,895 
5,657 
3,633 


2,368 
2,049 
1,958 


1,410 
936 






Clark 


1,040 




461 






Clay 





















Conwav 


3,583 


2,892 


982 






4,.374 

12,973 
2,685 

16,372 
3,788 
1,720 
3,376 
8,386 
6,1)04 

32,066 
7,466 
6,714 
3,911 
7,483 
5,613 

12,940 
4 4n^ 


3,393 
12,936 
2,465 
14,877 
4,025 
3,621 
4,262 
7,883 
8,864 
11,699 
6,261 
8,672 
6,,540 
5,142 
5,271 


1.758 
9,591 
978 
6,935 
1,801 
2,308 
1,263 
4,710 
2,097 
5,657 
3,875 
4,457 
3,903 
3.0.S3 
1,979 


























Crawford 




7,960 
2,6i8 


4,266 
1,561 


2,440 
1,272 












" 










Philfips 


3,.547 

969 

1,320 


1,152 


1,197 




Cross 






Pike 




Dallas 


8,383 
6,459 


6,877 
2,911 


















Desha 


1,598 








Polk 


















2,850 


1,483 






Drew 


9,960 


9,087 


3,276 


























Pulaski 


5.3,50 
2,196 
2,499 
2,001 
1,694 
9.36 


2,396 

iVsos 


1,921 






9,627 
4,,S43 


7,298 
4,024 


3,972 
1,819 


2,665 










Fulton 








St. Francis 


















Grant 


3,943 

7,573 

13,768 

6,877 














Scott 










5,843 
13,989 
5,635 


2,.593 
7,672 
3,609 


1,586 
4,921 
1,907 
















Hempstead 

Hot bpring 


2,512 
468 


2,246 




Sebastian 

Sevier 

Sharp 










10,516 


4,240 


2,810 


634 






Howard 






9 047 ! 6 400 






Independence... 


14,666 
6,806 
7,268 

15,733 
9.152 
9,139 
5,981 


14,307 
7,215 
10,493 
14,971 
7,612 
8,464 
9,372 


7,767 
3,212 
3,086 
6,834 
5,227 
5,220 


3,669 
2,240 
1,640 
2..i66 
3,4.33 
2.2S0 


2,031 

1,266 

333 

772 

""748' 
2,806 






Stone 


6,089 
13,419 

9,.565 
23,884 
17,794 

8.646 
13,852 
















Izard 






10,571 
6,107 
17,266 
10,347 
6,981 
8,048 


12,288 
6,357 

14,673 
8,316 


10,298 
2,864 
9,970 
2,619 


2,889 

1518 

7,148 

920 


640 






Jackson 






Van Buren 

Washington 

White 












5,182 






Johnson 











Lafayette 

Lawrence 


Woodruff. 

Vol! 








6,274 1 2.S35 


5,592 




6,333 


3,341 


























-* — 1- 



1 



e. V 



^ 2> 



HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 



93 



ilAPTEt XII. 



■ > * < ♦ 



Education— The Mental Type Considered— Teriiitorial Schools, Laws and Funds— Constitutional 
Provisions for Education— Legislative Provisions — Progress since the War — The State 
Superintendents— Statistics— Arkansas Literature— The Akkansaw Traveler. 




Delightful task! to rear the tender thought. 

To teach the joung idea how to shoot; 

To pour the fresh instructions o'er the mind, 

To breathe th' enlivening spirit, and to fix 

The generous purpose in the glowing breast.— TJiomson. 






ERE is one subject 
at least in the economic 
institutions of our coun try- 
where men do not divide 
on political lines. To (he 
historian it is a restful 
and refreshing oasis in 
the arid desert. From 
the Canadas to the Gulf commun- 
ities and States earnestly vie with 
each other in the establishment of 
the best public schools. The pres- 
ent generation has nearly supplant- 
ed the former great universities 
with the free public high schools 
A generation ago the South sent its 
boys to the North to school; the 
North sent its boys to the old universities of Europe. 
Oxford and Heidelburg received the sons of ambi- 
tious, wealthy Americans of the North, while Yale, 
Harvard and JefPerson Colleges were each the alma 
mater of many of the youths of the South. The 
rivalry in the schools between the two sections at 
that time was not intense, but the educa' ed young 
men of the South met in sharpest rivalry in the 
halls of Congress the typical Northern man. As 
the highest types of the North and the South in 




active political life may be placed Thomas Jeffer- 
son and Daniel Webster. In peace or in war the 
differences in the intellectual advancement of the 
two sections were more imaginary than real. The 
disadvantage the South met was the natural ten- 
dency to produce an aristocratic class in the com- 
munity. Cotton and the negro were impediments 
in the Southern States that clogged the way to the 
advancement of the masses. They retarded the 
building of great institutions of learning as well as 
the erection of large manufactories. This applied 
far more to collegiate education than to the com- 
mon or public school system. The Southern man 
who was able to send his children away from his 
State to school realized that he gave them two ad- 
vantages over keeping them at home; he aided 
them in avoiding negro contact and association, 
and provided the advantage of a better knowledge 
of different peoples in different sections. 

Arkansas may have lagged somewhat in the 
cause of education in the past, but to-day, though 
young as a State, it is far in advance of many older 
communities who are disposed to boast greatly of 
their achievements in this direction. 

When still a Territory the subject of education 
received wise and considerate attention. March 
2, 1827, Congress gave the State seventy-two 



^eli 






A, 



■ Vl* 



94 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



sections of land for the purpose of establishing 
"a seminary of learning." A supplemental act 
was passed by Congress, June 23, 1836, one week 
after it became a State, offering certain propo- 
sitions for acceptance or rejection: 1. The six- 
teenth section of every township for school pur- 
poses. 2. The seventy-two sections known as the 
saline lands. By article 9, section 4, State con- 
stitution of 1869, these lands were given to the free 
schools. 3. The seventy-two sections, known as 
the seminary lands, given to the Territory in 1827, 
were vested and contirmed in the State of Arkansas 
for the use of said seminary. October 18, 1836, 
the State accepted the propositions entire; and tbe 
legislature passed the act known as " the ordinance 
of acceptance and compact. " December 18, 1844, 
the general assembly asked Congress for a modi- 
fication of the seminary grant, so as to authorize 
the legislature to appropriate these seventy-two 
sections of land for common school purposes. 
Congress assented to this on July 29, 1846, and 
the lands were added to the fi'ee school fund. 
These congressional land grants formed the basis of 
the State's free school system. 

The first State constitution of 1836 recognized 
the importance of popular education, and made it 
the duty of the general assembly to provide by 
law for the improvement of such lands as are, or 
may be, granted by the United States for the use 
of schools, and to pass such laws as '" shall be cal- 
culated to encourage intellectual, scientific and 
agricultural improvement." 

The general assembly of 1842 established a sys- 
tem of common schools in the State, which was ap- 
proved and became a law February 3, 1853, pro- 
viding for the sale of the sixteenth section, and 
election of school trustees in each township, to ex- 
pend the money from the sale of land in the cause 
of education. The act reqiiired schools to be main- 
tained in each township "for at least four months 
in each year, and orthography, reading, writing, 
English grammar, arithmetic and good morals 
should be taught." The trustees were required 
to visit the schools once in each month, and the 
school age was fixed at from five to twenty-one 
years. The act also provided for the establishment 



of manual labor schools. It went to the extent of 
appropriating a sum of money for the purchase of 
text-books. This was a long step in advance of 
any other portion of the countiy at that time. To 
the fund arising from lands the act added "all 
fines for false imprisonment, assault and Ijattery, 
breach of the peace, etc." This act of the assem- 
bly placed the young State in the vanguard of 
States in the cause of free schools. It is an 
enduring monument to the men of that legis- 
lature. Under this law the reports of the county 
commissioners of education were ordered to be 
made to the State auditor, but if so made none can 
be found in the State archives. 

A State board of education was provided for 
by the act of 1843, and the board was required to 
make a complete report of educational matters, 
and also to recommend the passage of such laws 
as were deemed advisable for the advancement of 
the cause of education. By an act of January 1 1 , 
1853, the secretary of State was made ex-officio 
State commissioner of common schools, and re- 
quired to report to the governor the true condition 
of the schools in each county; which report the 
governor presented to the general assembly at 
each regular session. The provisions of an act of 
January, 1855, relate to the sale of the sixteenth 
section, and defined the duties of the school trus- 
tees and commissioners. Article 8, in the consti- 
tution of 1867, is substantially the same as the pro- 
visions of the law of 1836. 

From 1836 to 1867, as is shown by the above, 
the provisions of the law were most excellent and 
liberal toward the puljlic schools; legislative enact- 
ments occur at frequent intervals, indicating that 
the State was well abreast of the most liberal school 
ideas of the time, and large funds were raised 
sacred to the cause. 

Investigation shows that fi'om the date of the 
State's admission into the Uaion, until 1S67, there 
were many and admirable stipulations and statutes, 
by which large revenues were collected from the 
sale of lands, but the records of the State depart- 
ment give no account of the progress of free 
schools duiTng this period, leaving the inference 
that but little practical benefit accrued to the 



^ 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



95 



cause from these wise and liberal measures put 
forth by Congress and the State. 

By act approved May 18, 1867, the legislature 
made a marked forward movement in the cause of 
education. Considering the chaotic conditions of 
society, and the universal public and private bank- 
ruptcy, the movement is only the more surprising. 
The act stipulated that a tax of 20 cents on every 
1100 worth of taxable property should be levied 
for the purpose of establishing and maintaining 
a system of public schools. The second section 
made this fund sacred — to be used for no other 
purpose whatever. The fourth section provided 
for a superintendent of public instruction and 
defined his duties. The eighth section provided 
for a school commissioner, to be chosen by the 
electors of each county, who should examine any 
one applying for a position as school teacher; 
granting to those qualified to teach a certificate, 
without which no one could be legally em- 
ployed to teach. Prior to this a license as teacher 
was not considered essential, and there was no one 
authorized to examine applicants or grant certifi- 
cates. The Congressional township was made the 
unit of the school district, the act also setting 
forth that in the event of the trustees failing to 
have a school taught in the district at least three 
months "in the year, the same thereby forfeited 
its portion of the school revenue. These wise and 
liberal arrangements were made, it must be remem- 
bered, by a people bankrupt by war and suffering 
the hard trials of reconstruction. 

No regular reports were made — at least none 
can be found — prior to 1867, the date of the ap- 
pointment of a superintendent. Though reports 
were regularly received from the year mentioned, 
the most of them were unsatisfactory and not 
reliable. 

The constitution of 1868 created some wise 
amendments to the previous laws. It caused the 
schools to become free to every child in the State; 
school revenues were increased, districts could have 
no part of the school fund unless a free school had 
been taught for at least three months. The leg- 
islature following this convention, July 23, 1868, 
amended the school laws to conform to this con- 



stitutional provision. In addition to State super- 
intendent, the office of circiiit superintendent was 
created, and also the State board of education. 

The constitutional convention of 1874 made 
changes in the school law and provided for the 
school system now in force in the State. The act 
of the legislature, December 7, 1876, was passed 
in conformity with the last preceding State con- 
vention. This law with amendments is the present 
school law of Arkansas. 

Hon. Thomas Smith was the first State super- 
intendent, in office from 1868 to 1873. The 
present incumbent of that position, Hon. Wood- 
ville E. Thompson, estimates that the commence- 
ment of public free schools in Arkansas may prop- 
erly date from the time Mr. Smith took possession 
of the office — schools free to all ; every child entitled 
to the same rights and privileges, none excluded; 
separate schools provided for white and black; 
a great number of schools organized, school houses 
built, and efficient teachers secured. Previous to 
this time people looked upon free schools as largely 
pauper schools, and the wealthier classes regarded 
them unfavorably. 

Hon. J. C. Corbin, the successor of Mr. Smith, 
continued in office until December 13, 1875. 

Hon. B. W. Hill was appointed December 18, 
1875, and remained in office until 1878. It was 
diu'ing his term that there came the most marked 
change in public sentiment in favor of public 
schools. He was a zealous and able worker in the 
cause, and from his report for 1876 is learned the 
following: State apportionment. $213,000; dis- 
trict tax, $88,000; school population, 189,000. 
Through the directors' failure to report the enroll- 
ment only shows 16,000. The total revenue of 
1877 was §270,000; of 1878, $276,000. 

Mr. Hill was succeeded in 1878 by Hon. J. L. 
Denton, whose integrity, earnestness and great 
ability resulted in completing the valuable work so 
well commenced by his predecessor — removing the 
Southern prejudices against public schools. He 
deserves a lasting place in the history of Arkansas 
as the advocate and champion of free schools. 

The present able and efficient State superin- 
tendent of public instruction, as previously men- 



A|: 



k 



96 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



tioned, is Hon. Woodville E. Thompson. To his 
eminent qualifications and tireless energy the 
schjols of Arkansas are largely indebted for the 
rapid advance now going on, and which has 
marked his past term of office. From his bien- 
nial report are gleaned most of the facts and sta- 
tistics given below. 

The growth of the institution as a whole may 
be defined by the following statistics: In 1879 
the revenue raised by the State and county tax was 
$271,000; in 1880, 1285.000; in 1881, $710,000; 
in 1882, $722,000; in 1883. §740,000; in 1884, 
$931,000; in 1885, .11,199,000; in 1886, §1,827,- 
000. The district tax in 1884 was $346,521; in 
1885, $343,850, and in 1886, $445,563. The dis- 
trict tax is that voted by the people. 

Arkansas to-day gives the most liberal sup- 
port to her free schools, all else considered, of any 
State in the Union. It provides a two mill tax, a 
poll tax, and authorizes the districts to vote a five 
mill tax. This is the rule or rate voted in nearly 
all the districts, thus making a total on all taxable 
property of seven mills, besides the poll tax. 

The persistent neglect of school officers to re- 
port accurate returns of their school attendance is 
to be regretted. The number of pupils of school 
age (six to twenty-one years) is given, but no ac- 
count of attendance or enrollment. This leaves 
counties in the unfavorable light of a large school 
population, with apparently the most meager at- 
tendance. The following summaries exhibit the 
progress of the public schools: Number of school 
children, 1869, 176,910; 1870, 180,274; 1871, 
196,237; 1872, 194,314; 1873, 148 128; 1874. 168,- 
929; 1875, 168,929; 1876, 189,130; 1877, 203,567; 
1878, 216,475; 1879, 236,600; 1880, 247,547; 1881, 
272,841; 1882, 289,617; 1883, white, 227,538; 
black, 76,429; total, 304,962; 1884, white, 247,- 
173; black, 76,770; total, 323,943; 1885, white, 
252,290; black, 86,213; total, 338,506; 1S86, 
white, 266,188; black, 91,818; total, 358,006; 
1887, white, 279,224; black, 98,512; total, 377,- 
736; 1888, white, 288,381; black, 99,747; total, 
388,129. The number of pupils enrolled in 1869 
was 67,412; 1888, 202,754, divided as follows: 
White, 152,184; black, 50,570. Number of teach- 



ers employed 1869, 1.335; number employed 1888, 
males, 3,431, females, 1,233. Total number of 
school houses, 1884. 1,453; erected that year, 263. 
Total number school houses, 1888, 2,452; erected 
in that year, 269. Total value of school houses, 
1884, .?384,827.73. Total value, 1888, $705,- 
276.92. Total amount of revenues received, 1868, 
$300,669.63. For the year, 1888: Amount on 
hand June 30, 1887, $370,942.25: received com- 
mon school fund, $315,403.28; district tax, $505,- 
069.92; poll tax, $146,604.22; other sources, 
$45,890.32; total, $1,683,909.32. 

While there were in early Territorial days great 
intellectual giants in Arkansas, the tendency was 
not toward the tamer and more gentle walks of lit- 
erature, but rather in the direction of the fiercer bat- 
tles of the political arena and the rostrum. Oratory 
was cultivated to the extreme, and often to the 
neglect apparently of all else of intellectual pur- 
suits. The ambitious youths had listened to the 
splendid eloquence of their elders — heard their 
praises on every lip, and were fired to struggle for 
such triumphs. W'here there are great orators one 
expects to find poets and artists. Thes great states- 
man is mentally cast in molds of stalwart pro- 
portions. The poet, orator, painter, and eminent 
literary character are of a finer texture, but usually 
not so virile. 

Gen. Albert Pike gave a literary immortality to 
Arkansas when it was yet a Territorial wilderness. 
T)ie most interesting incident in the history of 
literature would be a true picture of that Nestor of 
the press. Kit North, when he opened the mail 
package from that dim and unknown savage 
world of Arkansas, and turned his eyes on the 
pages of Pike's manuscript, which had been offered 
the gre:it editor for publication, in his poem en- 
titled "Hymn to the Gods." This gi-eat but mer- 
ciless critic had written Byron to death, and one 
can readily believe that he must have turned pale 
when his eye ran over the lines — lines from an un- 
known world of untamed aborigines, penned in the 
wilderness by this unknown boy. North read the 
products of new poets to find, not merit, but weak 
points, where he could impale on his sharp and 
pitiless pen the daring singer. What a play must 



-<n 



4 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



97 



have swept over his features as his eye followed 
line after line, eager and more eager from the first 
word to the last. To him could this be possible — 
real — and not the day dream of a disturbed im- 
agination. This historical incident in the litera- 
ture of the wild west — the pioneer boy not only on 
the outer confines of civilization, but to the aver- 
age Englishman, in the impenetrable depths of a 
dark continent, where dwelt only cannibals, select- 
ing the great and severe arbiter of English litera- 
ture to whom he would transmit direct his fate as 
a poet: the youth's unexpected triumph in not 
only securing a place in the columns of the leading 
review of the world, but extorting in the editorial 
columns the highest meed of praise, is unparalleled 
in the feats of tyros in literature. The supremacy 
of Pike's genius was dulled in its brilliancy be- 
cause of the versatility of his mental occupations. 
A poet, master of belles lettres, a lawyer and a poli- 
tician, as well as a soldier, and eminent in all the 
varied walks he trod, yet he was never a book- 
maker — had no ambition, it seems, to be an author. 
The books that ho will leave, those especially by 
which he will be remembered, will be his gathered 
and bound writings thrown off at odd intervals and 
cast aside. His literary culture could produce only 
the very highest type of efPort. Hence, it is prob- 
able that Lord North was the only editor living to 
whom Pike might have submitted his ' ' Hymn to 
the Gods ' ' with other than a chance whim to de- 
cide its fate. 

There was no Boswell among the early great 
men of Arkansas, otherwise there would exist biog- 
raphies laden with instruction and full of interest. 
There were men and women whose genius com- 
pelled them to talk and write, but they wrote dis- 
connected, uncertain sketches, and doubtless often 
published them in the columns of some local news- 
paper, where they sank into oblivion. 

The erratic preacher-lawyer, A. "W . Arrington, 
wrote many and widely published sketches of the 
bench and bar of Arkansas, but his imagination 



so out-ran the facts that they became mere fictions 
— very interesting and entertaining, it is said, 
but entirely useless to the historian. Arrington 
was a man of superior natural genius, but was so 
near a moral wreck as to cloud his memory. 

Years ago was published Nutall's History of 
Arkansas, but the most diligent inquiry among 
the oldest inhabitants fails to find one who ever 
heard of the book, much less the author. 

Recently John Hallum published his History 
of Arkansas. The design of the author was to 
make three volumes, the first to treat of the 
bench and bar, but the work was dropped after 
this volume was published. It contains a great 
amount of valuable matter, and the author has 
done the State an important service in making his 
collections and putting them in durable form. 

A people with so many men and women com- 
petent to write, and who have written so little of 
Arkansas, its people or its great historical events, 
presents a curious phase of society. 

A wide and inviting field has been neglected 
and opportunities have been lost; facts have now 
gone out of men's memories, and important histor- 
ical incidents passed into oblivion beyond recall. 

Opie P. Read, now of Chicago, will be known 
in the future as the young and ambitious literary 
worker of Arkansas. He came to Little Rock 
from his native State, Tennessee, and engaged in 
work on the papers at that city. He soon had 
a wide local reputation and again this soon grew 
to a national one. His fugitive pieces in the news- 
papers gained extensive circulation, and in quiet 
humor and unaffected pathos were of a high order. 
He has written several works of fiction and is now 
running through his paper. The Arkansaw Traveler, 
Chicago, a novel entitled ' ' The Kentucky Colonel," 
already pronounced by able critics one among 
the best of American works of fiction. Mr. Read 
is still a comparatively young man, and his pen 
gives most brilliant promise for the future. His 
success as an editor is well remembered. 



r 



98 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



mcJi 



■•^■»(^«- 

The Chtjrches of Arkansas— Appearance of the Missionaries— Church Missions Established in the 
Wilderness- The Leading Protestant Denominations— Ecclesiastical Statistics- 
General Outlook froji a Religious Standpoint. 



No silver saints by dying misers giv'n 

Here bribed the rage of ill-requited Heav'n; 

But such plain roofs as piety could raise. 

And only vocal with the Maker's praise. — Pope. 



./"^fl^ 




^■^~' N all histories of the early 
u ^fci i? settlers the pioneer preach- 
„'A.i^,fe ers and missionaries or the 
Church are of first inter- 
est. True missionaries, re- 
gardless of all creeds, are 
a most interesting study, 
and, in the broad principles of Chris- 
tianity, they may well be considered 
as a class, with only incidental refer- 
ences to their different creeds. The 
essence of their remarkable lives is 
the heroic work and sufferiag they so 
cheerfully undertook and carried on 
so patiently and bravely. Among the 
first of pioneers to the homes of the 
red savages were these earnest church- 
men, carrying the news of Mount Calvary to the 
benighted peoples. It is difficult for us of this 
age to understand the sacrifices they made, the 
privations they endured, the moral and physical 
courage required to sustain them in their work. 
The churches, through their missionaries, carried 
the cross of Christ, extending the spiritual empire 
in advance, nearly always, of the temporal empire. 
They bravely led the way for the hardy explorers, 
and ever and anon a martyr's body was given to 



the flames, or left ii' the trackless forests, food for 
ravenous wild beasts. 

The first white men to make a lodgment in 
what is now Arkansas having been Marquette and 
Joliet, France and the Church thus came here 
hand in hand. The Spanish and French settlers 
at Arkansas Post were the rei)resentatives of Cath- 
olic nations, as were the French-Canadians who 
came down from the lakes and settled along the 
banks of the lower Mississippi River. 

After 1803 there was another class of pion- 
eers that came in — Protestant English by descent 
if not direct, and these soon dominated in the 
Arkansas country. The Methodists, Baptists and 
Cumberland Presbyterians, after the building of 
the latter by Rev. Finis Ewing, were the pre- 
vailing pioneer preachers. Beneath God's first 
temples these missionaries held meetings, traveled 
over the Territory, going wherever the little col- 
umn of blue smoke from the cabin directed them, 
as well as visiting the Indian triljes, proclaiming 
Christ and His cause. Disregarding the elements, 
swollen streams, the dim trails, and often no other 
guide on their dreary travels than the projecting 
ridges, hills and streams, the sun or the polar star; 
facing hunger, heat and cold, the wild beast and the 
far fiercer savage, without hope of money compen- 



^ 




sation, regardless of sickness and even death, these 
men took their lives in their hands and went forth. 
Could anything be more graphic or pathetic of the 
conditions of these men than the extract from a 
letter of one of them who had thus served his God 
and fellow-man more than fifty years: "Inmyloiig 
ministry I often suffered for food and I spent 
no money for clothing. * * The largest 
yearly salary I received was $100." Were ever 
men inspired with more zeal in the cause of their 
Master ? They had small polish and were as rugged 
as the gnarled old oaks beneath whose branches 
they so often bivouacked. They never tasted the 
refinements of polite life, no doubt despising them 
as heartily as they did sin itself. Rude of speech, 
what eloquence they possessed (and many in this 
respect were of no mean order) could only come 
of their deep sincerity. 

These Protestant missionaries trod closely upon 
the footsteps of the pure and gentle Marquette in 
the descent of the Mississippi, and the visits to 
the Indians amid the cane-brakes of the South. 
Marquette's followers had been the first to ascend 
the Arkansas River to its source in the far distant 
land of the Dakotas in the Northwest. Holding 
aloft the cross, they boldly entered the camps of the 
tribes, and patiently won upon them until they laid 
down their drawn tomahawks and brought forth 
the calumet of peace. These wild children gath- 
ered around these strange beings — -visitors, as they 
supposed, from another world, and wherever a 
cross was erected they regarded it with fear and 
awe, believing it had supreme power over them 
and their tribes. 

He who would detract from the deserved im- 
mortality of any of these missionaries on account of 
their respective creeds, could be little else than a 
cynic whose blood is acid. 

Marquette first explored the Mississippi River 
as the representative of the Catholic Church. 

The old church baptismal records of the mis- 
sion of Arkansas Post extend back to 1764, and the 
ministrations of Father Louis Meurin, who signed 
the record as ' ' missionary priest. ' ' This is the 
oldest record to be found of the church's recog- 
nition of Arkansas now extant. That Marquette 



held church service and erected the cross of Christ 
nearly one hundred years anterior to the record 
date in Ai'kansas is given in the standard histories 
of the United States. Rev. Girard succeeded 
Meurin. It may be gleaned from these records 
that in 1788 De La Vailiere was in command of 
Arkansas Post. In 1786 the attending priest was 
Rev. Louis Guigues. The record is next signed by 
Rev. Gibault in 1792, and next by Rev. Jannin in 
1795. In 1820 is found the name of Rev. Chau- 
dorat. In 1834 Rev. Dupuy, and in 1838 Father 
Donnelly was the priest in charge. These remained 
in custody of the first mission at Arkansas Post. 
The second mission established was St. Mary's, « 
now Pine Bluff. The first priest at that point was 
Rev. Saulmier. Soon after, another mission, St. 
Peter's, was established in Jefferson County, and 
the third mission, also in Jefferson County, was 
next established at Plum Bayou. In order, the 
next mission was at Little Rock, Rev. Emil Saul- 
mier in charge; then at Fort Smith; then Helena, 
and next Napoleon and New Gascouy, respectively. 

The Catholic population of the State is esti- 
mated at 10,000, with a total number of churches 
and missions of forty. There are twenty-two 
church schools, convents and academies, the school 
attendance being 1,600. The first bishop in the 
Arkansas diocese was Andrew Byrne, 1844. He 
died at Helena in 1862, his successor being the 
present incumbent. Bishop Edward FitzGerald. 
who came in 1867. 

From a series of articles published in the Ar- 
kansas Methodist, of the current year, by the emi- 
nent and venerable Rev. Andrew Hunter, D. D. , 
are gleaned the following important facts of this 
Church's history in Arkansas: Methodism came to 
Arkansas by way of Missouri about 1814, a com- 
pany of emigrants entering from Southeast Mis- 
souri overland, and who much of the way had to 
cut out a road for their wagons. They had heard 
of the rich lands in Mound Prairie, Hempstead 
County. In this company were John Henrey, a 
local preacher, Alexander and Jacob Shook, broth- 
ers, and Daniel Props. In their long slow travels 
they reached the Arkansas River at Little Rock, 
and waited on the opposite bank for the comple- 



100 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



tion of a ferry boat thea building. When these 
people reached their destination they soon set up 
a church, and erected the first Methodist ' ' meet- 
ing-house " in Arkansas, called Henrey's Chapel. 
' ' Father Henrey, "as he was .soon known far and 
wide, reared sons, all preachers. This little col- 
ony were all sincere Methodists, and nearly all 
their first generation of sons became preachers, 
some of them eminent. Jacob Shook and three 
of his sons entered the ministry; Gilbert Alex- 
ander, his sons and grandsons, became ministers 
of God's word, as did two of Daniel Props' sons. 
The small colony was truly the seed of the church 
in Arkansas. 

In 1838 two young ministers were sent from 
Tennessee to the Arkansas work, and came all 
the way to Mound Prairie on horseback. 

The church records of Missouri show that the 
conference of 1817 sent two preachers to Arkan- 
sas — William Stevenson and John Harris. They 
were directed to locate at Hot Springs. It is 
conceded that these two missionaries "planted 
Methodi.sm in Arkansas." 

In 1818 the Missouri Conference sent four 
laborers to Arkansas, with William Stevenson as 
the presiding elder of the Territory. The circuits 
then had: John Shader, on Spring River; Thomas 
Tennant, Arkansas circuit; AV. Orr, Hot Springs; 
William Stevenson and James Lowrey, Mound 
Prairie. What was called the Arkansas circuit in- 
cluded the Arkansas River, from Pine BlufF to the 
mouth. After years of service as presiding elder, 
Stevenson was succeeded by John Scripps; the ap- 
pointments then were: Ai'kansas circuit, Dennis 
Willey; Hot Springs, Isaac Brookfield; Mound 
Prairie, John Harris; Pecan Point, William Town- 
send. The Missouri Conference, 1823, again made 
William Stevenson presiding elder, with three itin- 
erants for Arkansas. In 1825 Jesse Hale became 
presiding elder. He was in charge until 1829. He 
was an original and outspoken abolitionist, and 
taught and preached his faith unreservedly; so 
much so that large numbers of the leading fam- 
ilies left the Methodist Eiiiseopal Church and 
joined the Cumberland Presbyterians. This was 
the sudden building up of the Cumberland Pres- 



byterian Church, and nearly fatally weakened the 
Methodist Church. Sorae irreverent laymen desig- 
nated Elder Jesse Hale's ministrations as the 
' ' Hail storm ' ' in Arkansas. Fortunately Hale 
was succeeded by Rev. Jesse Green, and ho poured 
oil on the troubled waters, and saved Methodism 
in Arkansas. " Green was our Moses." 

The Tennessee Conference, 1831, sent eight 
preachers to Arkansas, namely: Andrew D. Smyth, 
John Harrell, Henry G. Joplin, William A. Boyce. 
William G. Duke, John N. Hammill, Alvin Baird 
and Allen M. Scott. 

A custom of those old time preachers now 
passed away is worth preserving. When possi- 
' ble to do so they went over the circuit together, 
; two and two. One might preach the regular ser- 
mon, when the other would "exhort." Under these 
conditions young Rev. Smyth was accompanying 
the regular circuit rider. He was at first diffi- 
dent, and "exhorted" simply by giving his hearers 
" Daniel in the lion's den." As the two started 
around the circuit the second time, on reaching a 
night appointment, before entering the house, and 
as they were returning from secret prayer in the 
brush, the preacher said: "Say, Andy, I'm going 
to preach, and when I'm done you give 'em 
Daniel and the lions again. ' ' Evidently Andy and 
his lions were a terror to the natives. But the 
young exhorter soon went up head, and became a 
noted divine. 

The Missouri Conference, 1832, made two dis- 
tricts of Arkansas. Rev. A. D. Smyth had charge 
of Little Rock district, which extended over all the 
country west, including the Cherokee and Creek 
Nations. 

The formation of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, South, occurred in 1814. This is a well 
known part of the history of our country. In Ar- 
kansas the church amid all its trials and vicissi- 
tudes has grown and flourished. The State now 
has fifteen districts, with 200 jsastoral charges, and, 
it is estimated, nearly 1,000 congregations. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church has a com- 
fortable church in Little Rock, and several good 
sized congregations in difPerent portions of the 
State. This church and the Methodist Episcopal 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



101 



Church, South, are separate and wholly distinct 
in their organization. 

The Baptists are naturally a pioneer and fron- 
tier church people. They are earnest and sincere 
proselyters to the faith, and reach very effectively 
people in general. The Baptist Church in Ben- 
ton celebrated, July 4, 1889, its fifty-third anni- 
versary. Originally called Spring Church, it was 
built about two miles from the town. The organi- 
zation took place under the sheltering branches of 
an old oak tree. One of the first churches of this 
order was the Mount Bethel Church, about six 
miles west of Arkadelphia, in Clark County. This 
was one of the oldest settled points by English 
speaking people in the State. The church has 
grown with the increase of population. 

Rev. James M. Moore organized in Little Rock, 
in 1828, the first Presbyterian Church in Arkan- 
sas. He was from Pennsylvania, eminent for his 
ability, zeal and piety. For some time he was 
the representative of his church in a wide portion 
of the country south and west. He was succeeded 
by Rev. A. R. Banks, from the theological sem- 
inary of Columbia, S. C, who settled in Hempstead 
County in 1835-36 and organized and built Spring 
Hill Church, besides another at Washington. The 
next minister in order of arrival was Rev. John 
M. Erwin. He located at Jackson, near the old 
town of Elizabeth, but his life was not spared long 
after coming. He assisted Revs Moore and Banks 
in organizing the first presbytery in Arkansas. 

In 1839 Rev. J. M. Moore, mentioned above, 
removed to what is now Lonoke County, and or- 
ganized a congregation and built Sylvania Church. 
His successor at Little Rock was Rev. Henderson, 
in 1840. The death of Rev. Henderson left no 
quorum, and the Arkansas presbytery became /«??c- 
tiis officio. 

Rev Aaron Williams, from Bethel presbytery. 
South Carolina, came to Arkansas in 1842, and 
settled in Hempstead County, taking charge of a 
large new academy at that place, which had been 
built by the wealthy people of the locality. He at 
once re-organized the church at Washington, which 
had been some time vacant. Arkansas then be- 
longed to the synod of Mississippi. In 1842, in 



company with Rev. A. R. Banks, he traveled 
over the swamps and through the forests 400 miles 
to attend the Mississippi synod at Port Royal. 
Their mission was to ask the synod to allow Revs. 
Williams, Moore, Banks and Shaw to organize the 
Arkansas presbytery. They obtained the permis- 
sion, and meeting in Little Rock the first Sunday 
in January, 1843, organized the Arkansas presby- 
tery. The Rev. Balch had settled in Dardanelle, 
and he joined the new presbytery. In the next 
few years Revs. Byington and Kingsbury, Con- 
gregational ministers, who had been missionaries to 
the Indians since 1818, also joined the Arkansas 
presbytery. The synod of Memphis was subse- 
quently formed, of which Arkansas was a part. 
There were now three presbyteries west of Mem- 
phis: Arkansas, Ouachita and Indian. In 1830 
Arkansas was composed of four presbyteries — two 
Arkansas and two Ouachita. 

Rev. Aaron Williams assumed charge at Little 
Rock in 1843, where he remained until January, 
1845. There was then a vacancy for some years 
in that church, when the Rev. Joshua F. Green 
ministered to the flock. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Thomas Eraser, who continued until 1859. 
All these had been supplies, and in 1859 Little 
Rock was made a pastorate, and Rev. Thomas R. 
Welch was installed as first pastor. He filled the 
position the next twenty-five years, and in 1885 
resigned on account of ill health, and was sent 
as counsel to Canada, where he died. About the 
close of his pastorate, the Second Presbyterian 
Church of Little Rock was organized, and their 
house built, the Rev. A. R. Kennedy, pastor. He 
resigned in September, 1888, being succeeded by 
James R. Howerton. After the resignation of Dr. 
Welch of the First Church. Dr. J. C. Barrett was 
given charge. 

Rev. Aaron Williams, after leaving the synod, 
became a synodical evangelist, and traveled over 
the State, preaching wherever he found small col- 
lections of people, and organizing churches. He 
formed the church at Fort Smith and the one in 
Jackson County. 

A synodical college is at Batesville, and is 
highly prosperous. 



s "V 



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102 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Najies Illustrious in Arkansas History— Projiinent Mention of Noted Individuals— Ambrose 

H. Sevier— William E. Woodruff— John Wilson— John Hemphill— Jacob Barkman— Dr. 

Bowie— Sandy Faulkner— Samuel H. Hempstead— Trent, Williams, Siiinn Families, 

AND Others— The Conways— Robert Crittenden— Archibald Yell— Judge 

David Walker— Gen. G. D. Royston— Judge James W. Bates. 



The gen'ral voice 
Sounds him, for courtesy, behaviour, language 
And ev'ry fair demeanor, an example; 
Titles of honour add not to his worth. 
Who is himself au honour to his title. — Ford. 




O history of Arkansas, worthy 
of the name, could fail to 
refer to the lives of a num- 
lier of its distinguished 
citizens, whose relation to 
i^ great public events has 
^•.-\^ made them a part of the 
true history of their State. 
The following sketches of repre- 
sentative men will be of no little 
interest to each and every reader 
of the present volume. 

Ambrose H. Sevier, was one of 
the foremost of the prominent men 
of his day, and deserves especial 
mention. The recent removal of 
the remains of Gen. John Sevier from 
Alabama to Knoxville, Tenn. (June 19, 
1889), has awakened a wide-spread inter- 
est in this historic family name. The re-interment 
of the illustrious ashes of the first governor, found- 
er and Congressman of Tennessee, by the State he 
had made, was but an act of long deferred justice 
to one of the most illustrious and picture.sque char- 
acters in American history. He founded two States 




and was the first governor of each of them ; one of 
these States, Tennessee, he had, in the spirit of dis- 
interested patriotism, erected on the romantic ruins 
of the other — the mountain State of "Franklin." 
A distinguished Revolutionary soldier, he was the 
hero of King's Mountain, where he and four broth- 
ers fought. He was first governor of the State 
of "Franklin," six times governor of Tennessee, 
three times a member of Congress, and in no in- 
stance did he ever have an opponent to contest 
for an office. He was in thirty -five hard fought 
battles; had faced in bitter contest the State of 
North Carolina, which secretly arrested and ab- 
ducted him from the new State he had carved out 
of North Carolina territory; was rescued in open 
court by two friends, and on his return to his ad- 
herents as easily defeated the schemes of North 
Carolina as he had defeated, in many battles, the 
Cherokee Indians. No man ever voted against 
' ' Nolichucky Jack, " as he was familiarly called — 
no enemy ever successfully stood before him in 
battle. A great general, statesman, and patriot,, 
he was the creator and builder of commonwealths 
west of the Alleghanies, and he guided as greatly 
and wisely as did Washington and Jefferson the 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



103 



new States and Territories he formed in the paths 
of democratic freedom ; and now, after he has slept 
in an obscure grave for three-quarters of a century, 
the fact is beginning to dawn upon the nation that 
Gov. John Sevier made Washington, and aU that 
great name implies, a possibility. 

The name, illustrious as it is ancient, numer- 
ous and wide spread, is from the French Pyrenees, 
Xavier, where it may be traced to remote times. 
St. Francis Xavier was of this family, and yet the 
American branch were exiles from the old world 
because of their revolt against papal tyranny. 
Sturdy and heroic as they were in the faith, their 
blood was far more virile, indeed stalwart, in de- 
fense of human rights and liberty, wherever or by 
■whomsoever assailed. 

In France, England and in nearly every West- 
ern and Southern State of the Union are branches 
of the Xaviers, always prominent and often emi- 
nent in their day and time. But it was reserved 
to the founder of the American branch of the 
Seviers to be the supreme head of the illustrious 
line. He builded two commonwealths and was im- 
pelled to this great work in defense of the people, 
and in resistance to the encroachments of the cen- 
tral powers of the paternal government. 

In Arkansas the Seviers, Conways and Rectors 
were united by ties of blood as well as by the ever 
stronger ties of the sons of liberty, independence 
and patriotism. Here were three of the most 
powerful families the State has ever had, and in 
public affairs they were as one. The political 
friend and worthy model of Gov. John Sevier was 
Thomas Jefferson. Indeed, Gen. Sevier was the 
fitting and immortal companion-piece to Jefferson 
in those days of the young and struggling repub- 
lic. The Seviers of Arkansas and Missouri were 
naturally the admirers of Andrew Jackson - cham- 
pions of the people' s rights, watchdogs of liberty. 

Ambrose H. Sevier, was the son of John, who 
was the son of Valentine and Ann Conway Sevier, 
of Greene County, Tenn. Ann Conway was the 
daughter of Thomas and Ann Rector Conway. 
Thus this family furnished six of the governors of 
Arkansas. 

In 1821, soon after Mr. Sevier's coming to Ar- 



kansas, he was elected clerk of the Territorial 
house of representatives. In 1823 he was elected 
from Pulaski County to the legislature, and con- 
tinued a member and was elected speaker in 1827. 
He was elected to Congress in August, 1828, to 
succeed his uncle, Henry W. Conway, who had 
been killed in a duel with Crittenden. He was 
three times elected to Congress. When the State 
came into the Union, Sevier and William S. Fulton 
were elected first senators in Congress. Sevier 
resigned his seat in the Senate in 1848, to accept 
the mission of minister plenipotentiary to Mexico, 
and, in connection with Judge Clifford, negotiated 
the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo. This was the 
last as well as crowning aCt of his life. He died 
shortly after returning from bis mission. The 
State has erected a suitable monument to his mem- 
ory in Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, where 
sleeps his immortal dust. 

How curiously fitting it was that the Sevier 
of Arkansas should follow so closely in the foot- 
steps of the great governor of Tennessee, his lineal 
ancestor, and be the instrument of adding so im- 
mensely to the territory out of which have grown 
such vast and rich commonwealths. As builders 
of commonwealths there is no name in American 
history which approaches that of Sevier. A 
part of the neglect — the ingratitude, possibly — of 
republics, is shown in the fact that none of the 
States of which they gave the Union so many bear 
their family name. 

William E. Woodruff was in more than one 
sense a pioneer to Arkansas He was among 
the distinguished men who first hastened here 
when the Territory was formed, and broiight with 
him the pioneer newspaper press, and established 
the Arkansas Gazette. This is now a flourishing 
dailv and weekly newspaper at the State capital, 
and one of the oldest papers in the country. Of 
himself alone there was that in the character and 
life of Mr. Woodruff which would have made him 
one of the historical pioneers to cross the Missis- 
sippi River, and cast his fortune and future iu this 
new world. But he was a worthy disciple and 
follower of Ben. Franklin, who combined with the 
art preservative of arts, the genius that lays found- 



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104 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ations for empires in government, and the yet far 
greater empires in the fields of intellectual life. 

He was a native of Long Island, Suffolk Coun- 
ty, N. Y. Leaving his home in 1818, upon the 
completion of his apprenticeship as printer, with 
the sparse proceeds of his earnings as apprentice 
he turned his face westward. Reaching Wheel- 
ing, Va. , he embarked in a canoe for the falls of 
the Ohio, now Louisville, where he stopped and 
worked at his trade. F'nding no sufficient open- 
ing to i^ermanently locate in this place, he started 
on foot, by way of Russellville, to Nashville, Tenn., 
and for a time worked at his trade in that place 
and at Franklin. Still looking for a possible 
future home further west, he heard of the Act of 
Congress creating the Territory of Arkansas, to 
take effect July 4, 1819. He at once purchased 
a small outfit for a newspaj^er office and started to 
the newly formed Territory, determined if possible 
to be first on the ground. He shipped by keel-boat 
down the Cumberland river, the Ohio and the 
Mississippi Rivers to Montgomery's Point, at the 
mouth of AVhite River; tbence overland to Arkansas 
Post, the first Teiritorial capital. Montgomery 
Point was then, and for some years after, the main 
shipping point for the interior points of the 
Arkansas Territory. From this place to the capi- 
tal, he found nothing but a bridle-path. He 
therefore secured a pirogue, and with the services 
of two boatmen, passed through the cut off to 
Arkansas River and then up this to Arkansas Post, 
reaching his point of destination October 31, 1819. 
So insignificant was the Post that the only way he 
could get a house was to build one, which he did, 
and November 20, 1819, issued the first paper— 
the Arkansas Gazette. He was the entire force of 
the office — mechanical, clerical and editorial. To- 
day his own work is his fitting and perpetual 
monument — linking his name indissolubly with 
that of Arkansas and immortality. 

His genius was in the direct energy and the 
impelling forces which drove it with the sure cer- 
tainty of fate over every opposing obstacle. Broad, 
strong and great in all those qualities which 
characterize men pre-eminent in the varied walks 
of life; a true nation founder and builder, his 



useful life was long spared to the State, which will 
shed luster to itself and its name by honoring the 
memory of one of its first and most illustrious 
pioneers — William E. Woodruff. 

Reference having been made to John Wilson 
in a previous chapter, in connection with his un- 
fortunate encounter with J. J. Anthony, on the 
floor of the hall of the legislature, it is but an act 
of justice that the circumstances be properly ex- 
plained, together with some account of the man- 
ner of man he really was. 

John Wilson came from Kentucky to Arkansas 
in the early Territorial times, 1820. His wife was 
a Hardin, of the noted family of that State — a sis- 
ter of Joseph Hardin, of Lawrence County, Ark., 
who was speaker of the first house of representa- 
tives of the Territorial legislature. The Wilsons 
and Hardins were prominent and highly respecta- 
ble people. 

When a very young man, John Wilson was 
elected to the Territorial legislature, where he was 
made speaker and for a number of terms filled that 
office. He was a member of the first State legis- 
lature and again was elected speaker. He was the 
first president of the Real Estate Bank of Arkan- 
sas. Physically he was about an average -sized 
man, very quiet in his manner and retiring, of dark 
complexion, eyes and hair, lithe and sinewy in 
form, and in his daily walk as gentle as a woman. 
He was devoted to his friends, and except for 
politics, all who knew him loved him well. There 
was not the shadow of a shade of the bully or des- 
perado about him. He was a man of the highest 
sense of personal honor, with an iron will, and even 
when aroused or stung by injustice or an attack 
ujion his integrity his whole nature inclined to 
peace and good will. He was a great admirer of 
General Jackson — there was everything in the 
natures of the two men where the "fellow feeline 
makes us wondrous kind." 

The difficulty spoken of occurred in 1836. Wil- 
son was a leader in the Jackson party. Anthony 
aspired to the lead in the Whig party. At that 
time politics among the active of each faction meant 
personality. It was but little else than open war, 
and the frontier men of those days generally went 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



105 



armed, the favorite weapon being the bowie 
knife -a necessary part of a hunter's equipment. 
Unfriendly feelings existed between Wilson and 
Anthony. 

Upon the morning of the homicide (in words 
the substance of the account given by the late 
Gen. G. D. Royston. who was an eye witness^ 
Mr. Wilson came into the hall a little late, evi- 
dently disturbed in mind, and undoubtedly ruf- 
fled by reason of something he had been told that 
Mr. Anthony had previously said about him in dis- 
cussing a bill concerning wolf-scalps. A serio- 
comic amendment had been offered to the bill to 
make scalps a legal tender, and asking the presi- 
dent of the Real Estate Bank to certify to the 
genuineness of the same. Anthony had the floor. 
When Wilson took the speaker's chair he com- 
manded Anthony to take his seat. The latter 
brusquely declined to do so. Wilson left the chair 
and approached his opponent, who stood in the 
aisle. The manner of the parties indicated a per- 
sonal encounter. As Wilson walked down the aisle 
he was seen to put his hand in the bosom of his 
vest. Anthony drew his knife. Gen. Royston said 
that when he saw this, hoping to check the two 
men he raised his chair and held it between them, 
and the men fought across or over the chair. They 
struck at each other inflicting great wounds, which 
were hacking blows. Wilson's left hand was nearly 
cut off in warding a blow from Anthony's knife. 
Wilson was physically a smaller man than Anthony. 
Royston held the chair with all his strength be- 
tween the two now desperate individuals. So far 
Anthony's longer arm had enabled him to give the 
greatest wounds, when Wilson with his shoulder 
raised the chair and plunged his knife into his 
antagonist, who sank to the floor and died immedi- 
ately. It was a duel with bowie-knives, without 
any of the preliminaries of such encounters. 

Wilson was carried to his bed, where for along 
time he was confined. The house expelled him 
the next day. The civilized world of course was 
shocked, so bloody and ferocious had been the 
engagement. 

Wilson removed to Texas about 18-12, locating 
at Cedar Grove, near Dallas, where he died soon 

7 



after the close of the late war. Mrs. A. J. Gentry, 
his daughter, now resides in Clark County, Ark. 
The Hardins, living in Clark County, are of the 
same family as was Mrs. AVilson. 

John Hemphill, a South Carolinian, was born 
a short distance above Augusta, Ga. He immi- 
grated west and reached (now) Clark County, Ark. , 
in 1811, bringing with him a large family and a 
number of slaves, proceeding overland to Bayou 
Sara, La. , and from that point by barges to near 
where is Arkadelphia, then a settlement at a place 
called Blakeleytown, which was a year old at the 
time of Mr. Hemphill's location. He found living 
there on his arrival Adam Blakeley, Zack Davis, 
Samuel Parker, Abner Highnight and a few others. 

Mr. Hemphill was attracted by the salt waters 
of the vicinity, and after giving the subject intel- 
ligent investigation, in 1814 built his salt works. 
Going to New Orleans, he procured a barge and 
purchased a lot of sugar kettles, and with these 
completed his preparations for making salt. His 
experiment was a success from the start and he 
carried on his extensive manufactory until his 
death, about 1825. The works were continued by 
his descendants, with few intermissions, until 1851. 
Jonathan O. Callaway, his son-in-law, was, until 
that year, manager and proprietor. 

There is a coincidence in the lives of the two 
men who were the founders of commerce and man- 
ufacturing in Arkansas, Hemphill and Barkman, 
in that by chance they became traveling compan- 
ions on their way to the new country. 

Two brothers, Jacob and John Barkman, came 
to Arkansas in 1811. They worked their passage 
in the barge of John Hemphill, from Bayou Sara, 
La., to Blakeleytown, near Arkadelphia. They 
were a couple of young Kentuckians, full of cour- 
age, hope, and strong sense, seeking homes in the 
wilderness. Their coming antedated that of the 
first steamboat on western waters, and the history 
of the river commerce of this State witli New Or- 
leans will properly credit Jacob Barkman with 
being its founder. Considering the times and real- 
izing what such men as Jacob Barkman did, one 
is constrained to the belief that among the first 
settlers of Arkansas were men of enterprise, fore- 



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106 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



sight and daring in commerce that have certainly 
not been surpassed by their successors. 

On a previous page the methods of this pioneer 
merchant in the conduct of his business have been 
noted. His miscellaneous cargo of bear oil, skins, 
pelts, tallow, etc., found a ready market in New 
Orleans, which place he reached by river, return- 
ing some six months later well laden with commod- 
ities best suited to the needs of the people. In- 
deed his ' ' store ' ' grew to be an important institu- 
tion. He really carried on trade from New Orleans 
to Arkadelphia. In 1820 he purchased of the gov- 
ernment about 1,200 acres of land on the Caddo, 
four miles from Arkadelphia, and farmed exten- 
sively and had many cattle and horses, constantly 
adding to the number of his slaves. Having 
filled the field where he was he sought wider op- 
portunities, and in IS-tO, in company with J. G. 
Pratt, opened an extensive cotton commission busi- 
ness in New Orleans, building large warehouses 
and stores. Mr. Barkman next purchased the 
steamboat "Dime," a side- wheeler, finely built 
and carrying 400 bales of cotton. He ran this in 
the interest of the New Orleans commission house; 
owned his crews, and loaded the boat with cot- 
ton from his own plantation. In 1844 his boat 
proudly brought up at New Orleans, well laden with 
cotton. The owner was on board and full of hope 
and anticipated joy at his trip, and also to meet 
his newly married wife (the second), when these 
hopes were rudely dashed by the appearance of an 
officer who seized the boat, cargo and slaves, every- 
thing — and arrested Mr. Barkman and placed him 
in jail under an attachment for debts incurred by 
the commission house. His partner in his absence 
had wrecked the house. 

To so arrange matters that he might get out of 
jail and return to his old home on the Caddo, with 
little left of this world' s goods, was the best the poor 
man could do. He finally saved from the wreck- 
age his fine farm and a few negroes, and, nothing 
daunted, again went to work to rebuild his fortune. 
He erected a cotton factory on the Caddo River, 
and expended some $30,000 on the plant, having 
it about ready to commence operating when the 
water came dashing down the mountain streams in 



a sudden and unusual rise, and swept it all away. 
This brave pioneer spent no hour of his life in idle 
griefs at his extraordinary losses. Though vinscru- 
pulous arts of business sharks and dire visitations 
of the elements combined to make worthless his 
superb foresight and business energy, he overcame 
all obstacles, and died about 1852, a wealth}' man 
for that time. 

When Arkansas was yet a Territory, among its 
early pioneers was Dr. William Bowie, whose name 
has become familiar to the civilized world, though 
not in the way that most men are emulous of im- 
mortality. Dr. Bowie had located, or was a frequent 
visitor, in Helena, Ark. , and was a typical man of 
his times — jolly, careless and social, and very fond 
of hunting and fishing. 

Among the first settlers in Little Rock was a 
blacksmith, named Black. He possessed skill in 
working in iron and steel, and soon gained a wide 
reputation for the superior hunting knives he 
made. When nearly every man hunted more or 
less, and as a good knife was a necessity, it will 
be seen that Black was filling a general want. 
The material he worked into knives consisted of 
old files. 

One day while he was just finishing a superior 
and somewhat new style of hunting knife. Dr. 
Bowie happened to enter the shop. The moment 
he saw the article he determined to possess it 
at any price. Black had not really made it to 
sell — simply to gratify a desire to see how fine a 
blade he could make, and keep it. But a bargain 
was finally arranged, the blacksmith to complete it 
and put Bowie's name on the handle. The inscrip- 
tion being neatly done read: "Bowie's Knife. " Its 
beauty and finish attracted wide attention, aud all 
who could afford it ordered a similar one, the name 
of which was soon shortened into ' ' Bowie Knife. ' ' 
Bowie died a patriot's death, fighting for the in- 
dependence of Texas, by the side of David Crockett. 

The one pre-eminent thing which entitles the 
Arkansas pioneer, Sandy Faulkner, to immortality 
is the fact that he is the real, original ' "Arkansaw 
Traveler. ' ' He was an early settler, a hunter, a wild, 
jolly, reckless spendthrift, and a splendid fiddler. 
He was of a wealthy Kentucky family, and settled 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



107 



first ia Chicot County and then on the river only a 
few miles below Little Rock. By inheritance he 
received two or three moderate fortunes, and spent 
them royally. Of a roving nature, a witty and rol- 
licking companion, he would roam through the 
woods, hunting for days and weeks, and then en- 
liven the village resorts for a while. He was born 
to encounter just such a character as he did chance 
to find, playing on a three-stringed liddle the first 
part of a particular tune. Now there was but one 
thing in this world that could touch his heart with 
a desire to possess, and that was to hear the re- 
mainder of the tune. 

After meeting this rare character in the woods 
what a world of enjoyment Sandy did carry to the 
village on his next return! "With just enough 
and not too much," with fiddle in his hand, the 
villagers gathered about him while he repeated the 
comedy. His zest in the ludicrous, his keen wit 
and his inimitable acting, especially his power of 
mimicry and his mastery of the violin, enabled him 
to offer his associates an entertainment never 
surpassed, either on or off the mimic stage. 

After the war Faulkner lived in Little Rock 
until his death in 1875, in straitened circumstan- 
ces, residing with a widowed daughter and one son. 
Another son was killed in the war; the two daugh- 
ters married and are both dead, and the son and 
only remaining child left this portion of the coun- 
try some years ago. 

When Faulkner died — over eighty years of age 
— he held a subordinate office in the legislature 
then in session, which body adjourned and respect- 
fully buried all that was mortal of the "Arkansaw 
Traveler," while the little morceau from his 
harmless and genial soul will continue to travel 
around the world and never stop, the thrice wel- 
come guest about every fireside. 

What a comment is here in this careless, aim- 
less life and that vaulting ambition that struggles, 
and wars and suffers and sows the world with 
woe that men's names may live after death. Poor 
Sandy had no thought of distinction; his life was a 
laugh, so unmixed with care for the moiTow and 
so merry that it has filled a world with its cease- 
less echoes. 



Though there may be in this country no titled 
aristocracy, there are nobles, whose remotest de- 
scendants may claim that distinction of race and 
blood which follows the memory of the great deeds 
of illustrious sires. It is the nobles whose lives 
and lif e' s great work were given to the cause of their 
fellowmen in that noblest of all human efforts — 
liberty to mankind. There is something forever 
sacred lingering about the graves, nay, the very 
ground, where these men exposed their lives and 
struggled for each and all of us. All good men 
(and no man can really be called good who does not 
love liberty and independence above everything in 
the world) cannot but feel a profound interest in 
the lineal descendants of Revolutionary fathers. 
"My ancestor was a soldier in the war for inde- 
pendence!" is a far nobler claim to greatness than 
is that of the most royal blue blood in all heraldry. 

W. P. Huddleston, of Sharp's Cross Roads, 
Independence County, has the following family 
tree: Israel McBee was for seven years a soldier 
in a North Carolina regiment in the Revolutionary 
War. He died in Grainger County, Term. , aged 
1 10 years. He was the father of Samuel McBee, 
who was the father of Rachel McBee, who married 
John Huddleston, the grand father of W. P. Hud- 
dleston, Jr. The McBees were originally from 
Scotland. 

Samuel S. Welborn, of Fort Douglas, Johnson 
County, was the youngest son of Elias. Samuel 
was born December 30, 184'2. His grandfather, 
Isaac Welborn, was seven years a soldier in a 
Georgia regiment, and died at Hazel Green, Ala. , 
in 1833, aged eighty-four years. 

Samuel H. Hempstead is a name illustrious in 
Arkansas outside of the fact that it is descended 
directly from a soldier in the war for independ- 
ence. The above-named was born in New London, 
Conn., in 1814, and died in Little Rock in 186'2. 
He was a son of Joseph Hempstead, born in New 
London in 1778, and died in St. Louis in 1831. 
Joseph was a son of Stephen Hempstead, born in 
New London in 1742, and died in St. Louis iu 
1882. Stephen was a soldier in the American 
Revolution, serving under Col. Ledyard at the 
battle of Fort Griswold, near New London, when 



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108 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



these towns were caj)tured by the British under 
Benedict Arnold, September 6, 1781. Hempstead 
was wounded twice during the engagement — a 
severe gunshot wound in the left elbow disabling 
him in the arm for life. He wrote and published 
in the Missouri Republican in 1826, a detailed ac- 
count of the battle. 

Stephen Hempstead"s"father was also Stephen 
Ht^mpstead, born in 1705 and died in 1774. The 
records of Connecticut, Vol. VII, show that he 
was made an ensign in a train band company, 
by the colonial council, in October, 1737, where he 
served with distinction through this war, known as 
King George's War. In May, 1740, he was made 
surveyor by the council. He was the son of 
Joshua Hempstead, born in 1678, and died in 
1758. He was a representative in the Connecticut 
council in October, 1709; a member of the Royal 
council in October, 1712; ensign in train band com- 
pany in 1721; lieutenant in same company in May, 
1724; auditor of accounts in May, 1725. He was 
the son of Joshua Hempstead, Sr. , born in 1649, 
and died in 1709; Joshua Hempstead, Sr. , was a 
son of Robert Hempstead, born in 1600 and died 
in 1665. The last-named was the immigrant to 
America, one of the original nine settlers of New 
London, Conn., the founder of the town first called 
Hempstead, on Long Island. In 1646 Robert 
Hempstead built a house at New London for a res- 
idence, which is still standing, an ancient relic of 
great interest. It is occupied by descendants of 
the builder, named Caits, from the female branches. 
Though much modernized the old house still shows 
the port- holes used for defense against the Indians. 
A daughter of Robert Hempstead, Mary, was the 
first white child born in New London, March 26, 
1647. 

Fay and Roy Hempstead, Little Rock, are de- 
scendants of this family. Other descendants live 
in St. Louis, Mo. 

Jesse Williams, of Prince William County, Va., 
enlisted under Dinwiddle's call in the French- 
Indian War on the English settlers in 1754, 
under then Lieut. -Col. Washington, of the First 
Virginia Regiment of 150 men. The command at- 
tempted to reach where is now Pittsburg to relieve 



Trent's command at that place. Two descendants 
of the Trents now live in Washington County. In 
this hard march to Fort Duquesne the men dragged 
their cannon, were without tents and scant of jaro- 
visions, and deprived of material or means for 
bridging rivers. They fought at Fort Necessity. 
Washington cut a road twenty miles toward Du- 
quesne. On July 3 the fight took f)laee, and July 
4 Washington capitulated on honorable terms. 

In 1755 Jesse Williams again entered the ser- 
vice under Washington and joined Braddock at 
Fort Cumberland. In 1758 be was once more with 
Washington when Forbes moved on Fort Duquesne, 
being present at the capture, and helped raise the 
flag and name the place Pittsburg. 

In the Revolutionary AVar he was one of the 
first to enlist from Virginia, and was commissioned 
captain, and was present in nearly all the battles 
of that long war. 

The maternal ancestor of the Williams family 
was Thomas Rowe, of Virginia, a colonel in the war 
for independence, who was at the surrender of 
Yorktowu. 

David Williams, a son of Jesse, married Betsy 
Rowe. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
served with distinction, and also in the Seminole 
War. He settled in Kentucky, Franklin County. 
His children were Jacob, Urban V., Betty, Mil- 
lie, Hattie and Susan; the children of Urban V. 
Williams being John, Pattie and Minnie. Bettie 
married Jeptha Robinson, and had children, David, 
Owen, Austin, May, Hettie, Ruth, Sue, Jacob, 
Frank and Sallie. Hettie married Dr. Andrew 
Neat, and had children, Thomas, Estelle (Brink- 
ley), Ella (I'ord), Addis and Ben. Sue married 
George Poor, and had children, George. Lizzie, 
Sue and Minnie. Jacob Williams, the father of 
Mrs. Minnie C. Shinn (wife of Prof. J. H. Shinn, 
of Little Rock), Otis Williams and Mattie Wil- 
liams, Little Rock; Joseph Desha Williams and 
Maggie Wells, Russell ville; Lucian and Virgil, 
Memphis, are all of this family. Jacob Williams 
was a private in the Fifth Kentucky, in the late 
war, under Humphrey Marshall. 

Among the pioneers of what is now the State 
of Arkansas, there was perhaps no one family that 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



109 



furnished so many noted characters and citizens 
as the Conway family. Their genealogy is traced 
" back to the reign of Edward I, of England, in the 
latter part of the thirteenth century, to the cele- 
brated Castle of Conway, on Conway River, in 
the north of Wales, where the lords of Conway, 
in feudal times presided in royal style." Thomas 
Conway came to America about the year 1740, 
and settled in the Virginia colony. Henry Conway 
was his only son. The latter was tirst a colonel 
and afterward a general in the Revolutionary War. 
His daughter. Nellie, after maiTiage, became the 
mother of President Madison, and his son, Mon- 
cure D., was brother-in-law to Gen. Washington. 

Thomas Conway, another son of Gen. Henry 
Conway, settled, during the Revolutionary period, 
near the present site of Greenville, Tenn. He 
married Ann Rector, a native of Virginia, and 
member of the celebrated Rector family. To this 
union seven sons and three daughters were born, 
and all were well reared and well educated. 

In 1818, Gen. Thomas Conway moved with 
his family from Tenne.ssee to St. Louis, in the 
TeiTitory of Missouri, and soon after to Boone 
County, where he remained until his death, in 
1835. Henry Wharton Conway, the eldest son, 
was born March 18, 1793, in Greene County, 
Tenn., and served as a lieutenant in the War of 
1812-15; subsequently, in 1817, he served in the 
treasury department at Washington, immigrated 
to Missouri with his father in 1818, and early in 
1820, after being appointed receiver of public 
moneys, he immigrated in company with his next 
younger brother, James Sevier Conway, who was 
born in 1798, to the county of Arkansas, in the 
then Territory of Missouri. These two brothers 
took and executed large contracts to survey the 
public lands, and later on James S. became 
surveyor-general of the TeiTitory. During the 
twenties Henry W. Conway served two terms as a 
delegate in Congress, and received the election 
in 1827 for the third term, but on the 29th of 
October of that year, he was mortally wounded in 
a duel with Robert Crittenden, from the effects of 
which he died on the 9th of November, following. 
[See account of the duel elsewhere in this work.] 



A marble shaft with an elaborate inscription, 
erected by his brother, James S. Conway, stands 
over his grave in the cemetery at Arkansas Post. 

James S. Conway became the first governor 
of the State of Arkansas, upon its admission into 
the Union, serving as such from 1836 to 1840, 
after which he settled on his princely possessions 
on Red River in the southern part of the State. 
He was a large slave holder and cotton planter. 
He died on the 3d of March, 1855, at Walnut 
Hill, his country seat, in Lafayette County. 

Frederick Rector Conway, the third son of 
Gen. Thomas Conway, was a noted character in 
Missouri and Illinois. John Rector Conway, the 
fourth son, was an eminent physician, who died in 
San Francisco in 1868. William B. Conway was 
born at the old homestead in Tennessee, about 1806. 
He was thoroughly educated, read law under 
John J. Crittenden, of Kentucky, aud commenced 
the practice at Elizabethtown in that State. He 
moved to Arkansas in 1840, and in 1844 was 
elected judge of the Third circuit. In December, 
1846, he was elected associate justice of the 
supreme court. He died December 29, 1852, and 
is buried by the side of his noble mother, in 
Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock. The sixth 
son, Thomas A. , died in his twenty-second year in 
Missouri. 

The seventh and youngest son. Gov. Elias N. 
Conway, was born May 17, 1812, at the old home- 
stead in Tennessee, and in November, 1833, he 
left his parents' home in Missouri, and came to 
Little Rock, and entered into a contract to survey 
large tracts of the public lands in the northwest- 
ern part of the State. Having executed this con- 
tract, he was, in 1836, appointed auditor of State, 
a position which he held for thirteen years. In 
1852 and again in 1856, he was elected on the 
Democratic ticket as governor of the State, and 
served his full two terms, eight years, a longer 
period than any other governor has ever served. 
Much could be said, did space permit, of the emi 
nent services this man has rendered to Arkansas. 
Of the seven brothers named he is the only one 
now living. He leads a retired and secluded life 
in Little Rock, in a small cottage in which he has 



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110 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



resided for over forty years. He has no family, 
having never been married. 

Robert Crittenden, youngest son of John Crit- 
tenden, a major in the Revolutionary War, was born 
near Versailles, Woodford County. Ky. , January 
1, 1797. He was educated by and read law with 
his brother, John J. Crittenden, in Russellville, 
that State. Being appointed first secretary of 
Arkansas Territory, he removed to Arkansas Post, 
the temporary seat of government, where on the 
3d day of March, 1819, he was inaugurated and 
assumed the duties of his office. On the same 
day James Miller was inaugurated first governor 
of the Territory. It seems, however, that Gov. 
Miller, though he held his office until succeeded by 
Gov. George Izard, in March, 1825. was seldom 
present and only occasionally performed official 
duties. This left Crittenden to assume charge of 
the position as governor a great portion of the 
time while Miller held the office. Crittendeo con- 
tinued as secretary of the Territory until succeeded 
by William Fulton, in April, 1829, having served 
in that capacity a little over ten years. In 1827 
he fought a duel with Henry W. Conway, the ac- 
count of which is given elsewhere. According to 
Gen. Albert Pike with whom he was intimately 
associated, ' ' he was a man of fine presence and 
handsome fa?e, with clear bright eyes, and unmis- 
takable intellect and genius, frank, genial, one to 
attach men warmly to himself, impulsive, generous, 
warm hearted. ' ' He was the first great leader of 
the Whig party in the Territory, and continued as 
such until his death, which occurred December 18, 
1834, at Vicksburg, Miss. , whither he had gone 
on business. He died thus young, and before the 
Territory, which he had long and faithfully served, 
became a State. 

Archibald Yell, not unfamiliar to Arkansans, 
was born in North Carolina, in August, 1797, and 
while very young immigrated to Tennessee, and 
settled in Bedford County. He served in the Creek 
War as the boy captain of the Jackson Guards, 
iinder Gen. Jackson, also under the same general 
in the War of 1812-13, participating in the battle 
of New Orleans, and also in the Seminole War. 
He was a man of moderate education, and when 



the War of 1812 closed, he read law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in Tennessee. After the close of 
the Seminole War, he located at Fayetteville, Lin- 
coln County, Tenn., and there practiced law until 
1832, when President Jackson gave him the choice 
to fill one of two vacancies, governor of Florida 
or Territorial judge in the Territory of Arkansas. 
He chose the latter and in due time located at 
Fayetteville, in Washington County. He was a 
man of fine personal apjjearance, pleasant and 
humorous, and possessed the faculty of making 
friends wherever he went. He was elected and 
served as grand master of the Masonic fraternity 
in the jurisdiction of Arkansas; was a Democrat 
in politics, and the first member of Congress from 
the State of Arkansas; was governor of the State 
from 1840 to 1844; was elected again as a member 
of Congress in 1844, and served until 1846, when 
he resigned to accept the colonelcy of an Arkansas 
regiment of volunteers for the Mexican War. He 
was killed in the battle of Buena Vista, February 
22, 1847. 

In his race for Congress in 1844, he was op- 
posed by the Hon. David Walker, the leader of the 
Whig party, and they made a joint canvass of the 
State. Y'ell could adapt himself to circumstances 
— to the different crowds of people more freely than 
could his antagonist. In 1847 the Masonic fra- 
ternity erected a monument to his memory in the 
cemetery at Fayetteville. Gov. Yell was a man of 
great ability, and one of the great pioneer states- 
men of Arkansas. 

The eminent jurist. Judge David Walker, de- 
scended from a line of English Quakers, of whom 
the last trans-Atlantic ancestor in the male line 
was Jacob Walker, whose son George emigrated to 
America prior to the war of the Revolution, and 
settled in Brunswick County, Va. Here he mar- 
ried a lady, native to the manor born, and be- 
came the first American ancestor of a large and 
distinguished family. One of his sons, Jacob 
Wythe AValker, born in the decade that ushered 
in the Revolution, early in life removed to and 
settled in what is now Todd County, Ky. Here, 
on the ■19th day of February, 1806, was born un- 
to him and his wife, Nancy (Hawkins) Walker, 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Ill 



the subject of this sketch — David Walker. Young 
Walker's opportunities for obtaining a school edu- 
cation in that then frontier country were limited, 
but, being the son of a good lawyer, he inherited 
his father's energetic nature, became self-educated, 
read law and was admitted to the bar in Scotts- 
ville, Ky., early in 1829, and there practiced 
until the fall of 1830, when he moved to Little 
Rock, Ark. . arriving on the 10th of October. 
Soon after this he located at Fayetteville, Wash- 
ington County, and remained there, except when 
temporarily absent, vintil his death. From 1838 
to 1835 he was prosecuting attorney in the Third 
circuit. He was one of the many able members of 
the constitutional convention of 1836. In 18-tOhe 
rode ' ' the tidal wave of whiggery ' ' into the State 
senate, in which he served four j'ears. In 1844 he 
led the forlorn hope of his party in the ever memor- 
able contest with Gov. Yell for Congress. In 
1848, while on a visit to Kentucky, and without 
his knowledge, a legislature, largely Democratic, 
elected him associate justice of the supreme court 
over strong Democratic opposition, embracing such 
men as Judges English and William Conway, both 
of whom afterwards succeeded to the office. 

He had always been a lover of the Union, but 
when the Civil War came on, having been born 
and reared in the South, and having become 
attached to its institutions, he finally chose rather 
to east his fortunes with the proposed Confederacy 
than with the Federal I'uion. In February 1861, 
he was elected a delegate to the State convention 
whicfi convened on the 4th of March, and finally, 
at its adjourned session, passed the ordinance of 
secession. He and Judge B. C. Totten were can- 
didates for the chairmanship of this convention, 
the former representing the Union strength, and 
the latter the disunion element as it was then 
developed. Walker received forty out of the sev- 
enty-five votes cast, and thereupon took the chair; 
but owing to the rapid change of sentiment all of 
the majority, save one, finally voted with the 
minorit_v, and Arkansas formally withtb-ew from the 
Union, with Judge Walker as a leader. In 1866 
he was elected chief justice of the State, but in 
less than two years was removed from the office by 



military power. At the close of the reconstruction 
period he was again elected to the supreme bench 
and served thereon until September, 1878, when 
he resigned at the age of seventy-two, and retired 
to private life. He died September 30, 1879. He 
was a pious and conscientious man, an able jurist, 
a pioneer of Arkansas, highly respected by its citi- 
zens. 

Gen. Grandison D. Royston, a son of Joshua 
Royston and Elizabeth S. (Watson) Royston, na- 
tives, respectively, of Maryland and Virginia, and 
both of pure English descent, was born on the 
9th of December, 1809, in Carter County, Tenn. 
His father was an agriculturist and Indian trader 
of great energy and character, and his mother 
was a daughter of that eminent Methodist divine, 
Rev. Samuel Watson, one of the pioneers of 
the Holsteiu conference in East Tennessee. He 
was educated in the common neighborhood schools 
and in a Presbyterian academy in Washington 
County, Tenn. In 1829 he entered the law office 
of Judge Emerson, at Jonesboro, in that State, 
and two years after was admitted to the bar. Sub- 
sequently he emigrated to Arkansas Territory, and 
in April, 1832, located in Fayetteville, Washing- 
ton County, where he remained only eight mouths, 
teaching school five days in the week and practic- 
ing law in justices' courts on Saturdays. He then 
moved to Washington, in Hempstead County, 
where he continued to reside until his death. In 
the performance of his ^professional duties he trav- 
eled the circuits of the Territory and State in that 
cavalcade of legal lights composed of such men as 
Hempstead, Fowler, Trapnall, Cummins, Pike, 
Walker, Yell, Ashley, Bates, Searcy and others. 

In 1833 he was elected prosecuting attorney 
for the Third circuit, and performed the duties of 
that office for tvpo years. In January, 1836, he 
served as a delegate from Hempstead County in 
the convention at Little Rock, which framed the 
first constitution of the State; and in the fall of 
the same year he was elected to represent his 
county in the first legislature of the State. After 
the expulsion of John Wilson, speaker of the house, 
who killed Representative John J. Anthony, Roy- 
ston was on joint ballot elected to fill the vacant 



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112 



HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 



speakership but declined the office. In 1841 
President Tyler appointed him United States dis- 
trict attorney for the district of Arkansas, which 
office he held a short time and then resigned it. 
In 1858 he represented the counties of Hempstead, 
Pike and Lafayette in the State legislature, and 
became the author of the levee system of the State. 
In 1861 he was elected to the Confederate Con- 
gress, serving two years. In 1874 he was a dele- 
gate from Hempstead County to the constitutional 
convention, and was elected president of that 
body. In 1876 he represented the State at large 
in the National Democratic convention at St. Louis, 
and voted for Tilden and Hendricks. He was al- 
ways a Democrat, a man of culture, refinement and 
winning manners, and enjoyed in a large degree 
the confidence of the people. He obtained his 
title as general by serving on the staff of Gov. 
Drew with the rank of brigadier-general. He 
died August 14, 1889, in his eightieth year. He, 
too, was one of the last prominent pioneers of Ar- 
kansas, and it is said he was the last surviving 
member of the constitutional convention of 1836. 
Judge James Woodson Bates was born in 
Goochland County, Va. , about the year 1788. He 
was educated in the Yale and Princeton Col- 
leges, graduating from the latter about 1810. 
^^'hen quite young he attended the trial of Aaron 
Burr, for treason, at Richmond. Soon after grad- 
uating he read law. In the meantime his brother, 
Frederick Bates, was appointed first secretary of 
Missouri Territory, and was acting governor in 
the absence of Gov. Clark. About 1810 he fol- 
lowed his brother to the AVest, and settled in St. 
Louis. In 1820 he removed to the Post of Arkan- 
sas and there began the practice of his profession, 
but had scarcely opened his office when he was 
elected first delegate to Congress from Arkansas 
Territory. In 1823 he was a candidate for re- 



election, but was defeated by the celebrated Henry 
W. Conway, an able man, who commanded not 
only the influence of his own powerful family, but 
that of the Rectors, the Johnsons, Roanes and 
Ambrose H. Sevier, and all the political adherents 
of Gen. Jackson, then so popular in the South 
and West. The influence and strength of this 
combined opposition could not be overcome. 

After his short Congressional career closed, he 
moved to the newly settled town of Batesville, and 
resumed the practice of his profession. Batesville 
was named after him. In November, 1825, Presi- 
dent Adams appointed him one of the Territorial 
judges, in virtue of which he was one of the 
judges of the superior or appellate court organized 
on the plan of the old English court in banc. On 
the accession of Gen. Jackson to the presidency, 
his commission expired without renewal, and he 
soon after removed to Crawford County, married 
a wealthy widow, and became stationary on a rich 
farm near Van Buren. In the fall of 1835 he 
was elected to the constitutional convention, and 
contributed his ability and learning in the forma- 
tion of our first organic law as a State Soon 
after the accession of John Tyler to the presidency, 
he appointed Judge Bates register of the land 
office at Clarksville, in recognition of an old 
friend. He discharged every public trust, and 
all the duties devolved on him as a private citizen, 
with the utmost fidelity. Strange to say, whilst 
he possessed the most fascinating conversational 
powers, he was a failure as a public speaker. He 
was also a brother to Edward Bates, the attorney- 
general in President Lincoln's cabinet. He was 
well versed in the classics, and familiar with the 
best authors of English and American literature. 
He died at his home in Crawford County in 1846, 
universally esteemed. 




^ 



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^^ ,1111 

A PIONEER LOG CABIN. 



\ « 



^Ll, 



TELL COUNTY. 



113 



X¥. 



Yell County— Its Fortunate Situation and Great Natural Advantages— Its Streajis— Lands- 
The Surface of the County— Agricultural Products— Timber— Mineral— The Mountains— 
Springs— Origin of the Name Dardanelle— The Cherokee Agency— Pioneer Settlers 
and Their Indian Neighbors— Land Entries Prior to 1845— Early Mills and Cot- 
ton Gins— County Organization- The Temporary and Permanent Seat of 
Justice— Old and Later County Buildings— County- Officers, 1840-90— 
Bench and Bar— Congressional and Legislative Representation- 
Tub County Press— Yell County in the War— A PvEcord of 
Death- Yell's Federal Soldiers— Church History 
—Public and Academic Educational Insti- 
tutions— Towns— Biographical. 



"ill ' nn I " r " 
Vp»J — flu - '!» 

'We have no title deeds to house or lands; 
Owners and occupants of earlier dates 
From graves forgotten stretch their dusty hands, 
And hold in mortmain still their old estates." 




HIS county* is Ijonnded 
on the north by the Ar- 
kansas Eiver and Logan 
Coitnty; on the east liy the 
Arkansas River and Perry 
County; on the south by 
Perry, Garland and Mont- 
gomery Counties, and on the west 
liy Scott and Logan Counties. It 
contains an area of 930 square 
miles, and a population of about 
17,000 souls, of whom about 
1,500 are colored. The whole 
county is embraced in that mag- 
ificent belt of country lying imme- 
iately south of the Arkansas 
liver, and between the St. Louis, 
Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, and the 
Indian Territory, an empire of wealth within it- 



self, embracing an area of 120 miles east and west, 
and from sixty to 100 miles north and south, 
which to the astonishment of the stranger has 
never been traversed by a railroad. This belt of 
counties is not inferior in natural advantages to any 
part of the United States; it is susceptible of a 
dense population, and presents an inviting tield 
for the home seeker, farmer, mechanic, manufact- 
urer and capitalist. Its fertile lands, navigable 
river, numberless clear creeks and springs of pure 
water, its immense forests of valuable timbers, and 
the vast coal fields extending from the eastern 
boundary of Yell County to the western border of 
the State; its rapid increase in agricultural prod- 
ucts, to say nothing of its undeveloped mineral 
wealth, are a sure guarantee that railroads now 

*Thc paragraphs descriptivo of Veil County and its resources are 
partially conileused from a laper prepared by Hon. W. D. Jacoway. 
of Dardanelle. 



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114 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



projected to cross this region will be constrnctecl 
and in running order in the near future. 

Yell County is admirably supplied with wa- 
ter courses. Of navigable streams it has the Ar- 
kansas River on the northern and eastern bound- 
ary; the Petit Jean, which enters the county 
on the west side and flows in a northeasterly direc- 
tion through the county into the Arkansas River at 
the northeast extremity, and the Fourche La Fave 
River, which enters the southwest portion and flows 
in a northeasterly direction diagonally across the 
southern part. Of the non-navigable streams 
which are tributary to the above named rivers are 
Dutch, Spring, Chickalah, Prairie, Delaware, 
Cedar, Piney Mill and numerous other creeks in the 
interior of the county, all of which have their 
winding ways through valleys of as productive 
lands as may be found in the State. 

As shown by the records of the United States 
land office at Dardanelle, there are now in Yell 
County about 240,000 acres of land subject to 
homestead entry. There are in addition about 
35,000 acres in the county which constitute a part 
of the grant of the Little Rock & Fort Smith 
Railroad Company, most of which, for agricultural 
purposes, is unsurpassed for fertility, and a part 
of which is valuable for its extensive timber tracts. 
All of the tillable lands of the county are suscept- 
ible of the highest state of cultivation. The soil 
in the river and creek bottoms is exceptionally rich, 
and it is impossible to estimate the real value of 
these lands when railroads now projected are com- 
pleted through the county, and the valleys are 
occupied by a class of energetic practical farmers. 
The hills or uplands throughout the county po.ssess 
surprising fertility. The surface of the county is 
undulating and Ijroken. About twenty per cent 
is mountains, the tops and slopes of which are 
tillable. Fifty per cent is in uplands, thirty 
per cent is level, most of it alluvial, a small 
portion prairie. About twenty per cent of the 
whole is improved, but a small per cent of the 
lands of Yell County is subject to overflow. 
The peculiar geographical location of the county 
renders it free from cyclones or other destruct- 
ive storms. The seasons are favorable, the 



county is not affected by droughts, the crops are 
not damaged by ravaging insects, and the re- 
sult is, the good farmer always reaps a bountiful 
crop. Cotton, corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, 
sweet and Irish potatoes, beans, peas, timothy, red- 
top, millet and clover do well and yield abun- 
dantly. When properly cultivated the average 
yield of cotton in the uplands is from 400 to 1,000 
pounds per acre, and the bottom lands from aOO 
to 1,500 pounds per acre. Corn yields from thirty 
to sixty bushels, oats from forty to sevent}' bush- 
els per acre, potatoes from 200 to 300 bushels per 
acre. The soils are capable of producing much 
better crops than are raised under the present sys- 
tem of farming so common in Arkansas. A lack 
of speedy transportation to market has caused the 
people of this county to neglect the cultivation of 
fruits except for home consumption. Apples, 
peaches, pears, plums, nectarines, cherries, grapes, 
raspberries, strawberries and gooseberries all grow 
to perfection and yield abundantly. Much of the soil 
is peculiarl}' adapted to the cultivation of fruits, 
berries and grapes. Melons and vegetables of all 
kinds grow readily and yield largely. It is conti- 
dently predicted that before many years Yell 
County will be known as one of the most famous 
fruit and wine-producing localities in the Union. 
Railroad facilities only are wanting. The "cotton 
craze" has seriously aft'ected all other interests, 
notwithstanding the fact that grains and grasses 
can be raised as easily and as abundantlj- as in 
Kentucky and Tennessee. Stock-raising has been 
much neglected, and only during the past few years 
has attained much importance. 

The timbers of Yell County present an almost 
inexhaustible source of wealth, and offer induce- 
ments to the manufacturer which can rarely be 
found in any country. The principal varieties of 
timber iij the river and creek bottoms are cotton- 
wood, gum, elm, sj-camore, ash, white, red, black, 
post, willow and burr oaks, black locusts, pecan, 
mulberry, cherry and walnut. On the uplands and 
in the creek bottoms, the hickory, many varie- 
ties of the oak, dogwood, buckeye, holly and other 
growths are in vast quantities. The mountains 
and ridges are crowned with immense forests of 



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YELL COUNTY. 



-« • 



115 



k^ 



yellow pine, which in the near future, will give re- 
newed energy and an activity to the lumber in- 
terests of the county. But little can be said of 
the mineral wealth of Yell County, as no organized 
efforts have been made to develop the same, but 
enough is known to indicate very clearly that there 
are vast fields of lead and iron in the county, and 
that coal, which is now only mined for home con- 
sumption, can be had almost anywhere. It is be- 
lieved that gold and silver abound in paying quan- 
tities, and the day is not far distant when Yell 
County will be classed as one of the most j)rofitable 
mining counties in the State. An approximate 
chemical analysis of some of the coal of Yell 
County has been reported as follows: "Moulder's 
Prairie Coal" Branch — Volatile matter 28.5, 
water 11.5, gas 17; coke 71.5, fixed carbon 6G.5, 
red ashes 5; total 100. J. A. Daker's and B. 
Howell's coal, Section 32, Township 6 south, 
Kange 21, eighteen to twenty-two inches thick — 
Volatile matter 14.4, water 3, gas 8.4; coke 
88.6, fixed carlion 78.6, dark red ashes 10; total 
100. The outcrop of coal near Moulder's has some 
fossil plant in the roof-shales, belonging both to 
the family of calamites and ferns, but the coal 
openings being filled with water, l^oth the shales 
and the coal were difficult of access. These coals 
belong, in all probability, to the same horizon as 
the coal at the base of the Carrion Crow Mountain- 
The evidences of the economic geology of the 
county having been sufficiently indicated for the 
purposes of this description, the picturesque topo- 
graphical featiires of the county's geologic forma- 
tion now claim attention. This county is divided 
by more elevated lands into three beautiful and 
productive valleys, among the richest, agricultur- 
ally, in the State. These are known, from the 
streams which have given them their namesj as the 
Arkansas, the Petit Jean and the Fourche La Fave 
Valleys. The pleasant and popular summer resort 
known as Mount Nebo, is situated on the Magazine 
Mountain, sis miles west of Dardanelle, at an al- 
titude above the Dardanelle (Arkansas) Valley of 
1,470 feet, and as a natural summer resort has no 
superior on the continent between the Blue Ridge 
and the Rocky Mountains. Nebo Mountain does 



not look like other mountains; it is simply a lofty, 
grand and sublime elevation, which at a distance 
has the appearance, from every point of the com- 
pass, of a huge ethereal dome, which gradually 
slopes from its base to its summit. Upon the top 
there are about 1,000 acres of level land, finely 
timbered and tillable, and abounding with number- 
less chalybeate springs of cold water. Soft water 
is had in great quantity at almost any point on the 
summit by digging or boring ten or twenty feet. 
It has been only a few years since Mount Nebo be- 
gan to attract attention as a summer resort. It is 
now a handsome village above the clouds, with a 
commodious and comfortable hotel, patronized by 
hundreds of guests every season, and numerous 
cottages. Many of the springs have been substan- 
tially and handsomely improved for the conven- 
ience and comfort of visitors. A beautiful drive- 
way is laid off bordering the precipice all around, 
which will soon be extended to a distance of about 
six miles, the entire length of which, in every direc- 
tion, presents to the eye scenery and landscapes of 
the grandest and most beautiful character. Mount 
Nebo has telephone connection with Dardanelle, 
and a daily mail. The road from Dardanelle is 
macadamized, and is in itself a pleasant drive. A 
line of coaches makes close connection with the 
Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad. This interest 
has been developed almost wholly through Darda- 
nelle influence and primarily upon Dardanelle cap- 
ital. Capt. Joseph Evins is credited with having 
discovered the possibilities of Mount Nebo, and 
having taken the steps leading to its development; 
and he did not stop here, but from first to last has 
been Nebo's most enthusiaistic and untiring pro- 
moter. He was the first to pre-empt land on the 
mountain, and it was his devoted influence that led 
others to secure summer homes there, and capital- 
ists of Little Rock to erect Nebo's great aereal 
hotel. The beauty, grandeur and sul)limity of the 
scenery at Mount Nebo beggars description; it is 
an ever-changing panorami* view, and an admirable 
blending of the lovely, picturesque and sublime. 
From any and all points of this stupendous won- 
der the beholder's eye never tires, but with a gay 
and happy heart, electrified with feelings of love, 






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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



pleasure and admiration, commingled with rever- 
ential awe, be drinks deep at tbe fountain of nat- 
ure's choicest splendors. There are neither dews 
nor fogs at Mount Nebo. The purity and medic 
inal virtue of the waters, the delightful tempera- 
ture and tbe cool, bracing breezes are unexcelled 
anywhere, and serve to make it a charming place 
to sojourn during tbe summer. Persons who are 
afflicted with asthma, dyspepsia, malarial disorders, 
or general debility, can be permanently cured in 
one season, and those who are suffering from de- 
bility, or exhaustion, on account of overtaxed 
mental or physical labor, will be restored to their 
usual strength and vitality in an incredibly short 
time. The pure chalybeate waters, the cool brac- 
ing atmosphere, combined with the magnificent 
scenery, have an invigorating and exhilarating in- 
iluence, purify the blood, give a healthy appetite, 
build up the system and restore general good 
health. The social features of Mount Nebo are 
pleasant and genial, and the visitor can but feel at 
home; whether the stay is of long or short duration, 
it can but be regarded as a continuous May-day 
picnic, an unbroken season of undisturbed pleas- 
ure. This mountain seems to be peculiarly the 
home of the apple, the berries native to this lati- 
tude, and especially of the grape. Wine manufact- 
ured there is of superior quality, and apples grown 
there have taken the premium over Benton and 
"Washington County apples at the Fort Smith fair. 
The soil on the mountain produces vegetables in 
great variety and profusion. The Fourche La 
Fave Mountains, in the southern past of the coun- 
ty, are lofty and picturesque, and heavily timbered. 
The Magazine Mountain forms a most remarkable 
headland where it terminates, on the Arkansas 
River, opposite the site of old Norristown. This 
is known as the " Dardanelle Rock." This rock is 
composed of ferruginous sandstone, dipping at an 
angle of forty degrees toward the river. The bear- 
ing of the comb of the ridge, which is coincident 
with the strike-line of the strata, is west 10° north. 
Layers on the summit are of a pale red color, tinged 
by oxide of iron. On the north slope the rock is 
laid off with numerous concentric hard ferruginous 
veins, disposed in rows of rectangular and trian- 



giilar figures with great regularity, giving to the 
surface a tessellated appearance. The elevation 
of the Dardanelle Rock above the road which winds 
around its base is 250 feet, and about 280 feet 
above the Arkansas River. At an elevation of 
from 80 to 100 feet above the base of the main 
ridge, and half a mile northwest of the point of 
the Dardanelle Rock, a strong chalybeate sjiring 
issues from the crevices of the ferruguious sand- 
stone. From the summit of the Dardanelle Rock 
there is an extensive prospect: The Magazine 
Mountain is in full view, bearing away to the west- 
southwest ; the Petit Jean to the south over and be- 
yond which some of the highest peaks of the Four- 
che La Fave range are visible in the far distance 
bearing a few degrees east of south; the Arkansas 
River washing its base on the north, with the ferry 
lauding on the opposite shore, and level farming 
lands seen behind in perspective; the Arkansas 
River like a bright line, winding its way among 
them and conducting the eye to the site of Darda- 
nelle. From a single point on the Arkansas River, 
the outline of the Dardanelle Rock on the south- 
east exhibits a distinct profile, to be remarked on 
attentive observation by any one who may be 
ascending the river, all the features of a human 
face and the partial outlines of a head being rep- 
resented. The Dardknelle Sulphur Springs, ten 
miles west of Dardanelle, at the base of the Maga- 
zine Mountain, together with a tract of TOd acres 
of laud in the Chickalah Valley upon which they 
are located, are owned by a company in New York. 
The springs have been elegantly fitted up, and a 
hotel and cottages have been erectecl for the accom- 
modation of health and j)leasure seekers. Judg- 
ing from the following analysis of the waters of 
these springs. Dr. Owen, late State geologist, pro- 
nounced them for health-giving purposes, not in- 
ferior to the celebrated White Sulphur Springs of 
Virginia: Bicarbonate of soda; bicarbonate of lime; 
bicarbonate of magnesia; chloride of sodium: only 
a trace of sulphates; a small quantity of free sul- 
phuretted hj'drogen; probably a trace of sulphuret 
of alkali. The northwest spring contains some 
oxide of iron. Many remarkable cures have been 
effected by these waters, and with railroad facili- 






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YELL COUNTY. 



117 



ties this will become a noted resort. At an eleva- 
tion of 370 feet above Danville, and about two and 
a half miles from that village, is a remarkable cha- 
lybeate spring. From the large quantity of carbon- 
ate of the protoxide of iron present it has a most 
powerful deoxidizing effect, instantly blackening 
nitrate of silver without even the addition of am- 
monia, and it blackens also chloride of gold and 
tincture of campeehe. Its temperature was found 
l)y Prof. Owen to be 62°, the temperature of the 
air being 79 Fahrenheit. It is a saline chalybeate, 
contaiuiug as its principal ingredients the bicar- 
bonates of the protoxide of iron, lime and magnesia, 
sulphate soda and chloride of sodium. There are 
in this and otlier parts of the county several other 
mineral springs which have not been analytically 
examined by competent authority. The time will 
doubtless come when most of them will be exten- 
sively known, and sought from afar by people for 
whose i)eculiar afflictions their waters will have 
been found to be beneficial. 

About 1820 Gov. Miller, of the then Territory 
of Arkansas, and Col. D. Brearloy, Indian agent, 
maile a trip over the Territory and took the census 
of the Cherokees. In their journey Agent Brear- 
ley bought the possession of a French hunter, Joe 
Peran, who was domiciled near the Point of Rocks, 
then known as "The Dardonnie " (in English 
" sleep-with-one-eye"). The sound of the name 
and the peculiar surroundings of the place recalled 
to mind the Strait of Dardanelles, which induced 
the agent to change the name and call it Darda- 
nelle, and at this point he established the agency 
of the Cherokees. After the census, by a call 
through the agent, every village sent up a dele- 
gate to a council held at this agency, at which the 
Cherokees decided to confine themselves entirely 
to the north side of the Arkansas River, and at 
the same time voted delegates to visit the Presi- 
dent and have their decision put in treaty form. 
In the winter of 1822-23 this delegation ac- 
companied their agent to Washington City. The 
..bounds of the nation were then fixed. Maj. Du- 
val succeeded Col. Brearley as Indian agent, but 
the latter returned to Arkansas in the winter of 
1827-28, to tend to the removal of the Creek In- 



dians west of the Territorial line, and with him 
came his son, Joseph H. Brearley, as commis- 
sary to the Indians. The latter, in 1831, became 
a permanent citizen at Dardanelle. On his way 
up, in 1827, he had stopped a short time at Darda- 
nelle, where he had found white inhabitants very 
few. Pearson Brearley, his brother, was then liv- 
ing there, also John Wade (his hireling), and the 
Widow Greenwood and her son and daughter, 
Radford and Malinda. The Cherokees were in 
hearing distance on the opposite bank of the river, 
but the nearest white neighbors south of the river 
were eleven miles above — James, Henry and King 
Stinnett, Maurice Brown and Isaac Hensley. Nine 
miles below, on the Lake Bayou, were Asa and 
Birt Whicker, and at the " Big Fields ' ' were two 
or three families, and Nick Beatty and the Car- 
dons were farther down the river. At Chickalah, 
nine miles back, was Brown, a blacksmith. In 
the spring of 1828 the Cherokees, by treaty, ex- 
changed the land on the north side of the Arkan- 
sas for the greater portion of the Lovely purchase, 
which at the time was thickly inhabited by whites, 
who were thus summarily ejected therefrom, and 
scattered to various parts. Many came this way, 
among whom were the Morse family, who squatted 
near Dardanelle Rock until the land surveys could 
be completed, so that they cotild locate. In the 
year 1830 the Cherokees finished moving off, in 
the fall of which year the United States surveyor, 
H. L. Langham, completed several townships on 
the north side of the river. The land on the south 
side had already been surveyed. At this date furs 
and peltry still retained princely power with the 
trader (merchant) as a "legal tender." 

The Indians, who occupied the territory now 
composing this county, immediately before its set- 
tlement by the whites and for some thne thereafter 
were intruding bands of Cherokees, the territory 
in fact belonging to the Choctaws at the time. 
Rogers, a Cherokee chief, settled in or near what 
is now the site of the town of Dardanelle about 
1790, with a band of Cherokee hunters and war- 
riors. Some time thereafter Chickalah, another 
chief, settled at the site of the village which bears 
his name. Dutch, also a chief of a branch of the 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



same tribe, made his lieadqnarters on Dutch Creek, 
now so called, about three miles above Danville. 
He included in his hunting jurisdiction all that 
portion of the Fourche valley, now in Yell County. 
These Indians cleared little patches of land in 
common, which they cultivated separately, each 
one's share being designated by corner-stones, 
some of which are to be seen in the neighborhood 
of Danville. So far as can be learned, these In- 
dians were peaceable, never having engaged in any 
wars among themselves or with the whites, but oc- 
casionally they were called upon to resist the as- 
saults of the Osages, a warlike tribe living near 
Fort Smith. One of the earliest settlements in the 
interior of the coixnty was made in Riley Township, 
on the Petit Jean River, above Danville. The first 
permanent settlement was in ISS'J by Elijah Baker. 
Josiah Hart came in 1830. The Kileys came in 
1831. In 1836 Abraham McCearly settled on 
Spring Creek, three miles northeast of Danville. 
There were several settlers in that part of the county 
before Col. McCearly. William J. Parks, Joseph 
Gault and William D. Briggs were early near 
Bluffton. These persons, some of whom are men- 
tioned above, entered land in what is now Yell 
County prior to 1845. Some of them were among 
the early settlers, others were probably never per- 
manent residents: J. W. H. Huthmance, 1843 
Richard T. Banks, 1840; George Bryant, 1836 
John H. Petitts, 1839; Philip Madden, 1839 
Thomas R. Shannon, 1830; John-Nick, 1831; John 
Webster, 1830; Eli Paschal, 1836; Nicholas Beatty, 
1836; Asa Wicker, 1839; Francis Beatty, 1830; 
John E. Metcalf, 1839; John Deck, 1830; Pierre 
Peat, 1S30; Allen Summers, 1830; Francis Peat, 
1830; Louis M. Smith, 1839; Michael Hynam, 
1838; Joseph Buschell, 1837; James P. Rogers, 
1837; Louis E. Moulder, 1830; James Carden, 
1839; Samuel Ward, 1830; John McAllister, 1839; 
Jesse Low, 1837; William C. Wilson, 1837; Alex- 
ander Barnhill, Jr., 1830; N. Mars, 1830; Joseph 
D. Combs, 1836; George B. Steel, 1837; Daniel 
Gilliland, 1830; William Brown, 1838; Gabriel 
Baruaby, 1830; Elijah Baker, 1836; Richard 
Wicker, 1837; John S. Gibson, 1838; Washington 
Meeks, 1830; Margaret Slover, 1830; Elijah J. 



Howell, 1838; Thomas Johnson, 1839; Thomas 
Skillen, 1839; Joseph Gibson, 1838; Samuel H. 
Johnson, 1839; Charles H. Fitch,l4839; James S. 
Barrow, 1839; Nicholas Baremon, 1840; James S. 
Baremon, 1839; Jonathan Limboeher, 1840; Clai- 
borne Wicker, 1838; John B. Barmore, 1839; 
Rachel Wicker, 1839; Joseph Valkenberg, 1840; 
Jenkin Williams, 1830; Samuel Norris, 1837; Pear- 
son Brearley, 1831; George Douglas, 1831; John 
J. Morse, 1830; Cyrus T. Smith, 1836; John Hill, 
1842; Hardin George, 1843; David B. Gilliland, ' 
1844; James S. Jones, 1844; William Jones, 1844; 
Gilbert Moren, 1841; Claiborne Collier, 1843; 
William F. McClure, 1843; Joseph Green, 1838; 
Joseph James, 1839; Philemon Williams, 1839; 
John Critchfield, 1839; Malachi Ford, 1840; John 
McCray, 1840; Joseph Gwinn, 1840; John Mc- 
Creasie, 1844 ; Redmond Rogers, 1839; Burk John- 
son, 1838: William Colliu, 1839; William M. New- 
ton, 1838: JohnH. Miller, 1842; W. H. X. New- 
ton, 1838; Alexander Byrd, 1839; Samuel Pryor, 
1839; John Powers, 1840;^ John Walker, 1839; 
Horace Witt, 1839; Eli Crow, 1839; Ezekiel Boggs, 
1839; John Boggs, 1842; Hiram Gill, 1839; James 
P. Rainor, 1840; Neriah Morse, 1839; Sallie Hall, 
1830; Henry Evins, 1829; Henry Stinnett, 1834; 
Nathaniel Burkhead, 1837; William M. Reasoner, 
1838; Isaac Hunley, 1836; John Wilson, 1830; 
Jefferson Van Horn, 1838; Samuel M. Hays, 1839; 
James L. Hardway, 1844; Samuel H. Balch, 1843; 
Reuben L. Stinnett, 1844; John F. Balch, 1844; 
James B. Crain, 1841; William M. Nunnelly, 1844; 
Thomas Hicks, 1841;. Abraham Flaning, 1841; 
Peter Pinkston, 1843; Thomas Morse, 1838; Rus- 
sell Bryant, 1838; John Franklin, 1838; James L. 
Garner, 1842; Joseph McGrady, 1829; William 
H. Haines, 1843; Henry__JSaney, 1843; John 
Hanejj 1840; Elizabeth Crow, 1841; John James, 
1840; Andrew J. Hays, 1840; Robert Cunning- 
ham, 1840; Enoch S. Hazens, 1840; James Mad- 
den, 1840; Amasa Howell, 1840; John A. Wheeler, 
1840; Robert M. Roberts, 1840; Nehemiah Crav 
ens, 1841; Cravens & Clark, 1841; Aaron Garrett- 
son, 1844; Augustus M. Ward, 1843; John Mc- 
Kay, 1844; RufusC. Sadler, 1844; James Murphy, 
1844; Lucinda Murphy, 1840; Dooney M cDaniel, 



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YELL COUNTY. 



ny 



1840; Francis A. Skelton, 18-40; Daniel Johnson, 
1839; James Morrison, 1837; Laban O. Howell, 
1837; M. M. Knight, 1843; James McBride, 1841; 
G. C. Sadler, 1841; Henry George, 1841; Daniel 
Crownoyer, Sr. , 1840; Isaac Mears, 1841; Daniel 
Crownover, 1841 ; James H. Taylor, 1844; William 
H. Peevy, 1841; Allen Williams, 1841; Dial Mc- 
Diiff Peevy, 1843; Hugh McBride, 1841; William 
Witt, 1841; Gabriel E. Hays, 1841; James Will- 
iams, 1843; John Howell, 1841; Thomas Garvey, 
1841; William Aikman, 1841; James A. Hughes, 
1841; George Baldwin, 1841; D. Wallace, 1841; 
Taylor Polk, 1844; John Riley, 1840; Joseph Hall, 
1841. Some of the persons above named each 
took np several claims in different parts of the 
county. White men located earliest along the 
Arkansas Eiver, but general settlements began in 
the interior. The valleys were most fertile and 
most easily accessible, and furnished homes for the 
pioneers as they do to day for the leading farmers, 
planters and business men of the county. The 
war put a stop to the progress of settlement 
throughout the county, but the year 1866 saw en- 
terprise again planted here, and the gradual return 
of former and the incoming of new settlers fol- 
lowed with increasing rapidity. The first marriage 
in this county was that of Pierce M. Butler, of 
South Carolina, to Miss Duval — her father then 
being Indian agent. This marriage took place on 
the lake eight miles below Dardanelle, at the tem- 
porary residence of Mr. Duval. The ceremony 
was performed by Rev. Cephas Washburn, in 1838 
or 1839. The bridegroom became the most dis- 
tinguished of all the South Carolinian governors. 
He was killed in a charge at the head of a South 
Carolina regiment during the Mexican ^Var. 

In 1839 Col. McCearly built the first water-mill 
in the county, on Spring Creek, six miles north of 
Danville. The first mill in Fourche Valley was 
built by Abihu Reese, on Gafford's Creek, in 1844, 
this being the third water-mill in the county. 
Howell and Jamison had built the second one on 
Dutch Creek, two miles above Danville, in 1843. 
The next, or fourth one, was Boggs' mill, on the 
Chickalah, built by John Miller, in 1845. Then 
followed Beatty's, on Beatty's mill-branch, by 



Nicholas Beatty. All these mUls have long since 
suspended operations. Many other water-mills 
were built later. There were only three steam 
mills in the county up to the close of the late war. 
The first was built by John Ball for the Gari'isons 
about 1857 or 1858, in what was then Delaware 
Township of this county, but which is now a part 
of Logan Count}'. The next was built by Col. 
George P. Foster and Walton H._Hane3', in the 
same township in 1858, and the third by the Collier 
brothers, on the Chickalah in 1859 or 1860, and 
this is believed to have been all the steam power in 
use in the county up to 1866. The first cotton-gin 
in this county was built by William Graham in 
1838 at the place settled by Josiah Hart; the next 
was erected by Thomas Hicks, three miles west of 
Dardanelle, in 1840; the third by Malinda Sadler 
in the same year; the fourth by James Briggs, on 
his old place, six miles east of ' Bluffton, ' ' on 
Fourche," in 1843, soon followed by one on the 
farm of Col. T. J. Waters, near Dardanelle. 

Yell County was, by an act of the Legislature 
passed December 5, 1840, carved out of a part of 
what then composed Pope and Scott Counties. 
Its northern boundary was defined December 21 
following. The line between Yell and Montgom- 
ery Counties was defined January 2, 1845. Dela- 
ware Township was a part of Pope County under 
the name of Dardanelle Township, until 1853, 
when it was transferred by act of the Legislature to 
this county, and named Delaware Township, be- 
cause Yell County already had a Dardanelle Town- 
ship, and because the principal stream running 
through this new territory was called Delaware. 
A portion of Y'ell was included in Sarber County 
(now Logan) at its erection in 1873. Changes of 
no great extent have been made in the boundary 
of the extreme northeast part of the cormty, along 
the Petit Jean River. The county was named in 
honor of Gov. Archibald Yell. The temporary 
county seat was located at Monrovia, the then resi- 
dence of W^illiam Peevy, five miles northwest of 
Danville. The present county seat, Danville, is 
situated on the south bank of the Petit Jean, near 
the north base of the Fourche Mountains, and was 
located and laid off on the jaroperty of John How- 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ell, by three commissioners named James Briggs, 
James Williams and Neriah Morse, in December, 
1841. The first court-honse was a very rude round 
log hut. About 1850, and possibly a little earlier, 
a commodious frame building was erected for a 
court-house, which is now known as the "old 

' court-house," and stands west of the public square. 
The county had log jails at first. One or more of 
them was burned. The present jail has done serv- 
ice since not long after the war. The first record 
referring to the present court-house is one under 
date of December 17, 1872, authorizing the issuing 
of bonds to the amoiint of 120,000, in the sum of 
$100 each, " for the purpose of building a new 
court-house in the town of Danville, the county 
seat of said Yell County." On the same day, 
Thomas W. Pound, James M. Watkins and S. O^ 

1 Chesney were appointed by the county court com- 
missioners to prepare a plan and let the contract 
for the erection of a suitable building. February 
24, 1873, the commissioners were ordered to sell 
the old court-house to the highest and best bidder 
on a credit of twelve months. The sale was 
effected March 17, 1873, to John W. McCarrell, 
for 1476 in county scrip. On the same day the 
contract for the erection of the new court-house 
was let to Joseph G. Harrell, the cost to be f 11,990. 
The contractor's bond was filed and accepted, and 
a contract was entered into on the same day. Oc- 
tober 7, 1873, the commissioners reported the work 
practically completed according to contract. An 
order was made approving the report and accepting 
the court-house, which is a large brick structure, 
two stories high, one of the most substantial in 
this part of the State. Upon the erection of the 
Dardanelle Judicial District, adequate quarters for 
the accommodation of the court were leased at 
Dardanelle, at the expense of llie taxpayers resi- 
dent within the district. A jail was built there, 
which was destroyed by fire, since when the jail 
at Danville has done service for the entire couaty. 
Yell County is divided into twenty-six political 
townships, named as follow: Wilson, Galla Rock, 
Dardanelle, Delaware, Chickalah, Mountain, Maga- 
zine, Ceuterville, Mason, Ward, Danville, Prairie, 
Fergeson, Riley, Richland, Herring, Dutch Creek, 



Gravelly Hill, Bluffton, Briggsville, Rover, Gil- 
key, Lamar, Lower La Pave, Crawford, Irons 
Creek. Wilson, Galla Rock, Centerville, Dardanelle, 
Delaware, Ward, Mason and Chickalah Townships 
and part of Magazine Township constitute the 
Dardanelle Judicial District. The balance of the 
county is included in the Danville Judicial District. 
The persons named below have served Yell 
County in its various official positions at the date 
named: 1840-42 — J. J. Morse, judge; J. C. Gault, 
clerk; T. P. Sadler, sheriff; C. F. Long, treasurer; 
W. D. Sadler, coroner; D. W. James, surveyor. 
1842-44— M. Brown, judge; J. C. Gault, clerk; 
T. P. Sadler, sheriff; E. S. Hames, treasurer; W. 
D. Sadler, coroner; D. W. James, surveyor. 1844 
-46— G. E. Hays, judge; J. C. Gault, clerk; T. 
P. Sadler, sheriff; William Porter; treasurer; W. 
D. Sadler, coroner; D. AV. James, surveyor. 1846 
-48 — B. Johnson, judge; T. W. Pound, clerk; S. >/ 
Kirkpatrick, sheriff; E. Hames, treasurer; L. Mc- 
Daniel, coroner; J. Brearley, surveyor. 1848-50 
— C. H. Fitch, judge; T. W. Pound, clerk; S. 
Kirkpatrick, sheriff; E. Hames, treasurer; T. J. 
Haney, coroner; J. F. Perry, surveyor. 1850-52 
— George Magness, judge; T. W. Pound, clerk; 
S. Kirkpatrick, sheriff; J. G. Harrell, treasurer; 
T. J. Haney, coroner; J. F. Perry, surveyor. 
1852-54 — George Magness, judge; T. W. Pound, 
clerk; Joseph Gault, sheriff; T. J. Haney, treas- 
urer; H. B. Rose, coroner; Benjamin Thomas, 
surveyor. 1854-56 — B. Johnson, judge; T. W. 
Pound, clerk; J. C. Herring, sheriff; T. J. Haney, 
treasurer (T. J. Daniels from December, 1854); 
J. B. Fudge, coroner; T. R. Jett, surveyor. 
1856-58— H. A. Howell, judge; T. W. Pound, 
clerk; J. Gault, sheriff; T. J. Daniels, treasurer; 
Joseph Hall, coroner; W. D. Briggs, surveyor. 
1858-60— B. Johnson, judge; T. W. Pound, clerk; 
J. Gault, sheriff; J. G. Harrell, treasurer; A. S. 
Garrison, coroner; W. D. Briggs, surveyor. 1860 
-62 — B. Johnson, judge; J. C. Gault, clerk; J. 
Gault, sheriff; F. B. Hatchett, treasurer (joined 
the army, and J. C. Ward was elected to fill the 
vacancy); A. S. Garrison, coroner; W. D. Briggs, 
surveyor. 1862-64 — J. M. Baird, judge; J. C. 
Gault, clerk; Lorenzo Fry, sheriff (O. Wood form 



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YELL COUNTY. 



121 



March, 1863); J. C. Ward, treasurer; George 
Bennett, coroner; W. D. Briggs, surveyor; 
Thomas Moudy, assessor. 1864-GO— B. G. Cook, 
judge; J. F. Choate, clerk; W. H. Fergeson, 
sheriff; William M. Boles, treasurer; A. Neal, 
coroner; A. Campbell, assessor. 1806-68 — George 
Magness, judge; J. C. Gault, clerk; W. H. Fer- 
geson, sheriff; M. S. Cox, treasurer; A. Neal, coro- 
ner; J. G. Carter, surveyor; Alfred Ross, asses- 
sor. 1868-72 — H. W. Walker, judge; J. F. 
Choate, clerk; W. H. Fergeson, sheriff; E. P. 
Johnson, treasurer; William Dacus, coroner; B. 
Johnson, Jr. , surveyor (Alfred Boles from Feb- 
ruary, 1871); J. B. Eddington, assessor (A. N. 
Rose from April, 1871). 1872-74— Howard W. 
Walker, judge; J. F. Choate, clerk; J. A. Wilson, 
sheriff; G. W. Phillips, treasurer; J. R. G. W. N. 
Adams, surveyor; A. N. Rose, assessor. 1874-70 — 
George Magness, judge; J. W. Pound, clerk; R. 
E. Cole, sheriff; G. W. Phillips, treasurer; W. C. 
Strayhorn, coroner; J. R. G. W. N. Adams, sur- 
veyor; M. S. Cox, assessor. 1876-78 — J. F. Choate, 
judge; J. W. Poiind, clerk; R. E. Cole, sheriff; 
J. J. Robertson, treasurer; J. M. McCarrell, coro- 
ner; J. R. G. W. N. Adams, surveyor; M. S. Cox, 
assessor. 1878-80— J. F. Choate, judge; W. W. 
Brooks, clerk; R. E. Cole, sheriff; M. S. Cox, 
treasurer; T. R. Maxwell, coroner; W. D. Briggs, 
surveyor; K. D. Tizzman, assessor. 1880-82 — H. 

A. Howell, judge; J. W. Pound, clerk; L. L. 
Briggs, sheriff; M. W. McClure, treasurer; J. A. 
Cannon, coroner; J. H. Cotton, surveyor; M. S. 
Cox, assessor. 1882-84— J. Gault, judge; W. H. 
Gee, clerk: J. L. Davis, sheriff; M. W. McClure, 
treasurer; Joe Goodman, coroner, Charles Hunt, 
surveyor; M. S. Cox, assessor. 1884-86 — J. E. 
McCall, judge, W. H. Gee, clerk; J. L. Davis, 
sheriff'; H. B. McCarrell, treasurer; C. N. Myers, 
coroner; Charles Hunt, surveyor; J. N. Whitlow, 
assessor. 1886-88— J. E. McCall, judge; W. H. 
Gee, clerk; H. B. McCarrell, sheriff; J. J. Rob- 
ertson, treasurer; E. C. Williams, coroner; Charles 
Hunt, surveyor; J. N. Whitlow, assessor. 1888- 
yO— G. L. Wirt, judge; J. H. McCargo, clerk; H. 

B. McCarrell, sheriff; J. J. Robertson, treas- 
urer; Robert Toomer, coroner; C. C. Dean, sur- 



veyor; J. N. Whitlow, assessor. 1890-92— G. L. 
Wirt, judge; W. R. Hayden, county clerk; J. H. 
McCargo, circuit clerk; J. H. Howard, sheriff; 
J. J. Robertson, treasurer; J. C. Baley, coroner; 
S. C. Dean, surveyor; G. W. Phillips, assessor. 

Yell County is in the Fifth Judicial District, com 
posed of the counties of Yell, Johnson, Pope and 
Conway. The judge is Hon. J. E. Cravens, of 
Johnson County; the prosecuting attorney is H. S. 
Carter, of Dardanelle. Hon. J. G. Wallace, of Rus- 
ellville, was elected judge, and Jeff Davis of Rus- 
ellville, prosecuting attornpy, September 1, 1890, to 
succeed Messrs. Cravens and Carter. Owing to the 
great area of Yell County, and for the convenience of 
the citizens, it was in 1875, divided into two judicial 
districts. The business of the circuit and pro- 
bate court for the southern part of the county is 
transacted at Danville, for the Danville District, 
and that of the northern part of the county at Dar- 
danelle, for the Dardanelle District. Circuit court 
is held in the Danville District on the fourth Mon- 
days in January and August, and in the Dardanelle 
District on the second Mondays in February and 
September. County business is transacted at Dan 
ville exclusively. Prominent among the lawyers 
who practiced at this bar in the ante helium days 
were: J. L. Hallowell, who was prosecuting at 
torney 1858-00, and cx-officio attorney general of 
the State; George W. Lemoyne, who was State 
senator; E. G. Walker; W. N. May, who was cir- 
cuit judge 1868-71; W. D. Jacoway, who was 
circuit judge 1878-82; and J. T. Harrison. Since 
the war the following have been among the leading 
practitioners: Thomas Boles, who was circuit judge 
1805-68; T. W. Pound, who was circuit judge 1878; 
M. L. Davis; Robert C. Bullock; W. A. Nolen; 
George S. Cunningham, who was circuit judge 
from 1882 until the comparatively recent appoint- 
ment of Judge Cravens; H. S. Carter, the present 
prosecuting attorney, and J. T. Harrison, L. C. 
Hall, John M. Parker, Robert Toomer, W. D. 
Jacoway, W. C. Hunt, Walter D. Jacoway and W. 
A. F. May. 

This county, with Crawford, Franklin, Johnson 
andSabastian, constitutes the Fourth Congressional 
District, r^iresented by Hon. J. H. Rogers of Fort 

^s 9 



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122 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Smith. Yell was represented in tlie Constitutional 
Convention of 1868 by Monroe Ronnsaville; in that 
of 1874 by Joseph T. Harrison'. In the State Leg- 
islature, this county has been thus represented: 
Upper Hoiise— Sessions of 1844-45, 1846, 1848- 
41), with Pope, by J. Williamson; 1850-51, with 
Pope, by J. Williamson; 1852-53, with Pope, by 
G. W. Lemoyne; 1854-55, with Pope, by G. W. 
Lemoyne; 1856-57, with Conway and Perry, by 
J. I. Stirman; 1858-59, with Conway and Per- 
ry, by J. I. Stirman; 1860-61, special 1861^62, 
with Conway and Perry, by G, W. Lemoyne; 1862, 
no record; 1864-65, with Conway and Perry, by 
F. M. Stratton; Confederate Legislature, 1864, 
with Perry and Conway, by W. C. Hunt; Sixteenth 
Legislature, 1866-67, with Perry and Conway, by 
S. D. Sevier who resigned and was succeeded by 
S. Forrest; 1868-69, with Newton and Johnson, 
by J. N. Sarber; 1871, with Newton and Johnson, 
by J. N. Sarber; 1873, with Newton and Johnson, 
by Thomas A. Hanks; 1874, with Newton, John- 
sou and Sarber (now Logan), by Thomas A. Hanks; 
1874-75, with Sarber, by J. W. Toomer; 1877 
with Logan, by B. B. Chism; 1879, with Logan, 
by B. B. Chism; 1881, with Logan,, by J. T. Har- 
rison; 1883, with Logan, by J. T. Harrison; 1885, 
with Logan, by Theodore F. Potts; 1887, with 
Logan, by Theodore F. Potts; last session, with Lo- 
gan, l)y \V. A. Clement. Lower House — session 
of 1842-43, by William J. Parks; 1844-45, by 
William J. Parks; 1846, by Theodore P. Sad- 
ler; 1848-49, by R. Nettles and W. J. Parks; 
1850-.51, by R. Nettles and T. P. Saddler; 
IS" "-53, !>>• 1). F._Hnckaby; 1854-55, by B. J. 
Jacoway; 1856-57, by William J. Parks; 1858-59, 
by John A. Jacoway; 1860-61, special 1861-62, 
l)y John H. Jones; 1862, by William Sisell; 
1S64-65; by B. Johnson; Confederate Legisla- 
ture, 1864, by William Sisell; Sixteenth Legis- 
lature, 1866-07, by Thomas W. Pounds; 1868-69, 
with Newton and Johnson, by D. R. Lee (resigned 
and succeeded by R. W. Wishard), W. N. May 
and Samuel Dial; 1871, with Newton and Johnson, 
l)y J. L. Garner, B. W. Herring and W. G. Har- 
ris; 1873, with Newton, Johnson and Sarber (now 
Logan), by John N. Sarber, P. H. Spears and 



James A. Shirgley; 1874, with Newton, Johnson 
and Sarber, by A. D. King and M. Hixon; 1874- 
75, by A. M. Fulton; 1877, by Joseph T. Harrison; 
1879, by George S. Cunningham; 1881, by M. L. 
Davis; 1883, by D. F. Huckaby; 1885, by W. A. 
Clement; 1887, by ^V. A. Clement ; last session, by 
W. A. Nolen (died and was succeeded by Robert 
Toomer). J. L. Williams was elected September 
1, 1890. 

The following hold, or have until recently held, 
commissions as notaries i)ublic resident in Yell 
County : John A. Ross, J. Green Jackson, M. A. 
Moseley, George A. Harman, H. P. Barry, John 
B. Crownover, J. A. Wilson, T. E. Wilson, D. H. 
Brown, J. C. Michelson, F. G. Brown, R. M. 
Blackburn, L. P. Jones, John M. Parker, L. C. 
Adams, W. R. Hayden, W. B. Smith, W. A. F. 
May. 

The first newspaper in Yell County was the 
original Dardanelle Post, established by F. M. and 
S. C. Coleman in 1853, which had an existence of 
live or six months. In February, 1869, the Tran- 
script was established by H. P. Barry. The 
Transcript material in part was sold to the Repub- 
licans, a new outfit was purchased and the publica- 
tion of the paper was continued. The Times was pub- 
lished a few months, beginning late in 1869. In 1870 
the Transcript was sold to Col. Withers, of Ozark. 
In 1871 it was repurchased by its original owner. 
It often changed hands and was at one time re- 
moved to Danville, but its press and much of its 
material was long in use on the Independent Ar- 
kansian. Other papers published during the next 
few years were the Laborer, the Chronicle, the 
Spectator, the Star of the West, the Eye of the 
West and the Argus. The Dardanelle Independ- 
ent was first published January 7, 1875, by D. P. 
Cloyd, proprietor, with M. M. McGuire as associ- 
ate editor. In April following Mr. McGuire be- 
came proprietor, and he continued the publication 
of the paper, under the above heading, and those of 
Arkansas Independent and Independent Arkansian 
until 1884. From the office of the Arkansian 
were issued the Arkansas Methodist, under edito- 
rial charge of Rev. James Harralson, from Novem- 
ber, 1879, until removed to Little Rock, and for a 



^^ 



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YELL COUNTY. 



123 



time ii Baptist paper named The Evangel, edited 
by B. IJ. ^N'omback, and later by Mr. Womback 
and J. B. Searcy. The Western Immigrant was 
established by M. L. Davis, and afterward passed 
to the ownership of J. L. Crownover, and later to 
that of G. E. Williams. In October, 1881, Mr. 
Williams changed its title to the Dardanelle Po.st. 
In November, 18S8, C. W. Dodd became its edi- 
tor. In February, 1889, Mr. Williams sold the 
paper to Thomas J. Hicks. Eugene Moore be- 
came Mr. Hick's partner in the enterprise July 1, 
1889. The Post is a large eight- column, four- 
page newspaper, devoted to Democratic principles 
and the best interests of Dardanelle and Yell 
County, ably edited and well printed. Mr. Davis, 
its founder, has at times, since disposing of it, as- 
sisted materially in its editorial conduct. 

This county was the scene of some exciting 
events of the war of the States. The first engage- 
ment at Dardanelle was between Col. Hill's Con- 
federates and Col." Cloud's Kansas Federals, Sep- 
tember 12, 1803. Hill was surprised and driven 
across the river, which was fordable during most 
of the season of 1863. May 16, 1864, Shelby 
took the place from the Federals by a surprise, 
driving them across the river. Gen. Price's army 
crossed the river here in September, 1864, at 
which time Dardanelle contained little or no popu- 
lation except less than 100 women and children. 
In January, 1805, Col. William H. Brooks, com- 
manding the Confederates, attacked the Federals 
under Maj. Jenks, commander of the post at Dar- 
danelle, and after a light of three or four hours 
drew off his forces. Capt. Daniels' company of 
Col. Churchill's regiment, Capt. Holloway's com- 
pany of McCrary's battalion, and Capt. Law- 
rence's company of Col. Lemoyne's regiment, 
were recruited for the Confederate service, and one 
company of the Third Arkansas was recruited for 
the Federal service, all almost wholly in Yell 
County, while many men from the county were 
connected vrith other organizations, mostly Con- 
federate. Capt. Daniels' company was Company 
H, First Arkansas Mounted Rifles. It was mus- 
tered in in 1861, and was not mustered out until 
1865. In all, 118 men were enrolled, of whom 



eighty-five were killed and wounded, twenty-five 
died from other causes, only seven were surren- 
dered, and only four are now living. 

From the first religion has found a home in 
this county. School-houses and private residences 
were among the early meeting and preaching 
places. At times there were open-air or camp- 
meetings, which were attended by the people in 
large numbers. Of course, the first church houses 
were erected in the earliest and most important 
settlements. The first Methodist sermon at Dar- 
danelle was preached by Kev. J. P. Cole in the 
summer of 1851. For some time previous, how- 
ever, the Methodists had had an organization, and 
had met in the "Apple Tree" School-house, near 
the cemetery site. The Presbyterians organized 
in 1850 under the ministration of Kev. H. P. S. 
Willis, of Norristowu. Their church, erected by 
C. Lethgo in 1854, was the first in town. It was 
dismantled during the war and used as a barracks 
for Federal troops. The Baptists held meetings 
earl}' in the fifties, and the first Baptist association 
ever held in the county was held in the Presbyte- 
rian Church at Dardanelle in 1855 or 1850. The 
first Baptist Church was built on the present site 
in 1859, mainly by contributions from James, the 
father of Eobert Veazy. Capt. John Wood also 
contributed liberally. This building was newer 
completed, and having been used by both armies 
during the war and not being ceiled, being abont 
to fall, was sold to Mr. J. K. Perry immediately 
after the war, and was removed and converted into 
a residence. The Methodist, Baptist, Presbyte- 
rian, Cumberland and Old School, Christian and 
Episcopalian denominations are all well repre- 
sented in the county, the numerical strength of 
the respective sects in the order in which they are 
named. A house of worship may be found in 
every neighborhood. The inhabitants of Yell 
County are a peaceable, quiet, industrious, law- 
abiding, church-going people, and are thoroughly 
enthused on the subject of education. 

Educational beginnings were almost coincident 
with those of the church. The early schools were 
few in number, scattering, poorly housed and 
equipped, and indifferently taught. But under 



V 



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124 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



the operation of the school law of the State, a new 
order of things has come. There are more than 
ninety school districts in the county, and many of 
them are supplied with school- houses. Good 
schools are taught from three to ten months in the 
year. In addition to the general school tax, which 
is uniform throughout the State, the electors of 
sixty four of the school districts in Yell County 
have availed themselves of the benefits of a pro- 
vision of the State constitution, and, by vote, have 
voluntarily imposed upon themselves an additional 
tax of 5 mills for school purposes. White schools 
and colored schools are taught separately, but the 
school fund of the several school districts is pro- 
rated percapita with the colored schools. Prof. J. 
G. Smyth, of Bellville,* is county examiner of pub- 
lic schools. The public school at Danville is well 
e(piipped, well taught, and efficient. At times 
two teachers are employed, and the course of study 
is much more thorough and comprehensive than 
that which obtains in schools in many places in 
the county. At Dardanelle the common-school 
building is the crowning beauty and pride of the 
town. It is a brick structure, with a seating ca- 
pacity for ()()0 pupils. It is one of the best school 
buildings in the State, and is constructed with all 
the comforts and conveniences suggested by recent 
improvements. The school is graded, and the 
methods of instruction are thorovighly modern and 
jirogressive. The teachers in the several depart- 
ments are among the best employed in the State. 
The first school-house in Dardanelle was built by 
|)ublic subscription, in front of the well known 
Methodist Church site, within a few yards of the 
William Toomer residence. It was erected in 1848 
or 1849, and for several years was used by the 
Methodists and other denominations for public 
worship. The old Dardanelle Institute was built 
in 1859, and opened soon afterward, under the 
management of a board of nine trustees, among 
the members of which were H. P. Barry, T. W 
Pound and H. A. Howell. This institution was in- 
corporated. The principal feature of Bellville is 
its academy, established by the generous contribu- 
tions of four citizens: Mr. W. H. Fergeson, Dr. 
* The postal authorities spell this name Belleville. 



J.. B. Heck , Mr. John F. Choate and Dr. S. O. 
Chesuey. The building was erected in 1873, at 
an expense of $3,500. The institution has been 
most prosperous and successful during all its his- 
tory, but notably so during the past five years, 
under ihe presidency of Rev. J. G. Smyth. The 
academy is now owned and controlled by a board 
of trustees, elected by the Dardanelle District Con- 
ference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
It has a sightly and most suitalile location, amid 
grand scenery, in a healthy section, far away from 
the haunts of vice and dissipation, in a community 
noted for morality, and is protected by a special 
act of Legislature from the poisonous influence 
attendant iipon the sale of intoxicants. The build- 
ing is a large, three-story structure, 50x70 feet in 
size, well arranged, heated, ventilated and lighted, 
and furni.shes ample accommodation for the thor- 
ough work of the academy's several departments. 
Ujjon the completion of the course of study, in 
which the pupil is greatly aided by the use of all 
needful apparatus, he is given a certificate of pro- 
ficiency. The special object of this school is to 
furnish a thorough and practical education to both 
girls and boys, or when desired to prepare them 
to enter college. The terms for non-residents are 
very low, being, in the primary department, $1.50 
per month; in the intermediate department, $2; 
in the high-school department, $2.50 to $3. The 
incidental expense per month is only 10 cents, and 
board is furnished at $8 per month. Free tuition 
is given to the children of all ministers, and to 
young preachers properly indorsed by their de- 
nominations. The faculty for the term of 1890- 
91 is constituted thus: Rev. J. G. Smyth, princi- 
pal; Mr. John A. Pless, intermediate; Mr. S. H. 
Russell, second primary. The board of trustees 
is composed of J. J. Briggs, president; J. B. Heck, 
secretary; David Russell, Dr. Kirksey and Rev. 
J. G. Smyth. Too much praise can scarcely be 
given the principal, who has conducted this institu- 
tion so successfully through the exjserimental years 
of its youth, and under his continued management 
a brilliant future is predicted for it. The Chicka- 
lah Academy opened its first session September 1, 
1890. It has three departments: Primary, gram- 



*7; 



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YELL COUNTY. 



125 



mar and academic. The first gives thorough in- 
struction in the primary branches and language. 
The second teaches all the common-school branches, 
and gives normal training to teachers. The third 
gives instruction in the higher mathematics, lan- 
guage and sciences. The academy is conducted 
with two objects in view — first, to prepare students 
to enter higher institutions of learning; second, to 
give systematic and business education, fitting 
students for the practical duties of life. In the 
musical department instruction is afforded in vocal 
music, and lessons are given on piano, organ and 
guitar. The principal is Prof. D. Hays, the secre- 
tary, Mr. L. B. Jones. 

Dardanelle is situated on the south branch of 
the Arkansas River equidistant from Fort Smith 
and Little Kock, and about eighty miles from Hot 
Springs, has a population of about 2,000 people, and 
does a larger commercial business than any other 
town in the Arkansas Valley between Little Rock 
and Fort Smith. It has communication by rail 
over the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, and 
the ferry and transfer line between the two towns 
mentioned, and telegraphic and telephonic com- 
munication. A prospective improvement is a pon- 
toon bridge designed to provide another means of 
communication with the country north of the river. 
Dardanelle is an incorporated town with numerous 
improvements and conveniences. An efficient and 
well- equipped fire department is well sustained. 
Prominent among those who have been connected 
with Dardanelle's municipal career may be men- 
tioned the following who have held the office of 
mayor: M. A. J. Bonville, W. N. May, J. Mort Perry, 
D. W. Starbuck, G. R. Williams, E. G. Collier, W. 
J. Jacoway, H. A. Howell, M. L. Davis, H. C. 
Cunningham, T. L. Spencer, Joseph Evins, H. C. 
Gibson, R. C. Bullock, C. P. Thompson, W. A. 
Nolen, Robert Toomer and L. C. Hall. The first 
store at Dardanelle Rock was opened by the Brear- 
ley Brothers, David, Charles and Pearson, in 1820. 
Its occupation was gone when the Cherokees left 
the vicinity in 1830. In 1831 at the instigation of 
J. H. Brearley, Fred Saugrain was induced to 
move his store from Verdigris to Dardanelle, where 
he continued trading until 1839, when he was per- 



suaded by his father-in-law to return to St. Louis, 
Mo. The remnants of his goods were left in the 
hands of his brother, Alfred Saugrain. In a few 
years more there was no store to be found at Dar 
danelle. At the organization of Yell County there 
were many citizens in the township of Dardanelle 
(among whom where the Johnstons — John B., Joe, 
Jackey and Samuel H.— John and Samuel Balch), 
who had to cross the river to Norristown to do their 
trading; and about 1S42 George Williams was in- 
duced to move his goods over from Norristown into 
a double log cabin on the spot first occupied by the 
Widow Greenwood in 1831, next by C. T. Smith 
in 1833, who, sold to F.' Saugrain in 1835, and 
lastly by J. H. Brearley, who gave to George Will- 
iams the lots on which the buildings would be 
found to stand when the contemplated town should 
be staked out as an inducement for him to move 
his store there. Mr. Williams enlarged by adding 
a small frame of sufficient size for his store. This 
was the nucleus of the town of Dardanelle, which 
was laid off by J. H. Brearley in October, 1847, 
on this tract the fractional part of the northwest 
quarter of Section 32, in Township 7 north. Range 
20 west, and extended the town plat onto the ad- 
joining northeast quarter of Section 31, belonging 
to George Williams, with the understanding that 
the two tracts .should be consolidated into one town 
property, and both be equal sharers in the sales of 
lots. In 1850 L. D. Parish came to Dardanelle, 
and opened a store. He found Judge H. A. How- 
ell here merchandising when he came. Jud^e 
Howell came to this place in 1847. About 1850 a 
Mr. James Montgomery and Dudley D. Mason also 
opened a store, which was soon bought out by L. 
D. Parish. In 1851 Capt. S. D. Strayhorn and 
Mr. C. M. Murdock built the Kimball & Perry 
store-rooms, and subsequently opened a store in 
co-partnership. 

During that year, A. S. Stephenson also opened 
a store. Dying in 1852, he was the first person 
buried with Masonic honors in Dardanelle. His 
remains were afterward carried by his friends to 
Van Buren. Dr. E. W. Adams built the old 
Judge Howell store in 1852. The old Parish Store, 
as it is called, was built by George Williams in 



^|i 



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126 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



IS-ty. AJl the otlier old stores on Front Row be- 
tween Howell's and Kimball's, were built between 
the years 1852 and 1854. Among the later mer- 
chants who were in trade at Dardanelle previous to 
the war may be mentioned the following: L. D. 
Parish, Murdock & Kimball, Robinson & Spivey, 
Adams Brothers, Levi Arnold, D. J. Jacoway & 
Son and Hunt & Farrell. The leading merchants 
since the war have been Kimliall & Perry, John A. 
Eoss & Co., E. W. Cunningham, Henry C. Cun- 
ningham, Josiah Hawkins, Blackwell, Thompson 
& Co., C. M. Freed and J. D. Goldman. The 
present business interests of the town may be thus 
briefly summarized: Harkey &. Meyer, John A. 
Ross & Co., W. R. Veazy & Co., Collier & Black, 
Nunnelly & Robinson, Pendergrass & Berry, J. D. 
Goldman & Co., John A. Croom, Gault & Co., 
Hart & Bro., Boyce Bros. & Co., H. C. Cunning- 
ham, E. W. Cunningham, Z. J. Pierce, J. Haw- 
kins, Sr. , general merchants; W. R. Veazy & Co., 
N. Goodier, hardware dealers; T. Wilson, S. Hol- 
stein, family grocers; W. L. Alley, S. Evins & Co., 
Joseph Goodman, liverymen; Thomas Cox, W. E. 
De Long, machinery and implements; Edgar 
Shinn, transfer and ferry; the Dardanelle Ice Fac- 
tory; Edgar Shinn, coal dealer; Howell & Leming, 
Wiley & McCarroll, J. H. Cook, Lancaster Bros., 
druggists; M. A. J. Bonville, saddler; F. V. Whit- 
tlesey, Robert Toomer, jewelers; Mrs. Dove, Mrs. 
Wishard, milliners; the Dardanelle Bank; A. Mad- 
enwald, undertaker; A. Hudspeth, broom manu- 
facturer; L. C. Hall, D. N. HalliBurton, E. G. 
Collier, insurance agents; L. Smith, meat market; 
Central Hotel, Mrs. M. S. Blackwell; J. A. Ben- 
nett, marble yard; J. B. Crownover, abstracter and 
real estate dealer; United stales' land office; W. 
A. F. May, register, and T. B. Bumgarner, re- 
ceiver; George Peaker, photographer; Cotton & 
Welch, distillers; H. A. Mayer, planing-mills; L. 
Flater, carriage manufactm-er; W. S. Waddle, 
George Julian, confectioners; L.E. Love, C. R. Wil- 
son, A. J. Harris, J. H. Wiley, J. D. Hart, J. H. 
Cook, E. Leming, physicians. The first child born 
in Dardanelle was Ruel Williams, son of George 
Williams, in 1844. Mrs. George Williams, who died 
in 1852, was the first person buried in the Dardan- 



elle graveyard. Dr. B. F. Chandler, who came in 
1850, and died in 1858, was the first physician in Dar- 
danelle. The great willow on Front Street was a 
riding switch, used in 1854 by Coleman Lethgo, 
and by him presented to Mrs. H. A. Howell, who 
planted it where it now stands. Danville was sur- 
veyed early in the history of the county, and the 
locality was soon chosen as the permanent seat of 
justice. Among the pioneers there was William 
Porter, who kept tavern in a log house still remem- 
bered by many old residents. An early merchan- 
dising firm was Bernard & Arnold. Another 
early store was opened by John Howell, with L. 
D. Parish in charge. Dr. Floyd was a pioneer 
physician. B. & J. B. Howell, and W. H. Fields 
& Dolly were prominent merchants during the 
years ' ' before the war. ' ' Among later merchants 
were "Ben" Lang, Briggs, McCarrell & Heck, 
Briggs & Heck, and J. T. Briggs & Son, W. H. 
Fields, Silas Fields, 'Robert Featherston, Dr. Bru- 
ton and Kemper & Hochburn. A tannery was es- 
tablished nearly twenty years ago by W. L. Heck, 
who was succeeded by J. T. Briggs. The business 
of the j)laee at this time may be summarized thus: 
Stores, Capshaw & Briggs, J. M. McCarrell, J. 
W. Briggs, Gatlin & Hill, K. Rnnyan; physicians, 
M. T. J. Capshaw, W. J. StafPord; blacksmiths 
and wheelwrights, T. J. Young, J. M. Kinser; 
hotels and boarding houses, Capt. J. B. Howell, 
Dr. W. J. Stafford, H. A. Carter. Danville lies 
in the heart of the county, on the Petit Jean, has 
a thrifty, progressive appearance, heightened some- 
what by Yell County's substantial brick court- 
house, and is blessed with one of the best schools 
in the county. The population is about 200. Its 
favorable location and its long established prestige 
as the county seat can not but give it a veritable 
" boom,' ' witl> the advent of railway facilities. 
The projector and in some sense the early "pro- 
prietor " of Danville was John Howell, who laid 
out the town and gave five acres of land for county 
uses. 

The location here of the seat of justice was the 
end of a memorable struggle for honors between 
difFerent localities within the county limits, the 
details of which incomplete records do not disclose. 



;t* 



k. 



TELL COUNTY. 



127 



Next in importance is Bellville,* the youngest as 
well as the second largest town and commercial 
center of Yell County, situated twenty miles south 
of Dardanclle, the railroad town, and four miles 
north of Danville, the seat of justice, at the head 
of one fork of the Petit Jean Valley, back in a 
recess of the mountains, which rise on its north 
and west. In twelve years its scenery, mineral 
waters, healthfulness and other natural advantages 
have gathered within its limits about 300 thrifty 
inhabitants and founded a center of trade and in- 
dustry. Daily mails and telephone bring the place 
in quick communication with other parts of the 
county. Surrounding the town, line agricultural 
lands spread their fertility to the husbandman. 
The first settler on the site of this place vras Mr. 
William H. Fergeson who estalilished a saw-mill 
here in 1872, and later when he built a house and 
was joined by others, the place by popular consent 
became known as Fergeson' s Mills, and for some 
years bore that name. Mr. P'ergeson was the first 
postmaster, and he now again fills that office. He 
has from the first identified himself actively with 
all measures promising to advance the best inter- 
e.sts of the locality. He is a large land-owner, 
and still owns the ginning, saw and grist mill in- 
dustry of the place, and is formost in the up- 
building of the town he established eighteen years 
ago. The first merchant was Mr. John F. Choate, 
who came to Bellville in 1878. He is still in busi- 
ness, and at the head of one of the leading firms 
of the place. The business interests of Bellville 
at this time may be mentioned as follows: Gen- 
eral stores. — Choate, Fowler & Martin, Heck & 
Briggs, F. C Jones & Co. , O. S. Fergeson, Bruton 
& Lynch; drug stores — Dr. J. H. Harkness, Pled- 
ger & Briggs, Dr. G. C. Parketr; blacksmiths — 
Nolan & May, Bunch & Welch; steam planing- 
mill — Nolan & May; steam, saw and grist mill 
and cotton-gin — W. H. Fergeson; Bellville Hotel 
— Thomas McCleskey; Bellville Academy — J. G. 
Smyth, president. Ola, on the Petit Jean River, 
Gravelly Hill, Bluffton, Briggsville, Rover, Fair 
Hill and Jennings Falls on the Fourche La Fave 

♦We give credit to Prof. J. G. Smvtli, in Tlie Arlsansas Val- 
ley tor tlie fiiimdation of tliis sicetcli of Bellville. 



River, and Mount Nebo, Chickalah, Walnut Tree 
and Centerville are all flourishing villages. Ola 
is practically the outgrowth of the enterprise of 
one man, Mr. J. M. Harkey, who came to the 
county in 1847 when but a small child. He 
erected a mill herein 1806, and began merchandis- 
ing in 1870. Here are the largest saw-mill, 
flour mill and cotton-gin in the county, all estab 
lished by Mr. Harkey. The village is sixteen 
miles south of Dardanelle. Some of the other 
points mentioned have good local trade, are pro- 
gressing and have more than fair prospects for 
the future. All are neat with evidences of thrift. 
Chickalah is the seat of a new and important edu 
cational enterprise mentioned elsewhere. 

There is no railroad in Yell County, though 
the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, which taps 
the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad at Russell- 
ville, has its terminiis on the north bank of the Ar- 
kansas River, opposite the town of Dardanelle, but 
receives and delivers all freight and passengers 
anywhere in the town. The St. Louis & San Fran- 
cisco has projected and surveyed a route from 
Haeket City to Little Rock, which will run along 
the Fourche La Fave Valley across the- entire 
southern part of the county. The St. Louis, Iron 
Mountain & Southern has projected and surveyed 
a route from Little Rock to Fort Smith, which is 
likely to run along the valley of the Petit Jean 
River, across the central part of the county. A 
road has been chartered from Little Rock to Fort 
Smith by way of Dardanelle. The "Thirty-fifth 
Parallel Road," leading west from Memphis hy 
Dardanelle, Fort Smith and Albuquerque, to 
Southern California, will necessarily be constructed 
in the near future. The Fort Scott, Natchez & 
New Orleans road, by way of Dardanelle, and the 
road from Paris, Tex., by Dardanelle, to St. 
Louis, which shortens the distance between St. 
Louis and Texas seventy-five miles, will, in all 
probability, soon be put under construction. The 
projected Springfield & Gulf Railroad, fi-om 
Springfield, Mo., via Dardanelle and Hot Springs, 
has lately attracted public attention to a consider- 
able extent. It seems safe to predict that in a 
comparatively short time Yell County will be trav- 



^1 



128 



HISTOEY OF AKKANSAS. 



ersed by several railroads, and if this prediction 
come true Dardanelle can hardly stop short of 
becoming an important railroad city. Nothing 
will so surely and so rapidly j)ush forward the de- 
velopment of agricultural, commercial and general 
business interests, in all parts of the county, as 
railways. In the absence of railroads the jjeople 
' of the county have evinced a laudable spirit in 
constructing and in keeping in repair the dirt 
roads throughout the county, and have caused to 
be erected two magnificent iron bridges across the 
Petit Jean River, with 100-feet span each — one at 
Danville and the other on the main road leading 
from Dardanelle to Hot Springs. 



1 



J. C. H. Albright, an eminently successful 
planter of Rover, was born in Georgia in 1840, and 
was the tenth of thirteen children born to Henry 
and Meeky (Blair) Albright, originally of North 
Carolina and Georgia, and whose ancestors were 
of German and American extraction, the grand- 
father, Albright, a silversmith by trade, emigrated 
from Germany to America, and settled in South 
Carolina, and later on moved to Georgia, where he 
died; and the maternal grandfather, an American 
by birth, and an Indian trader, lived and died in 
Georgia. The father, a farmer, which occujsation 
he followed all his life, early taught his son, J. C. 
H., the principles of farming, and gave him what 
few educational advantages the common schools of 
his day afforded. In 1860 he was married, and to 
himself and wife were born eleven children, six of 
whom are living: Lucy (wife of J. P. Briggs), 
Annie (wife of J. H. Hunt — see sketch), Martha 
Gertrude (wife of W. C. Pugh), Jake and Eliza- 
beth (twins and deceased), Frank W. (died at the 
age of sixteen), Julia Maud, James Edward, John 
(died at the age of eight months) and Mary Dar- 
ling. The year succeeding his marriage he became 
a soldier in the Confederate Army, enlisting in a 
comjaany of the Fourth Georgia Regiment, under 
command of Capt. Farris, and fought in the battles 
of the Kenesaw Mountain and the Atlanta cam- 
paign; later moved with Gen. Johnston, then with 



President Davis, and finally sm'rendered at Wash- 
ington, Ga., going thence home and re-engaging 
in farming, and in 1870 settled in Yell County, 
subsequently coming to Rover in 1878, wheie he 
purchased some valuable farm property, putting 
100 acres under a comf)lete state of cultivation, 
and in 1883 built his present neat and commodious 
residence. Religiously he and his family are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, 
and socially is an A. F. & A. M. , belonging to Rover 
Lodge No. 467, where he has done duty as wor- 
shipful master. He has always been deeply inter- 
e.sted in the welfare of his community, doing every- 
thing in his power to aid its growth. 

F. M. Baker, M. D., Riley Township, Yell 
County, Ark., and one of the leading practitioners 
of Marvinville, was born in Catoosa County, Ga. , 
August 29, 1860, the son of Samuel and Sarah 
(Gill) Baker, natives of Georgia and South Caro- 
lina, respectively. The father followed farming 
and carpentering up to the time of his death, 
which occurred in 1865 while in the Confederate 
Army. Dr. Baker spent his early days in Georgia, 
farming until 1878, when he removed to Missis- 
sippi. After farming in that State for two years he 
took up the study of medicine, commencing in 
Banner, Calhoun County, of that State, in 1880. 
In 1881 he began with Dr. J. Baker, an eclectic phy- 
sician, continuing with him one year, when he came 
to Arkansas and began practicing, meeting with 
good success. In 1885 he went to the Eclectic 
Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, remaining 
there until 1887, when he graduated. Upon leav- 
ing college Dr. Baker returned to Marvinville, was 
well received, has siicceeded in building np a very 
good practice, and by saving has managed to pur- 
chase a small farm of forty acres of land, besides 
four town lots. He was married in this village in 
1887 to Miss Martha B. Parker, born in 1867, a 
daughter of Wesley and Elizabeth Parker, all na- 
tives of Tennessee. Both the Doctor and his wife 
are members of the Christian Church. Socially he 
is a member of the Christen Lodge 394, A. F. & 
A. M., and in politics is a Democrat. 

George B. Biggers, a prosperous planter of 
Dardanelle Township, first saw the light of day in 



j) \ 



^ 



YELL COUNTY. 



129 






Mississippi, on May 25, 1850, and is the eldest 
child of six born to James H. and Catherine A. 
(Callens) Biggers, who were natives of the Old 
North State and Alabama, respectively, the father 
having been born in the former State in 1S27, 
bnt was married in Mississippi. Ho was a farmer 
by occupation, and came to Arkansas when his 
son, George B. , was two years old, entering 120 
acres of land, which he broke and improved for a 
home. He and his wife (who died in 1862) were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our 
subject, who was early trained in the duties of the 
farm, followed farming on his arriving to manhood 
as a means of livelihood, and is now the ])ossessor 
of 153 acres of valuable land, forty-five of which 
are highly imj^roved and cultivated. On Decem- 
ber 24, 1S72, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Wellie A. Huff, a resident of this county, who !)ore 
him a family of eight children — four sons and 
three daughters living: Maggie (born March 16, 
1874), Levietie (born November 28, 1876), Lordia 

A. (born June 26, 1885), George C. (born July 12, 
1878), Johnnie H. (born November 14, 1880), Cassa 

B. (Ijorn May 11, 1883), an infant (born 1888, and 
deceased), and Denver (born September 14, 1889). 
He and wife are connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and politically he votes the 
Democratic ticket. 

John W. Blevins, Dardanelle P. O., Yell 
County, one of the prominent lumber merchants of 
this county, was born in Meigs County, Tenn., Oc- 
tol)er 13, 1845, and is the son of Thomas and El 
vina (Gourley) Blevins, natives of the same State. 
The father, who died in 1865, was born in 1815, 
carried on farming through his entire life in his 
native State. The mother is still living in the old 
homestead in Tennessee. Our suliject was reared to 
manhood in his native State, receiving a good com- 
mon-school education. There he followed farming 
until the year 1874, when he came to Yell County, 
bought eighty acres of raw land, and started to 
improve it, but wishing more room, he sold this 
and Iwuglit ninety-seven acres on the river below 
Dardanelle. In the fall of 1881 Mr. Blevins en- 
gaged in the lumber business, and opened mills 
valued at $10,000 near Chickalah Village, and in 



this undertaking he was assisted by Mr. George H. 
Craving and H. S. Cliue. Shortly after they 
erected another mill a mile and a half in the valley 
from the first, those mills being connected by a 
railway on which they haul their logs and lumber. 
This is one of the first of the kind ever introduced 
in this section of the country, and shows the enter- 
prising s'pirit manifested by the firm. The first 
mill consists of a grist, cotton-gin and lumber- 
dressing department, while the latter has two 
dressers and shingle machinery. They are capa- 
))le of turning out 20,000 feet daily, but average 
about only 12,000 daily. The firm also owns 
about 500 acres of pine timberland and has pur- 
chased the timber of a large numlier of acres of 
dead land. Mr. J. W. Blevins owns about 300 
acres in Delaware Township, of which 150 acres are 
in a good state of cultivation, and the rest covered 
with himber, which he has deadened with a view 
of making it good for cultivation. In 1889 our 
subject married Miss Ella Sills, daughter of Will 
iam Sills, native of Kentucky. He is a member of 
Bright Star Lodge No. 213, A. F. & A. M., and is 
a Democrat, politically, supporting all enterprises 
of public nature of benefit to his country. At the 
opening of the war he enlisted in Company I, Fifth 
Tennessee Cavalry under Capt. W. W. Lillard and 
Col. G. W. McKenzie. Although but fifteen years 
of age he kept with his company, and took part 
in the battles of Chickamauga, Atlanta and a large 
numl)er of skirmishes. He was wounded in the 
limb, but did not leave his regiment, remaining in 
the army in all about three years, being paroled 
in May, 1865. After the war Mr. Blevins returned 
home and began his farming pursuits, which he has 
carried on so successfully. Both he and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and are esteemed by all who know them. 

William D. Briggs, after whom the township of 
Briggsville was named, was born in South Carolina, 
June 26, 1818, and was the eldest son of James and 
Rebecca (George) Briggs, and grandson of Thomas 
George, of South Carolina. Of the eleven children 
born to this union five are now living. William D. 
Briggs came to this State in 1835, settled first in 
Johnson County, near Clarksville, where he lived 



» "fy 



yM ^ — ^ 



130 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



with bis father, cnltivating the soil, for two years. 
He then began clerking in a grocery store in 
Clarksville for William J. Parks and Samuel 
Hayes, and was thus employed for one year. He 
then came with his father to Yell County, settled 
in Fouche Valley, and there remained working on 
a farm with his father, and taking charge of his 
father's business for some time. When about 
twenty- five years of age he bought a farm near his 
present residence, remained on the same for five 
years, and during that time he cleared about forty 
acres, erected buildings and improved the place. 
Then he engaged in general merchandising with 
his brother at Bluffton, this county, and was very 
successful in this venture, but his father, being 
well along in years, wished him to return home 
and assume charge of the farm. This he did, and 
he and his father were engaged extensively in the 
raising of hogs, cattle and horses. Here he re- 
mained seven years, but at the end of five years 
his father died, after which our subject remained 
to take care of his mother and look after the farm. 
Previous to this, in 1845, Mr. Briggs, with his 
father, erected a cotton-gin on the latter's place. 
This was the first of the kind in the county, and 
William drove hogs to Red River, a distance of 
1 10 miles, to exchange them for the gin head 
which he then hauled in a wagon over the mount- 
ains and through an almost trackless forest to his 
home. This took him several weeks, as he was 
obliged to find market for his hogs, consisting of 
800 head, selling to the farmers as they might 
want for their immediate use. The other parts of 
his gin he made on his place. This he worked for 
several years, when he sold it and it was moved to 
Bluffton. Mr. Briggs then erected a large steam 
mill, grist, saw and cotton mill, all costing about 
$7,000, and this was destroyed l)y tire in 1875. 
Being uninsured it was a total loss. Soon after 
this he erected another mill, which he operated 
about four years, when it took fire and was burned 
to the ground. At the end of a year he erected 
still another steam-mill which he operated for four 
years, and then sold it to his sons, who still con- 
tinue to operate it. Mr. Briggs was married, 
September 24, 1857, to Miss Colissa A. Coleman, 



who bore him nine children — six sons and three 
daughters — seven of whom are still living: James 
C. (born December 25, 1858, and married Miss 
Amanda Albright October 29, 1880), Anna (wife 
of James Bogle), William (married Miss Docia 
Scroggins), Louisa (married J. B. Stevenson), 
Edna (married Eli Gladden), Levi L. and Wallace, 
the last two being single. When the war broke 
out Mr. Briggs was obliged to leave his home to 
save himself from the bushwhackers who were 
concealed in the mountain districts, and he was 
from home about three years. Returning at the 
close of hostilities he found bis property laid 
waste and great damage done to the same. He 
did what he could at farming with the stock he 
brought with him, and the first year's work was 
not very successful. However, the next year be 
made $3, GOO on his farm and with bis gin, the 
latter being the only one in the county. In con- 
nection with bis brother he then opened a store at 
Bluffton, which they conducted for about five 
years, at which time our subject sold out and 
returned to the farm. Since then he has devoted 
bis time and attention to tilling the soil. He was 
county surveyor of bis county for twenty-two 
years, and is a Democrat in politics. He and 
familj' are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which he has been steward for many 
years and a member of the board of trustees. He 
is a member of the A. F. & A. M. lodge at Bluff- 
ton, and gives liberally of his means to support all 
worthy movements. Soon after his marriage Mr. 
Briggs purchased 440 acres of excellent valley 
land as productive as any in the county, and this 
he has improved until he has 120 acres under cul- 
tivation. He has a good comfortable farm-bouse, 
good barns, etc. He added to his land from time 
to time until be was the owner of 1,300 acres, but 
has divided with bis children, until he now has but 
about 500 acres. 

John W. Brown, owner of a fine seventy acre 
farm, lying in Gallarock Township, four and one- 
half miles south of Dardanelle, and which is nearly 
all improved, was born in Mississippi, May 7, 
1846. His father, William Brown, was born in 
Alabama, in 1806, and his mother, Mary F. Hul- 



^« 



►rr 



-< 9 



A^ 



YELL COUNTY. 



131 



lum, was born in Tennessee, in 1811, and married 
in Hardeman County, June 25, 1829, and by this 
marriage became the mother of four sons and five 
daughters. In 1852, when Arkansas was nothing 
but a wilderness, the family located in Yell County, 
where the father purchased land, and by his untir- 
ing efforts accumulated considerable property, 
which was confiscated during the Civil War. This 
mother, who was a faithful and earnest member of 
the Baptist Church, was called to her final home 
in 1S55, her husband surviving her till March 12, 
1866. Our subject, a patriotic and enthusiastic 
defender of his country, in 1863, enlisted in an 
organization of cavalry known as Company D, 
under command of Col. Hill^ and fought the battles 
of Pilot Knob, Jefferson City and Independence, 
also took part in a number of skirmishes, and in 
1865 laid down his arms of warfare, at Marshall, 
Tex. He was twice married, in 1868, Miss Annie 
Olliver, who was born in Mississippi, in 1846, be- 
came his first wife, and in 1880 she died, leaving 
the following family to his care: Neva O. , Elsie 
M. , Alvin E. (since deceased), William T. (de- 
ceased), Angie (deceased), Anna (deceased); and 
in 1885 for his second wife he wedded Miss Mary 
Andi-ews, of Alabamian birth, being born in 1852, 
to Peter and Isabella (Price) Andi-ews. Two chil- 
dren have blessed this marriage: Anna L. and Hom- 
er. Mrs. Brown is a conscientious Christian woman, 
and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and he is an enterprising and respected farmer of 
his township. 

Dr. H. P. Bruton, the well-known eclectic phy- 
sician, and a member of the popular firm of Bru- 
ton & Lynch, general merchants of Bellville, was 
born in Pope County, in 1840, his parents, James 
and Sarah (Angel) Bruton, of Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, respectively, but were married in the latter 
State, came to Arkansas in 1836, bought, entered 
and improved the land on which they made their 
home till their deaths, his wife's occurring in 1856, 
and he following her demise in 1862. He was an 
active politician, being in the Lower House of the 
General Assembly for a number of years, and was 
one of the commissioners to locate the seat of jus- 
tice of Pope County at Dover, and for many years 



officiated as a Baptist preaehor, and wa.s famil- 
iarly known throughout all Western Arkansas. 
The Doctor's early boyhood was spent on a farm, 
attending the private schools, and when sixteen 
years old began teaching, and for several years 
taught and attended school. When nineteen he 
engaged as clerk in a drug store, and there laid the 
foundation of his medical profession, by reading 
medicine in connection with his duties at the store. 
In 1860-61 he enrolled himself as a student of the 
Eclectic Medical Institute, afterward sraduatino-. 
and at once beginning to practice. Locating in 
Danville, in 1867, he opened an office, and in 1872 
started the first drug store in town, withdrawing 
from this to enter into the general merchandise 
business. Going to Eussellville in 1878, he en- 
gaged in his profession and in merchandising, and 
remained till 1881, when he came to Bellville, 
where he has established his present lucrative busi 
ness and built up a good practice. In 1889 he was 
president of the State Eclectic Medical Society, 
held at Hot Springs, and in January, 1890, took 
into partnership T. C. Lynch. His individual 
property consists of a good dwelling and 160 acres 
of land, partially cultivated. He was three times 
married, the first time to Miss Ella Fowler, in 
1873, who died in a few years, leaving him one 
child, Lee; and again in 1878, Miss Stafford, 
daughter of Dr. Stafford, became his wife. She 
died, leaving him one child, Arthur, and in 1885 
he celebrated his third marriage, Miss Jones being 
the contracting party, and who bore him two chil- 
dren: Bertha and Myrtle. They are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

B. D. Bryson. John P. Bryson was born in 
North Carolina in 1826 and reared as a farmer, 
and on arriving to manhood married Miss Ollie 
Jones, and later on emigrated to Georgia, where 
B. D., our subject, was bora June 25, 1840, and 
in 1857 came to Izard County, this State, remain- 
ing here till 1863, when he changed to Yell 
County, which he made his home till the death of 
himself and wife, which occurred in 1874, they 
being at the time of their demise earnest members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. When 
twenty years of age the subject of this sketch 



vcl*- 



V 



^^1 



132 



HIvSTORY OF AKKANSAS. 



learned the boot and shoe trade, and soon after 
became proficient as a harness-maker, working at 
this till the war cry sounded, when he laid down 
his tools to take up arms in defense of his coun- 
try. In 1802 he enlisted in the cavalry, joining 
Company F, known as an independent organiza- 
tion of Confederate soldiers under command of J. 
H. Jones. Being granted a leave of absence in 
1864 he went to Marion County, Tex., where he 
was united in marriage to Miss Marj' E. Warer, 
and on his return to army life remained in service 
till the surrender, when he returned to his home 
and engaged in farming, and now owns 2S7 acres 
of fine, fertile land in Gallarock Township, ISO of 
which are thoroughly worked and improved, and 
he is known as a practical farmer possessed with 
broad and progressive ideas, and for two years of- 
ficiated as constable of his township. In 1885 
death robbed him of his worthy consort, who was 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
the following year he wedded Miss Sallie A. Law- 
rence, a native of Tennessee, born in IS-jfi, and 
they have become the parents of two children: 
Cora and Jhobery. Mr. and Mrs. Bryson are 
faithful and errnest members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, where he has been steward for 
eighteen years. 

Thomas D. Bumgarner, the genial receiver of 
the land office of Dardanelle, was born in Lumpkin 
County, Ga. , the second in a family of five born 
to Woodford and Rebecca C. (Heffnert) Bumgarner, 
of Kentucky and Georgia, respectively, and now 
deceased, the father December 24, 1883, and the 
mother in 1854. The senior Bumgarner, like all 
early settlers of the pioneer States, followed farm- 
ing as a means of livelihood. In 184'J, thinking to 
better his fortune, he joined the gold mining party 
en route for California, where he was quite success- 
ful, and at the end of two years retui-ned to Arkansas 
and purchased an immense tract of land, 5(M) acres 
in extent, near Danville, which he cleared and made 
for himself a comfortable home, residing here till 
his death. The paternal grandparents were early 
settlers of Kentucky, which was their home till their 
deaths, which occurred in Russell County, of that 
State. The maternal grandfather, David, of Ger- 



man ancestry, on his arrival to this country, settled 
in North Carolina, and later moved to Georgia, 
thence to Arkansas in 1870, and in a short while 
returned to Georgia, where he died in ISSfi, at the 
advanced age of one hundred and eighteen years. 
He was always noted for his intense interest in his 
adopted country's welfare. Our subject was reared 
in Yell County, being educated in the country 
schools, and left school in 1863 to enter the United 
States Army, joining Company F, Third Arkansas 
Cavalry, as scout in advance of Gen. Steele's army ; 
was captured at Arkadelphia, and soon after paroled. 
On receiving his muster out, June 30, 1865, he re- 
sumed his school duties and farmed, and in 18()S 
was elected .sheriff, his term of office expiring in 
September, 1869; he went to Normal, 111., and en- 
tered the State Normal University, and after the 
completion of his studies here, became clerk in the 
county clerk's office and officiated in that cajiacity 
in a store in Danville for a short time, when he 
purchased eighty acres of Ijind, increasing this to 
1,000 of fine valley and timberland, 350 of which 
are under cultivation, and makes a specialty of 
.some fine grades of stock. He has always voted 
the Republican ticket and has held several minor 
offices: Census enumerator in 1880, justice of the 
peace and notary public, and received his present 
appointment in the spring of 1889, assuming 
charge of the office June 1, 1890. Miss Rachel 
Vii-ginia Pound (daughter of Thomas W. Pound, 
one of the pioneer settlers of Arkansas, who died 
December 24, 1884, his wife dying in 1880), be- 
came his wife January 29, 1871, and they are the 
parents of the following family: Virginia (died 
when two years old), Julia May (wife of Walter 
Chambers), Lelia (died at the age of two), Ruth- 
erford Burchard Hayes, Roscoe Conkling, Thomas 
Edgar, and Minneola, and all are consistent mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

William D. Callan, an eminently successful 
planter, prominently identified with the leading 
interests of Dardanelle Township, was born in 
Eastern Tennessee, December 11, 1836, where his 
parents, George and Matilda (Davis) Callan, native 
Carolinians, settled at an early day, subsequently 
going to Alabama, thence to Mississippi, and in 



^^ 






±=Al, 



YELL COUNTY. 



133 



1850 to Yell County, wbere the father died in 1862, 
and the mother, still living, makes her home with 
her children. They were conscientious members 
of the church. Our subject was raised a farmer, 
and when Hallo well's company was forming at 
Dardanelle in 1801, he enlisted and went with it to 
Missouri, where he fought in the battles of Oak 
Hill and Elk Horn, or Pea Ridge, Farmington, 
Gibson, Champion Hill and Big Black River. 
He was dispatched to Corinth, Tupelo and luka, 
and took part in the second battle of Corinth, also 
lighting at Jackson and Vicksburg, and on July 4, 
18()3, was taken prisoner. Paroled and returning 
to Arkansas, he was recaptured near Dardanelle, 
and compelled to join a company of Federal troops, 
commanded by Capt. Bennett, and here he was 
practically discharged from service, but not being 
armed, was consequently seized by the Confeder- 
ates, and sent to Red River, La., subsequently 
joining a company of cavalry, with which he re- 
mained until the surrender. Returning to his 
home, he engaged in farming, purchasing and im- 
proving eighty acres of land, which he has in- 
creased to 210 acres, part timber and seventy-five 
cultivated, and also raises some fine stock. In 
1 807 he wedded Miss Nancy J. Hiiff, daughter of 
William L. and Frances Huff, formerly of Tennes- 
see, but who came to this county in 1848, where 
ttieir daughter was born March 30 of the same 
year. Mr. and Mrs. Callan are the parents of 
eleven children, all living: George Monroe (born 
January 25, 1808), Amanda Allie (born May 0, 
1870), Caroline D. (born December 4, 1871), Audie 
Matilda (born December 1, 1873), William Ander- 
son (born November 15, 1875), Francis Narcis 
(born April 10, 1877), Clemmie Price (born Afiril 
5, 1879), Harrison Alexander (born January 11, 
1881), James Burton (born March 10, 1883), Dor- 
cas Orleane (born June 24, 1886) and Gus (born 
August 2, 1888). Mr. Callan is a wide-awake and 
energetic citizen, and takes an interest in every- 
thing relating to educational matters, and has 
served as school director. He and wife come from 
a long-lived race, his grandfather living to the 
ripe old age of one hundred and ten years, and 
Mrs. Callan' s grandfather dying at the age of one 



hundred years, and her grandmother at ninety- 
seven years. 

James M. Caviness, farmer, Gravelly Hill, Ark. 
Thoroughgoing and enterprising Mr. Caviness has 
made a complete success of his chosen calling, 
farming, and is to-day one of the substantial agri- 
culturists of Yell County. He was born in Ten- 
nessee, and came to Arkansas with his parents 
when an infant. The parents settled in Scott 
County, and there the father purchased a large 
tract of land, which he improved and cultivated. 
There James M. grew to manhood, received his ed- 
ucation, and at the breaking out of the war, when 
but seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company 
H, De Rosa Carroll's regiment and served through 
the war. Among the important engagements in 
which he took part, were Oak Hill, Elk Horn and 
several other smaller engagements. After this he 
was transferred to Gen. Pike's division, and went 
with him to Indian Territory, where he served for 
about a year. He then returned to Arkansas, and 
the post of Arkansas and Little Rock, and after 
the war he went to Texas, where he ran a ferry 
across Trinity River, also carried on a farm for one ' 
year. He then returned to Arkansas and settled 
in this township. Soon after, in the fall of 1866, 
he was married to Miss Louisa, daughter of Col. 
Parks, one of the earliest settlers of Yell County. 
In 1867 he bought a tract of wild land, which he 
improved and which is still his home. He erected 
good buildings on the same, and from time to time, 
as his means allowed, he has added to his estate 
until he now owns 900 acres of as good land as the 
average in this valley. He raises a great many 
horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, and has been un- 
usually successful. His principal crops are corn, 
cotton and oats. He has on his farm this year 
about 150 acres of cotton, which promises a good 
crop, about 300 acres of corn, and about fifty acres 
of oats. To Mr. Caviness' marriage were born 
nine children, six of whom are still living: Willie 
T., John C, James R., Walter G., Allie L. and 
Chester. Willie T. married Miss Lizzie Camp- 
bell. Mr. Caviness and family are members of the 
Methodist" Episcopal Church South, and he is 
steward in the same. He is a Democrat in his 



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134 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



politics, and is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
lodge of Gravelly Hill, being treasurer in the 
same. 

Simeon R. Chambers, farmer, Briggsville, Ark. 
All his life Mr. Chambers has followed, with sub- 
stantial success, the occupation to which he was 
reared, and in which he is now engaged — farming. 
A very extensive land owner of Briggsville Town- 
ship, he ia also one of its recognized leading agri- 
culturists, and as a man, no less than as a citizen, 
he is highly esteemed. He is a native of this State 
born near Little Rock, on January 28, 1842, and 
his earliest recollections were of working on the 
farm. In 1863 he came to this county with his 
mother and her other children, she being the widow 
of Edward M. Chambers, of Georgia. Mrs. Cham- 
bers settled near Briggsville, and her sons worked 
a farm for the support of the family. About a 
year after their arrival the mother died, and soon 
after Simeon bought 100 acres of land, one of the 
finest tracts in the valley. This he paid for in 
about five years, and during that time he saved 
sufficient money to buy eighty acres more, paying 
1700 for it. Later yet he bought forty acres for 
$175, and in 1889 he purchased eighty acres of 
well-improved land, paying $1,000 for this. All 
his land has been paid off the profits of the farm, 
for Mr. Chambers has been engaged in no other 
business. He has good buildings on each farm, 
and besides the cultivated portion of his land, he 
has many acres of valuable timber lying in the 
valley near Briggsville. He keeps a good breed of 
cattle (Durham), and in the management of every- 
thing connected with his farm he displays excel- 
lent judgment and thoroughness. On April 20, 
1871, he married Miss Laura Hamilton, a native 
of Texas, born November 9, 1852, and who came 
with her father, John Hamilton, of Red River 
County, Tex., to this county in 1867. Eight chil- 
dren were born to this marriage: Martha C, John 
E., .Simeon L., Amanda C, Rebecca, Thomas, 
Warren and Winnie. Mr. Chambers has never 
been active in polities, but takes a decided interest 
in educational matters, having been director for 
several terms. In 1862 he volunteered in the army, 
and was in Capt. Conley's company of Gen. Price's 



army. Six months later he was discharged for dis- 
ability, but one year from that time he re-enlisted 
and remained in service until the close of the war. 
Pleasant and charitable to all, Mr. Chambers is 
respected and esteemed by the many with whom he 
comes in contact. 

John F. Choate, an extensive planter and the 
genial senior member of the firm of Choate, Fow- 
ler & Martin, dealers in general merchandise, was 
born in Robertson County, Tenn., in 1841, his 
parents being Gabriel Choate and Jane Brewer, 
natives of Tennessee, where the father was born 
in 1820 and married in 1840, and followed farming 
till 1850, when he with his wife and family of six 
children, John F., being the eldest, came to Ar- 
kansas, settling near Chickalah. Here he and his 
aged wife still live, enjoying their old age in com- 
fort, affording proof of the healthfulness of Arkan- 
sas climate from having lived in this State for over 
forty years, always keeping in the best of health. 
For many years they have been counted among the 
worthy members of the Christian Church. Mr. 
Choate' s grandfather, on both sides, were natives Vir- 
ginians. They came to Tennessee when very young 
men, where Grandfather Choate died. Grandfather 
Brewer emigrated to Arkansas in 1850 and died here. 
Our subject was but nine years old when his parents 
moved to this State, and being placed iu school he 
received a very fair education, and on arriving at 
maturity held some of the county's most respon- 
sible official positions. In 1865 he was elected 
circuit clerk, serving over eight yeai's, and in 1870 
he was elected county judge, filling this office four 
years with great credit to himself and the county. 
While acting in this capacity he was the means of 
having two iron bridges constructed, which are 
permanent and lasting structures, and a great 
credit to the county. In 1878 he located in Bell- 
ville and established a mercantile business, which 
was in 1876 merged into that of the firm of Choate, 
Fowler & Martin, which carries a stock principally 
of general merchandise, plantation supplies, etc., 
valued at about $7,000, and does a trade of some 
$20,000 annually. The Judge's personal property 
consists of the building known as " the store 
house," and other town property. His extensive 



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farms, comprise 1,000 acres of very fair upland, 
800 cultivated and improved witli a good dwelling- 
house, and substantial outbuildings. The mar- 
riage of Judge Choate and Miss Alice Stafford was 
celeljrated in May, 1SG9, she being a daughter of 
Dr. Stafford, of Danville, and they are the parents 
of eight children, seven of whom are living: Edith, 
Cecil S., John B., Roscoe, Garland, Eunice and 
Carl; Lillie J. died in infancy. Mr. Choate 
and his family ai"e members of the Methodist 
Ejjiscopal Church South, and he has been steward 
for many years. He affiliates with the Masonic 
fraternitj', belonging to Christian Lodge No. — , 
and the Chapter at Dardanelle. Intellectually, 
the Judge is one of the soundest men in the county, 
thoroughly posted in regard to its political and 
educational affairs. His public spirit has been 
demonstrated by the fact that he was one of the 
four to contribute funds for the erection of the 
Bellville Academy. He is recognized in the com- 
munity in which he lives as a genial and courte- 
ous gentleman, and is respected by all who know 
him. 

T. J. Choate, an eminent and esteemed citizen 
of Magazine Township, and the owner of the saw- 
mill plant two and a half miles north of Chickalah, 
was born in Tennessee, in 1843, and is the son of 
Gabriel and Jane (Brewer) Choate, also of Ten- 
nessee origin, and born about 1820 and 1816, re- 
spectively, and were married in Robinson County. 
The father, a farmer liy occupation, emigrated 
from his native State to Missouri, thence to Arkan 
sas in 1850. Locating in this county he bought 
and entered land, which he improved and he and 
wife, worthy members of the Christian Church, 
make their home in Magazine Township. Our 
subject enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1802, 
joining Company B of Infantry, Havvthorne's Reg- 
iment, and at the expiration of eleven months 
joined the Federal Army as a private, and partici- 
pated in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry and a number 
of skirmishes, and discharged May, 1865. The 
year following his return from army life wit- 
nessed his marriage (July 8) to Miss Salina Wil- 
son, an Arkansan by birth, born in 1844, and a 
daughter of William and Minerva (Cole) Wilson. 



The fruits of this union are nine children — six sons 
and three daughters — Rufns, Mattie, Gabriel, Mary, 
John, Charles, Seth, Rual and Blanche, who in 
1887 were called upon to mourn the loss of their 
mother. In connection with his milling business, 
which has a capacity for sawing nearly 10,000 feet 
per day, he owns 380 acres of land, with some fine 
timber on it, and cultivates 100, his principal 
crops being cotton and corn. He is a member of 
Chickalah Lodge No. 304 of the Masonic order. 

Jerry Cockrell, Jr., a rising planter of Darda- 
nelle Township, was born in South Carolina in 
1S55, and was the sixth in a family of eight chil- 
dren born to Jerry, Sr., and Eliza (Millmore) Cock- 
rell, who were natives of the Palmetto State, where 
his father was a very prominent man and planter, 
owning three plantations, 100 slaves, and was also 
the popular sheriff of Fairfield County. Both he 
and wife died in their native State, he in 1860 and 
she in 1867, members of the Presbyterian Church. 
The great-grandfather, a very extensive planter, 
was one of the early pioneer settlers of South Caro- 
lina. Our subject, who passed his youthful days 
on a farm and attending school at Louisville and 
other places, came to Arkansas in 1870 and located 
in Dardanelle, and in 1883 purchased a tract of 
land eighty-two and one-half acres in extent, situ- 
ated in the woods two miles west of town. He 
immediately began cutting the timber on this land, 
and now has a clearance of over sixty acres, twenty- 
two sown to grass, and the rest cultivated. In 
connection with his farm duties he gives consider- 
able attention to stock-raising, making a specialty 
of some of the finer grades of cattle, hogs and 
sheep, including many of the choice varieties of 
poultry. Our subject began his worldly career 
with comparatively nothing, but being possessed 
with a determined will and undaunted courage 
combined with hard labor, has accumulated his 
fine, valuable property. He is an earnest and 
worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and a Good Templar. 

Robert T. Compton. Among the native resi- 
dents of the State of Georgia was one John Comp- 
ton, who married Elizabeth Allen, also of Georgia, 
and who became the mother of six children, of 






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136 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



whom Robert T. (subject of our sketch) was the 
youngest, being born in Hall County, Ga. , Septem- 
ber 13, 1853, antl being left an or[)han at the age 
of nine, made his home with his brother-in law, 
L. J. Piigh, and came with him, in 1868, to Yell 
County, remaining with them till he was nineteen 
years old, when he hired to a farmer, and followed 
this occupation till 1874, when, on October 4, of 
this same year, he married Frances H. Buf ord, who 
was born September 13, 1855, and is the daughter 
of Rev. W. L. Buford, of Soiith Carolinian na- 
tivity, being born in that State September 5, 1808, 
and died in Yell County, September 16, 1884, her 
mother having died in 1864. To the marriage of 
Robert Compton and wife were born four boys and 
four girls: Nancy E. (born October 3, 1875, and 
died December 13, 1876), Lucy L. (born March 
16, 1877, died March 28, 1879), Mary Bell (born 
January 18, 1879), Robert S. (born April 15, 1881), 
William Q. (born July 8, 1883, died November 15, 
1889), Lucinda R. (born April 20, 1885, died Sep- 
tember 7, 1889), Reuben Anderson (born May 2, 
1887), and Buford (born September 10, 1889). At 
the time of this worthy couple's marriage they 
did not possess a dollar's worth of this world's 
goods, but by determination, industry and economy, 
they have accumulated a farm of 337^ acres in 
Fourche La Fave Valley, 175 of which he has 
thoroughly improved, and are now residents of 
Rover Townshifj. In politics he is an enthusiastic 
Democrat, and has served as justice of the peace 
for eight years on the local ticket. Himself and 
wife are consistent members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, and is a citizen deeply in- 
terested in the upbuikling of schools and churches, 
always liberally contributing to these and all things 
for the benefit of his community's good. 

William Cowger, a thrifty farmer of Yell 
County, emigrated with his parents, Ira and Eliza 
(Proctor) Cowger, father of Tennessee, and mother 
of Alabama, from Mi.ssissippi to Arkansas in 1855, 
locating in Yell County. They were united in 
marriage in Alabama, and were the parents of 
twelve children, he whose name heads this sketch 
being the second child, and was born in the latter 
State, March 8, 1839. The father, a farmer, was 



killed by the Federals in 1863, his widow siu'viving 
him till 1887. Both were members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, South. Our subject was a 
soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company D, 
Fifteenth Arkansas Regiment, and being wounded 
was discharged from service in 1863. In 1868 he 
was joined in marriage to Miss Nancy Jones, also 
of this county, and who was born August 22, 1842, 
and they were the parents of four children: Rob- 
ert P., Eliza E., and a son and daughter deceased. 
Himself and wife are worthy communicants of the 
BajDtist Church. He has eighty-four acres of good 
land, all well improved, and is a high-minded and 
public -spirited man, upholding the building of 
churches and schools, and donates liberally to the 
support gf the same. 

James A. Crow, a resident planter of Center- 
ville Township, whose birth place was iu Morgan 
County, Ala., was born August 11, 1847, a sou of 
James W. and Mary A. (Kyle) Crow, who were 
married in the State of Alabama, December 9, 
1841. The mother was born in 1819, and the 
father July 24, 1823, both in Alabama. The for- 
mer-was a farmer, carpenter and an active poli- 
tician, and while a soldier in the Confederate Army 
way taken prisoner, and carried to Rock Island, 111., 
where he died in 1864, his widow joining him in 
1875. They were consistent and worthy members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject 
emigrated from Mississippi to Yell County in 1869, 
and purchased 140 acres of fertile land, breaking, 
clearing, and jnittiug under thorough cultivation 
eighty acres, and in 1888 built the large two-story 
frame house in which he now lives, all of which he 
has accumulated by hard work and good manage- 
ment. His marriage to Miss Nancy McKiuzie, 
formerly of North Carolina, took place in this 
county, and she is the mother of eight childi-en, 
seven of whom are living: Mary R., James A., 
Melville L., David T., Laura O., Leslie H. and 
Lennia H. Mr. and Mrs. Crow are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. 
Crow's maternal grandmother, lived to be one 
hundred and ten years of age, and departed this 
life in Alabama. Our subject is highly esteemed 
by his friends for his many good qualities. 






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YELL COUNTY. 



137 



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John T. Crowuover, one of the successful till- 
ers of the soil, and owner of a l'2()-acre farm situ- 
ated in Fergeson Township, came to this township 
in 1880 and bought his laud, which at the time 
was mostly in its natural state, and which by hard 
work and perseverance he has cleared, cultivated 
and improved with a comfortable house, good barn 
and other outbuildings. He raises principally cot- 
ton, corn and small grains, which yield abundantly 
and give him good returns for his labor. He was 
born in South Carolina April 10, 1838, and came 
with his parents, Daniel D. (born in the Palmetto 
State March 2, 1818) and Polly (daughter of John 
George) Crownover, to this State in 1840. Here 
he received a very limited education, and at the 
breaking out of hostilities was among the first to 
respond to the call for men, and enlisted in Com- 
pany F, Third Arkansas Kegiment of Cavalry, 
where he fought till his discharge in June, 1865. 
He then returned to his home, and on June 3 of 
the following year was united in marriage to Miss 
Jane Schwilling, who bore him live children; War- 
ren Henry (born in 1867), Mary W. (born in 1871), 
Robert K. (born in 1877), Ralph H. (born in 1881), 
and Alice May (born in 1883). He is not identi- 
fied with any one church, but is a generous donator 
to all, and is a man well informed on the leading 
events of his day; is charitable, hospitable, and in 
his dealings with his fellow-creatures is governed 
by the teachings of the Golden Rule. 

S. L. Crownover, the senior member of the 
firm of S. L. Crownover & Co., was born in Rover 
in 18-1:7, his parents, Henry T. and Jane (Briggs) 
Crownover, of South Carolina, came to Yell County 
with their parents prior to 1840, where they were 
married abuirt 1845, and located on a farm near 
Danville, where the father was accidentally killed 
by a horse in 1S50, the mother still living and re- 
siding in Texas. The i)rincipal of this biography 
was raised on a fariii and educated in the common 
schools, and at the age of twenty began farming 
for himself, and in 1870 started merchandising at 
Bluffton, which he conducted for fourteen years; 
then was two years at Briggsville, where he was 
appointed postmaster, when he moved the business 
to Rover, and carries a stock of $6,000, which 



brings in a trade of $12,000 annually, drawing 
customers from all along the valley of the Fourche. 
His personal property consists of a storehouse, 
24x50, two dwellings in town, and 1,200 acres of 
tine river bottom land with 350 cultivated and im- 
proved, and it is all due to hard work and good 
management. He was married in 1872 to Miss 
Nannie T. Burt, daughter of W. T. Burt, of Sonth 
Carolina, and who has borne him eight children: 
Mary Ida, Sydney B. (deceased), John Wyatt 
(deceased), Ada Bell, Penelope May, Pearl Lado- 
nia, Effie and William Leander. Mrs. Crownover 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and socially he belongs to the A. F. & A. M., hav- 
ing joined Rover Lodge No. 467, and politically is 
a .stanch Democrat, doing all in his power for its 
success, and has represented his State in conven- 
tion twice. 

Dr. Hiram Dacus. In giving a sketch of the 
lives of the representative men of the various 
trades, occupations and professions, the history 
of Yell County would be incomplete were that of 
Dr. Dacus, of Chickalah, omitted. He was the 
eldest son of fourteen children born to James A. 
and Martha J. (Burton) Dacus, born, respectively, 
about 1820 and 1825 in the State of Tennessee, 
this also being the birthplace of our subject, who 
first saw the light of this world in Tipton County 
in 1840, and when three years old his father moved 
his family to Arkansas and entered a large tract of 
land, and began at once the preparations of what 
in the future proved to be a very comfortable 
home. Farming and its many duties occupied his 
attention till 1877, when he departed this life, a 
worthy communicant of the Church of Christ, and 
a member of the Masonic order. His widow still 
lives and makes her home on the old homestead. 
The Doctor attended the schools of his county 
and received a thorough education in the common 
branches, and having chosen medicine as his life- 
work, attended lectures at a medical institute in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, and about 1861 opened an ofiice 
in the old town of Lewisburg and Plummerville, 
Conway County. About this time the call for 
troops being sent over the land, he put aside his 
professional duties for service in defense of his 



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138 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



country's honor and enlisted in Company F, Third 
Ai'kansas Regiment of Cavah-y, remaining^ in the 
army till Jime 30, 1865, when he was discharged 
as lieutenant, having received this title as an award 
for his bravery and faithful services while a soldier. 
On his return home he resumed his practice, and 
in connection with his professional duties assisted 
in the reconstruction of the States as deputy clerk, 
and in 1868 was elected justice of the peace of 
Dardanelle Township. In 1879 ho again at- 
tended lectures, and in 1885 was chosen by his 
fellow-citizens to represent the State in the Legis- 
lature. In 1859 he led to the altar as his chosen 
bride, Miss Sarah E. Patey, of Tennessee, and a 
consistent member of the Church of Christ, and 
who died in 1881, having borne him the following 
family: Rosa B. (wife of A. D. Malone), Ida M. , 
James A., Martha (deceased), Mary M. (deceased), 
and Emma A. (deceased). He was again married, 
to Mary L. Durham, of Missouri, born in 1864, 
and daughter of Thomas J. and Josephine (Staf- 
ford) Durham, and who became the mother of two 
children by this marriage: William M. and Roy 
B. The Doctor and wife are united in fellowship 
with the Church of Christ, and socially he belongs 
to the Masonic fraternity, having been initiated in 
the Plummerville-Howard Lodge No. 253, and as 
a citizen and physician has the respect of his 
many friends and patrons. 

Dr. Robert H. Dacus was born in Tipton 
County, Tenn., October 7, 1843. In March, 1851, 
his father having died in 1848, his mother came to 
Arkansas, settling in Yell County, where she died 
in 1852. He "and his sister, Julia A. (now Mrs. 
Gillette), who was three years younger than him- 
self, went to live with their half-brother, James A. 
Dacus. Here he remained, working upon the 
farm and attending school when opportunity 
afforded until the breaking out of the war in 1861. 
He then entered the Confederate Army, enlisting in 
Company H, First Arkansas Mounted Rifles, with 
which he served until the close of the war. He 
was in the battles of Oak Hills, Mo., and Elk 
Horn, Ark. Soon after the latter battle he was 
transferred east of the Mississippi River. Here he 



served under Beauregard, 



Bragg, 



Johnston and 



Hood, and was engaged in the battles of Farming- 
ton, Tenn., Richmond, Ky. (where 5,000 Confed- 
erates under Gen. Kirby Smith, on an open field, 
fought and captured 7,000 of the enemy), was at 
the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., the siege of 
Jackson, Miss., and the battle of Chickamauga, 
Ga., where he was severely wounded. Afterward 
he was with Johnston on his campaign in Northern 
Georgia during the spring and summer of 1804, 
known as Johnston's retreat through Georgia. It 
would be too tedious to njention all the battles 
and skirmishes in which he participated during 
this three months' campaign. Suffice it to say 
that every time the roll was called he was there to 
answer to his name; and as evidence of the part 
Reynolds' brigade, to which he belonged, took 
part in the fighting done during this, one of the 
hardest as well as the most noted campaigns of the 
war, it is only necessary to state that when the 
campaign began at Dalton they reported 1,000 men 
for duty, and when they retreated from Atlanta, 
three months later, their official report showed 800 
killed and wounded on the campaign. During the 
following winter Dr. Dacus went with Hood on his 
campaign into Tennessee, carrying the colors of 
his regiment. Here he was engaged in the battles 
of Franklin, Nashville and Sugar Creek. In the 
spring of 1805 the little remnant of the Army of 
Tennessee was transferred to North Carolina. Here 
he was in the battle of Bentonville, the last regular 
engagement of the war. The company to which 
he belonged consisted of 118 men. Of that num- 
ber, 85 were killed and wounded; and 25 died 
from other causes. When, at the final surrender 
and close of the war, the last roll was called, there 
were but' seven to answer to their names, he being 
one of that number. On their way home the 
freight train upon which they were being trans- 
ported was wrecked, and ten of his comrades were 
killed and fifty others injured, he being one of the 
latter receiving injuries at that time, from which 
he will never fully recover. After coming home 
he spent about eight months in school. The bal- 
ance of the time he spent partly on the farm and 
partly as salesman in a general mercantile business 
until 1870, when he entered the medical depart- 



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YELL COUNTY. 



139 



meiit of tbe University of Louisiana (now Tulane 
University). In the fall of 1871 be went to the 
Cherokee Nation and began tbe practice of medi- 
cine. He remained here seven years, when, bis 
health failing, he returned to his old home in Yell 
County, where he has, up to tbe present time, 
been following bis profession, and has been favored 
with quite a lucrative practice. December 23, 
1869, he married Miss Hettie A. McCarty at Evans- 
ville, Washington County, where she had moved in 
1867 from Charleston, East Tenn., with her 
mother and family, her father having died in 
prison during the war. From this marriage they 
have bad bora to them four children: Lena M. 
(deceased), Minnie L. (now in her sixteenth year), 
Walter P. (deceased) and Hugh (now in bis fourth 
year). Dr. Dacus is a member of tbe Baptist 
Church, and serves as deacon and corresponding 
secretary. His wife and daughter are membeis of 
tbe Baptist Church also. Socially, he is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity and K. of H. Both 
tbe Doctor's and Mrs. Dacus' parents were among 
tbe pioneer settlers of Tennessee. His grand- 
father, though bxit a boy at the time, was with bis 
father in the army during tbe latter part of the 
war of the Revolution. 

Dr. Thomas Jefferson Daniel is one of the well- 
known physicians of tbe Petit Jean Valley, lo- 
cated at Waveland, Yell County, this State. He 
is a native Arkansan, born near Quitman, Van 
Bnren County, December 9, 1857, tbe son of Will- 
iam and Jane (Haney) Daniel, natives of North 
Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father 
followed farming in Van Buren County until 1858, 
when be moved to White County, and died there 
in the fall of 1865, at the age of sixty-six j'ears, 
tbe mother dying in 1859, at the age of lifty-five 
years. After bis father's death. Dr. Daniel re- 
mained with his brother, John W., in White 
County until be married. Remaining a student 
until be was seventeen years of age, he received a 
good common- school education, and in 1875 moved 
to Mount Vernon, where be followed carpentering 
and farming, still studying when he found time. 
In 1879 he commenced the study of medicine under 
Dr. J. F. Powers, of Mount Vernon, remaining 



with him one year, when he decided to change his 
course, and took up the study of the eclectic sys- 
tem instead of the regular course. He studied 
three year.s, passed tbe medical board in 1882, and 
then located in Faulkner County, practicing there 
nntil 1885, when he removed to Riley Township, 
this county, soon building up a large practice in 
this and adjoining townships. He was married on 
September 18, 1873, to Eliza C. Harrison, born 
December 29, 1856, daughter of Capt. Joe and 
Matilda Harrison, tbe father a native of Georgia, 
and tbe mother of Kentucky. To Dr. Daniel and 
his wife have been born three children: James Wash- 
ington, Alice Luellen and William Elmer Scudder. 
He is a Democrat in bis political views, and 
socially is a member of the Magazine Lodge No. 
69, I. O. O. F., and Magazine Lodge, A. F. & A. 
M. , also the Farmers' Alliance. He was formerly 
a member of tbe Missionary Baptist Church, but 
in 1878 joined tbe Second Adventist, and was or- 
dained a minister of same in 1879. He has held 
five noted religious discussions, first, with Elder P. 
Hammit, in Van Buren County; second with Elder 
Blaylock, a Yell County Missionary Baptist divine, 
on " Tbe state of the dead," lasting three days, and 
at tbe close of which be bad forty additions; third, 
with Dr. Calico, of Scott County, a Christian 
preacher; fourth, with Elder J. T. Garland, also 
a Christian preacher of YeJl County. In the last 
three years he has been instr umental i n receiving and 
baptizing 300 in the church of bis faith. He is at 
present pastor of the Waveland Church (100 mem- 
bers) valued at $500, is superintendent of same, and 
is a most respected citizen of this township. 

Mrs. Asie Dove. Among tbe business enter- 
prises of Dardanelle, is the popular millinery em- 
porium of Mrs. Dove, widow of the late John C. 
Dove, who was born in Mississippi, June 18, 1844, 
and whom she married in Smith County of tbe 
same State, December 17, 1863. He was a me- 
chanic by trade, and in 1872 emigrated to Ar- 
kansas, locating in this county. Being a victim 
of that insidiou^s disease, consumption, and think- 
ing to improve or regain his failing health, in com- 
pany with his family started for Florida, but grow- 
ing worse while e?i route, was obliged to stop in 



"Pv 



e k_ 



-« *t 



4. 



140 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Scott County, Miss. , where, after a long and severe 
illness, departed this life June 14, 1878. He served 
in tbe late war, enlisting at the youthful age of 
sixteen, in Company H, Sixteenth Mississippi In- 
fantry, and participated in nineteen regiilar battles, 
and a number of skirmishes; was captured at 
Petersburg and taken to Point Lookout, and held 
a prisoner for nine months, and discharged in 
1865. His i^arents were natives of the Old North 
State, and of Scotch descent. Mrs. Dove was 
born in Noxubee County, Miss., November 20, 
1847, a daughter of Richard and Mary Colbert. 
Her father, born in Caroline County, Miss., June 
6, 1811, and her mother in Montgomery County, 
Ala., May ">, 1821, were married in Noxubee 
County, January 10, 183U, and were the parents 
of nine children. Mr. Colbert was a farmer and 
an enthusiastic Democrat, politically, taking an 
active part in all political issiies of the day, and 
acted as deputy clerk for Noxubee County. He 
and his faithful consort are still living in Missis- 
sippi, at a ripe old age, and he enjoys a mem- 
bership in the Primitive Baptist Church, while she 
enjoys the privileges of the Methodist Episcopal. 
Church. Mrs. Dove's maternal grandfather was 
an Englishman by the name of Johnston, possessed 
of great wealth and vast estates, and fought in the 
llevolntioiiary War. Her maternal grandmother 
was of French extraction. To the marriage of Mr. 
and Mrs. Dove were born four children, whom 
their widowed mother has given every advantage 
for a thorough education and personal improve- 
ment: John C, Jr. (born May 14, 1870, and a 
student in the Fayetteville Industrial University), 
Sadie A. (born October 12, 1S7'"5, a graduate from, 
and teacher in, the Whitworth College, Brookhara, 
Miss. She is a young lady of rare intellectual, and 
musical attaiiunents, and possessing the attributes 
of an affectionate manner and an amiable disposi- 
tion, and an altogether lovely character, is an uni- 
versal favoiite among her many friends), Howard B. 
(born May 4, 1870), and Robert E. (horn July 13, 
1878). After the death of her husband. Mrs. Dove 
returned to Dardanelle, and opened her present 
establishment, consisting of a stock of the most 
fashionable millinery, and is doing a thriving and 



lucrative trade. She is a woman full of energy 
and determination, with pleasing manners, and 
as a business woman well worthy the patronage 
received from her many customers, and as a mother 
and friend, deserves the high encomiums conferred 
upon her by her well-wishers. She with her de- 
ceased husband worshiped as members of the 
Christian Church, and her daughter, Sadie, is a 
professor in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

Hope T. Driskell, one of the early settlers of 
Bluffton Township, and one of its most successful 
farmers, came to this county and settled on the 
farm where he now lives in 1860. He came from 
Alabama, in which State he was reared and edu- 
cated. He was reared on a farm, and at the age of 
twenty-one he began business for himself as an 
agriculturist, renting land, and succeeding as well 
as any in his vicinity. When he first came to this 
county he bought eighty acres of land, and to this 
he has added to from time to time, until he now 
has 269 acres, 100 acres of which are under cultiva- 
tion. He has erected a good house, 31x31 feet, 
has substantial barns and other outbuildings, and, 
take him all in all, he is one of the most progressive 
and enterprising farmers in the county. He was 
born May 22, 1836, in Gwinnett County, Ga., re- 
ceived a limited education, and was married Sep- 
tember 13, 1858, to Miss Sarah Hemphreys, who 
died in January, 1889. They had five children — 
two sons and three daughters — who are named as 
follows: Noah C. (married Miss Margaret Brum- 
mett), Victoria (deceased), Josephine, Martha A. 
(married Silas Wilkinson), and S. H. (married Miss 
Emily Robinson). The sons and daughters are 
settled near our subject, and are prosperous and 
successful. Mr. Driskell is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church, and has been' clerk of the same for 
many years. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, Concordia Lodge No. 310, and of this he 
is treasurer. He is a Democrat, but has never 
taken an active part in political strife. Commenc- 
ing life as a poor boy, and a fcirmer's boy at that, 
with scarcely any advantages for an education, 
Mr. Driskell is now in possession of a comfortable 
competence. 

Henry W. Duncan, a citizen and mill-owner, of 






<? w. 



YELL COUNTY. 



141 



Dutch Creek Valley, was bom in Cherokee County, 
Ga. , July 30, 1852, and is the son of Elijah and 
Amanda (Church) Duncan, also of Georgia, and 
who had a family of eleven children. Our subject 
was raised on a farm, and received but a slight 
education, and on becoming of age, started for the 
greatest State in the Union (at that day), Arkan- 
sas, and located in this county, and pre-empted IGO 
acres of land on Dutch Creek, in what is now known 
as Danville. This he improved until he had about 
fifty acres under a fine state of cultivation, and has 
a comfortable dwelling house and barn. He has 
increased his original 160 to 209 acres of as good 
land as will be found in the valley, and his unim- 
proved land contains some of the finest wagon and 
stave timber in the State, and in 1S85 Imilt a saw- 
mil] and cotton-gin, which he operated in connec- 
tion with his farm, in ISO!), erecting the saw-mill 
and cotton-gin situated aliout a mile and a half 
from his first mill site, and he now has a milling 
plant estimated at something over 1200, and is a 
good source of revenue, his gins turning out nearly 
tJ'.IO bales of cotton annually. He was married 
October 18, 1874, to Etta, daughter of Isaac 
Hutchinson, formerly of Alabama, but now a resi- 
dent of Scott County. To them have been born 
five children: William Elijah, Charles H., Emer- 
ine, Robert W. and Francis M., all born on the 
farm. Our subject votes with the Democratic 
party politically, and as a man and citizen pos- 
sesses a character above reproach, and is noted for 
the hospitable manner in which he entertains his 
guests. 

Dr. Andrew J. Dyer. In the compilation of 
the history of Yell County and its representative 
men, particularly among the medical profession, 
it has been found that the name of Dr. A. J. Dyer 
ranks as that of one of the best known physicians 
of Dardauelle, thoroughly conversant with, and well 
posted in, medicinal lore. Dr. Dyer was born in 
Smith County, Tenn., January 13, 1831, being the 
second child in a family of five born to James S. 
and Martha (Hallum) Dyer. The paternal grand 
father, Joel Dyer, originally of Virginia, was 
brought with his parents to Tennessee when but a 
mere youth, and was what the world terms a self- 



made man. Being very popular with his fellow- 
citizens, he was twice elected to the Senate, pre- 
siding over that august body as a special officer or 
chairman one term. He was ever active as a citi- 
zen and died at a ripe old age. The maternal an- 
cestors, the Hallums, were formerly of North Car- 
olina, it is believed, but for many years have been 
numbered among Smith County's (Tenn.), most 
prominent citizens. Dr. Dj er' s sister Mattie, mar- 
ried John Hallum, the historian of Arkansas, and 
was of valuable assistance to him in the compila- 
tion of that work. Dr. James S. Dyer, our subject' s 
father, was born in Smith County, Tenn., where 
he studied medicine, and practiced in that and 
Sumner County for fifty years. Being a recognized 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he 
was prominently identified with its working inter- 
ests as class leader and Sunday-school superintend- 
ent for many years, and often officiated as lay - 
delegate to the annual conferences of the church. 
Both he and his wife are deceased, his wife dying 
November 0, 1850, and he April 20, 1875. The 
subject of this sketch was reared and educated in 
Tennessee, being an attendant at the Academy of 
Hartsville, and other schools of Sumner County 
and Wilson County. Being seized with the gold 
fever in 1850, he journeyed to California to seek 
his fortune in the gold mines of that State, remain- 
ing here but a year, at the expiration of which he 
returned to Tennessee matriculated and was one of 
the first in the medical department of the Nashville 
University. Graduating in 1853, heat once began 
the practice of medicine, locating at Hartsville, and 
in 1854 came to Arkansas, settling at Dardanelle, 
where on December 5, of this same year, he mar- 
ried Miss Margaret E. Toomer, daughter of Col. 
Joshua Toomer, known as one of the earliest and 
most extensive planters of this section. Not hav- 
ing any children of their own, this worthy couple 
have reared several, and now have three orphans 
under their supervision, to whom they are giving 
every advantage which will make them useful and 
creditable citizens in any community to which kind 
fortune will lead them. Dr. Dyer remained in Ar- 
kansas till 1850, when he again went to Tennessee, 
sojourning there until the outbreak of the war, when 



I 



A 



142 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



'-^ 



he once more came to Dardanelle, and in response 
to his country's call took his place inCapt. Daniel's 
company, First Arkansas Rifles, under command 
of Col. Churchill. Soon after his enlistment, he 
was appointed assistant surgeon, serving in this 
capacity till 1864, when ill health compelled him 
to leave the army, and return home. Settling on 
a farm eight miles from Dardanelle, which consist- 
ed of some 600 acres, 200 under cultivation, he 
resumed his practice, which extended over the 
country about twenty miles. In 1875 he retired 
from active practice, and in 1881 he purchased the 
beautiful home in town, where he now resides. 
Buying property on the bench of Mount Nebo, he 
erected a house on it, in which he takes his sum- 
mer's recreation. The Doctor fellowships with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, being one of 
its most earnest workers, and for the past sixteen 
years has been chosen as a lay delegate to repre- 
sent its interests in the annual conference. At the 
last annual conference he was elected one of the al- 
ternates to the general conference. Politically he 
is a Democrat. 

Zachariah G. Dyer. Many years ago Dr. James 
Dyer, a graduate in medicine from an institute in 
Nashville, Tenn. , and under directorship of Prof. 
Bowlings, established himself in Sumner County, 
and opened an office for the practice of medicine, 
which he successfully conducted for forty-five 
years, winning the confidence of his patients and 
the esteem of his fellow-men, and here was born to 
himself and wife, Martha (Hallum) Dyer, their son, 
Zachariah, the subject of this sketch, his birth oc- 
curring January 17, 1835. He was placed in the 
schools of his native home and given a good com- 
mon-school education, and on arriving at maturity 
busied himself with merchandising and learning 
the tanner's trade, till the threatening cloud of 
war burst forth in all its fury, when he cast aside 
all business to become a soldier in the Confederate 
Army, enlisting in the Bennett Cavalry, Company 
F, of the Seventh Battalion, under command of 
Capt. Puryear, and participated in the battles of 
Shiloh, Corinth Nos. 1 and 2, luka, Okalona, and 
with Gen. Price on his raid through Missouri, and 
a number of skirmishes, and was taken prisoner in 



North Alabama. AVhile under command of Col. C. 
R. Barton, who had charge of the Second Tennes- 
see Regiment, he was again captured at Tuscumbia, 
by the Fifth Ohio boys, remaining with this com- 
pany till the death of the captain, when be was 
paroled. Returning home he reopened his tan- 
yard, which he operated for ten months, subse- 
quently joining the army again and doing duty in 
Desha County till peace once more reigned over 
the land, when he accepted a position with Col. 
Joe Branch. Serving him for ten months he went 
back to Tennessee and farmed, making two crops, 
and learning of the healthful climate and product- 
ive soil and the many other advantages to be gained 
on becoming a resident of Arkansas, emigrated to 
Dardanelle Township, December 27, 1867, where 
he purchased 120 acres of tine land, which he im- 
proved and cultivated, and commodious barns and 
buildings for stock, a good, comfortable dwelling 
and a prolific orchard, planted to some of the finest 
and best known varieties of plums, peaches, etc., 
and several kinds of the smaller fruits, are positive 
proofs of his determination to make his home one 
of the finest in the State. He was married Decem- 
ber 27, 1857, to Miss Ellen P. Harrison, who was 
born in Wilson County, Tenn., December 20, 1835, 
and daushter of E. R. Harrison, and to them were 
born Martha R. (wife of M. A. Banks), E. H., 
Joel, Mary (wife of Thomas Alley), Jackson W., 
Gibbs W. and Grace. After a lingering illness of 
many years Mrs. Dyer passed to her final home 
October 1, 1888, and was laid to rest in New Hope 
Cemetery, her resting place being marked by 
an elegant monument as a lasting tribute to the 
memory of one who though gone, is still loved and 
cherished by a mourning husband and family. He 
is a man honored and respected in religious, social 
and political circles, being connected with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is stew- 
ard, class-leader and trustee of the same; and as 
an A. F. & A. M. affiliates with Ceuterville Lodge 
No. 402, and was its efiicient secretary for a num- 
ber of years; is a stanch Democrat, always voting 
with that party; is also a trusted member of the 
building committee, and a liberal supporter of all 
religioris, charitable and educational enterprises. 



^1 



f 



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^ 



YELL COUNTY. 



143 



John W. Eidson, one of the pioneers and pros- 
perous cotton-growers of Yell County, and a citizen 
of Centerville Township, was born in Alabama on 
November 15, 1843, and son of Edward and Mary 
(Mame) Eidson, natives of the Palmetto State. 
In 1851 his father, thinking to better his fortunes, 
moved his family to Texas, settling on a farm 
which proved to be a profitable investment, and 
operated it till his death in 1805. The principal 
of this biography spent his youth in his native and 
adopted States, where he obtained but a limited 
education, and on reaching manhood engaged in 
farming till April, 1861, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, First Texas Infantry, Commandants Col. 
Wakefield and Capt. Bobo, doing duty in some 
of the departments under Gen. Hood, and partici- 
pated in many of the principal engagements, 
namely Seven Pines, West Point, the seven days' 
fight around Richmond and others, being in the 
noted battles of Bull Bun and Gettysburg, and 
here was discharged from service. In 1862 he I'e- 
enlisted in the cavalry service in the Department 
of Mississippi, whose movements were controlled 
by Col. Hodges and Gens. West and Adams, and 
did duty as a scout till the surrender in July, 1865. 
Remaining in Mississippi till the next year, he 
went to Northeast Texas, thence came to this State 
and purchased eighty acres of land, to which he 
has since added forty acres more, 100 of it being 
line, productive land, yielding good crops of cotton, 
corn, wheat and oats, and he has an orchard of 
peaches, apples and plums, and altogether a very 
valuable farm and comfortable home. He was 
married in 1868 to Luri lla Huckaby, born in 1848 
in Mississippi, and they have been the parents of 
eleven children, eight of whom are living: Suvanal 
(wife of Frank Sloan), Phoebe E., John A., Will- 
iam A. , Walter E. , Roy, Ira and Ora. In religion 
he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church, and politically he is a Democrat, and in 
1884 served his party as justice of the peace, and 
has been elected to the second term of office. So 
cially he is connected with the Grange and Wheel, 
and gives liberally to the support of all charitable, 
educational and religious institutions. 

Stephen Nathaniel Evans. Nathaniel Evans, 



Sr. , grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came 
to North Alabama when the Tennessee River was 
the dividing line between the whites and the In- 
dians, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and 
fought with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, 
and was known as one of the substantial planters 
of his day. In 1856 he immigrated to Mississippi, 
and busied himself with planting in De Soto Coun- 
ty, remaining there until his death, which occurred 
in 1873, when nearly one hundred years old. 
Stephen M. Richards, maternal grandfather of S. 
N. Evans, was born in Southern Alabama, his par- 
ents coming to this territory when it was a vast 
wilderness, and have witnessed it rise and grow to 
its present magnitude. Stephen M. Richards on 
gaining his majority went to North Alabama, where 
he, in company with his son-in-law, established a 
mercantile business, which netted them a handsome 
income. He was highly esteemed and honored 
as a citizen, and noted for his integrity and piety, 
being a faithful member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church until his death. In 1860 he came to 
Arkansas settling in St. Francis County, where he 
died in 1871, when nearly eighty years old. 
Stephen Nathaniel Evans, named in honor of his 
illustrious ancestors (a short sketch of whom ap- 
pears above), was born in Morgan County, Ala. , in 
1848, the eldest child of his parents, Nathaniel 
Evans and Sarah (Richards, also of Alal)ama). 
The senior Evans was a farmer by occupation, and 
came to Arkansas in 1862, locating in St. Francis 
County, where he died in 1803, a member of the 
Old School Presbyterian Church. The care of his 
widowed mother and an infant sister falling on our 
subject, then a youth of but fourteen, he took up 
farming which he carried on till 1870, when he re- 
moved the family to Russellville to engage in the 
livery business, which he conducted for ten years, 
having a well-equipped stable and doing a good 
trade. Closing out the livery establishment he 
again commenced farming in 1886, this time set- 
tling in the Arkansas Valley opposite the town of 
Dardanelle, and not being able to obtain good 
reliable help on which the success of his farm de- 
pended, he decided to re-enter the livery business 
and in 1888 ran the first hack to Mount Nebo, a 






^- 



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144 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



watering place sevea miles west of Dardanelle, 
and the next year found him a partner in the 
establishment of Mr. Shinn and Col. Hughes. 
They biiilt a large barn for the purpose of carry 
ing on a general livery and hack business, handling 
during the year some 400,000 pounds of freight 
for the Summit Park Hotel. On December 1, 
1889, the firm bought out the Transfer Company, 
now known as the Dardanelle Transfer Company, of 
which our subject is recognized as one of its most 
efficient members. This company has under its 
management one of the largest and best equipped 
livery stables in all Arkansas, owning some seven- 
ty head of horses and mules and a number of 
buggies and hacks, buses and transfer wagons, also 
doing general freighting and expressing, carrying 
mail, passengers, running hacks to and from the 
mountain, and handle on an average of 700,000 
pounds of freight per month, transporting some 
12,000 to 15,000 bales of cotton to the trains. He 
has ever been an active supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party, and in local politics served as mayor 
of Russellville from 1878 to 1881, and was justice 
of the peace for four years; socially is in affiliation 
with the K. of H. He is counted among his fel 
lowmen as a man of good practical sense and busi- 
ness ability. He was married in June, 1870, to Miss 
Susie B. Gray, of Germantown, Tenn., and the 
daughter of Dr. J. M. (^ray, a physician of thirty 
years' standing in Tennessee, but now residing in 
Texas. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Evans 
have been born the following interesting family: 
Bessie, Clai'H, Sallie, Lewis, Nathaniel, Charles 
and Stephen. Himself, wife and three daughters 
are worthy members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. 

Capt. Joseph Evins was born in Kentucky in 
1834, the seventh in a family of twelve children 
born to Lewis and Bethena (Smith) Evins. The 
parents were of East Tennessee origin. The 
father, a planter by occupation, came to Arkansas 
in 1800, locating at Dardanelle, where he made his 
home with Capt. Evins for several years, then go- 
ing to the home of his son, William S. , in Missouri, 
where he died in 1882, at eighty-two years of age, 
his wife having preceded him to their final home 



in 1853. He was sheriff of one of the counties in 
Kentucky, which office he filled for many years. 
Capt. Evins, who was known far and wide as a 
prominent citizen, a government contractor, capi- 
talist, speculator, and the original and at present 
principal owner of the romantic and [)Oi)ular sum- 
mer resort known as Mount Nel)o, was reared on a 
farm, attending school but a short time, when, at 
the age of sixteen, he sought and found a position 
as clerk, and at the expiration of seven years re- 
signed to accept the clerkship on a steamboat on 
the Cumberland River, tilling this position three 
years, when he was placed in charge of a vessel, 
and up to 1860 served as captain on steamers ply- 
ing on the Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland 
and Tennessee Rivers, and during the late war was 
appointed by the Confederate Government to take 
charge of transportation on the Arkansas River. 
Subsequently opening a stock of merchandise in 
Dardanelle, he was engaged in trade fi'om 1806 to 
1873, then took charge of a steamer, and at the 
expiration of three years was again under Govern- 
ment employ, contracting and assisting in the work 
of the Mississippi River improvement in the Lake 
Provident reach and other points. The Captain is 
the owner of some fine real estate in and about 
Dardanelle, having a handsome residence in town 
and a most productive farm near the place. In 
1878 the Captain was the sole owner of the entire 
site of Mount Nebo, 720 acres in extent. He 
erected a house, cleared and planted forty acres 
in an orchard of over 2,000 apple, peach and plum 
trees, which are highl}^ prolific; and he has also 
many varieties of the choicest small frnits, which 
yield an abundance in their season. The scene 
which greets the eye from the summit of this love- 
ly mountain is grand and picturesque. Below, the 
outstretching valley, the plains and undulating 
hills, clothed in verdure, and where 

Before me ro.se an aveinie 

Of tall and .sombroiis pines; 
Abroad their fan-like branches grew. 
And, where the sunshine darted through. 
Spread a vapor soft and blue. 

In long and sloping lines. 

Much of this property has been disposed of to 



^ 



n»|r 



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A^ 



YELL COUNTY. 



145 



people who have improved it with Hue summer 
residences and well laid-out drives. Here also is 
the summer Normal School, and a large and com- 
modious hotel always filled to overflowing. In 
1855 Miss Beulah Foley, a native of Kentucky, 
became the Captain's wife, who died eleven months 
after, leaving one child, Davidella Virginia (wife 
of S. H. Howell, of Dardanelle). He was again 
married, in 1857, to Miss Mary E. Hart, also of 
Kentucky. She has borne him ten children: 
Charles i\, Ida A., Robert L. (deceased in 1884), 
Eugene L., Cora B., Samuel Hart, Joseph Arthur, 
Henry David, Mary B. and William Barnard. In 
religion the family worship with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, of which they are con- 
sistent members. The Captain is in affiliation with 
the Odd Fellows socially, and at one time was Dar- 
danelle' s most honored mayor. 

Rev. Nathan E. Fair, local minister of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, was born in 
Sullivan County, Tenn., December 16, 184U, and 
came with his parents, Ellis and Nancy H. (Eas- 
ley) Fair, of South Carolina and Tennessee, re- 
spectively, to Benton County, Ark., in 1859. Owing 
to the Civil War, wjiich began in 1861 and con- 
tinued four years, causing the death of his father 
and the breaking up of his mother, his educational 
advantages were very limited. His father was a 
farmer by occupation, which he followed up to 
1864, when he was killed by the Pin Indians, a 
branch of the Cherokees, who raided the country, 
robbing houses and killing all the old men and 
boys, they could find at home. Being concealed 
in a thicket of small bushes, Mr. Fair counted the 
gunshots, eight in all, that brought his father to 
a most cruel death. He barely escaped discovery 
as one Indian passed within twenty steps of him. 
This was the 7th day of May, and in the fall, 
when he could remain at home no longer, he joined 
his four brothers in the Confederate Army, where 
he remained till the close of the war, then went 
to Texas, and after an absence of sixteen months 
returned to his mother's in Benton County, Ark. 
In the spring of 1868 he was licensed to preach, 
and in the fall of the same year was admitted on 
trial by the Arkansas annual conference at Jack- 

10 



sonport, and, although not yet eighteen years of 
age, he was at once placed in charge of the Bluff- 
ton Mission in Yell County. His labors were so 
blessed that the mission was raised to a circuit, 
and he was returned the next year. During these 
two years he applied himself very closely to his 
school books, as well as to the study of divinity, 
stopping frequently under the shade of a tree to 
get up his lessons. The marriage ceremony of our 
subject and Amada Hamilton, who was born in 
Red River County, Tex., August 21, 1854, took 
place December 15, 1870, and to them have been 
born eight children: Laura A., John E. (deceased), 
Mary L., Minnie M., Oracle V., Carrie H., Katie 
E. (deceased), and the baby, Edwin L. In 1885 
he moved to Bellville to send his children to 
school, and taught for some time with Prof. J. O. 
Smyth, M. A., in the Bellville Academy. In 
connection with his ministerial duties and school 
teaching he has bought and improved a small 
farm adjacent to the town of Bellville, where 
he and his family are now living very contentedly. 
While he is a Prohibitionist by faith and practice, 
he is also a Democrat, and for some years has op- 
posed, both on the rostrum and through the news- 
papers, the organization of a Prohibition political 
party, claiming that the Democratic party can, 
and will do more for the temperance cause in 
this State than a third party could do. He is 
also an A. F. & A. M., belonging to Christian 
Lodge No. 394. He is a man of sterling integrity, 
and fully qualitied to discharge the duties which 
devolve upon him as a minister of the gospel. 
While he is fearless in proclaiming what he be 
lieves to be right, yet he is always respectful in 
dealing with the opinions of others, believing that 
men may differ widely and still both be honest. 
W. H. Fergeson, a successful planter and the 
owner of the cotton gin, saw and shingle mill 
and flour-mill of Bellville, all being thoroughly 
equipped to carry on a good business, was born in 
Virginia in 1830 to Joseph R. and Jane (Ayres) 
Fergeson, also native Virginians. His paternal 
ancestors (were of Scotch descent and his maternal 
of Irish lineage) early came to America. His 
father, a farmer and merchant of Virginia, emi- 



[ 



^ 4^- — ^ 






146 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



grated to Kentucky in 1848, residing bere till 1860, 
whence he moved his family to Arkansas, locating 
in Yell County, remaining till bis death in 1841, 
bis wife having died the year previous. Our sub- 
ject having early been reared as a farmer, on arriv- 
ing to manhood still followed this occupation, buy- 
ing a farm in Riley Township, which be operated 
till his first wife's death in 1804 (Miss Euphema 
Watkins, of Kentucky), to whom be was married 
in 1852, and who bore him seven children, but one 
living, Mollie, wife of James Thompson, a resi- 
dent of this county. Her son, Benjamin Lee, 
became a Methodist preacher of some prominence 
and popularity, and died in 1880 while stationed 
at Ozark. In 1865 he moved to Danville, and this 
same year was elected sheriff, serving four years, 
when he resigned. This year also witnessed his 
second marriage to Miss Sarah E. Stout, a daugh- 
ter of old pioneer settlers of Pope County, and are 
the parents of the following children : William H. 
(deceased), Addie (wife of N. J. Buckman), James 
C. and Sallie (twins and deceased), Charley, Fan- 
nie Pearl and Lillie Irene. In religion the family 
are members of the Baptist and Methodist Epis- 
copal Churches. In 1872 our subject erected the 
plant known as Fergeson's Mills, about five miles 
west of Danville, and the year following estab- 
lished the tinst mercantile business in the place and 
built a residence to which he moved bis family, 
and was appointed po.stmaster of the Mills, which 
has had a rapid and astonishing growth, and is 
now known as Bellville. In connection with his 
milling interests he owns some 2,500 acres of val- 
uable land in different portions of Yell County, 
1,200 near Bellville, with 1,000 in a single tract, 
300 of which are highly cultivated, and the re- 
mainder fine timber land. He with many others 
was instrumental in securing the tine academy of 
this place, which makes Bellville the thriving town 
it is. Socially, he fellowships with the Masonic 
fraternity, and as a citizen is deserving of the 
good wishes and worthy of any attention he may 
receive at the hands of his townspeople. 

O. S. Fergeson, one of the most successful and 
prosperous dealers in general merchandise, was 
born in Virginia in 1849, and was the youngest in 



his jiarents' family. Joseph and Jane (Ayres) 
Fergeson [see sketch of W. H. Fergeson] soon 
after their son's (O. S.) birth moved to Kentucky, 
where he was given a very fair start in education, 
and when twelve years old they came to Arkansas, 
and here he resumed his studies, taking a' term at 
Russellville and Danville, and at the age of twenty 
began teaching, following this and farming for 
nearly ten years. Buying a tract of land of 160 
acres five miles west of Bellville, he cleared sixty 
acres and otherwise improved it and made a very 
comfortable home, where he lived till called upon 
to mourn his wife's death, on December 30, 1888, 
he having married, in 1879, Miss Mollie Smith, a 
daughter of James Smith, formerly of Tennessee, 
but now of Yell County. To Mr. and Mrs. Fer- 
geson were born a family of three children: Edgar 
Lee, Johnnie May and Olive James. On the first 
of the present year (181)0) he opened his present 
flourishing business in Bellville, carrying a full 
line of goods pertaining to general merchandise, 
such as groceries, crockery, dry goods and general 
plantation supplies, etc. In connection with his 
farm on the otitskirts of Bellville he owns 240 acres 
in one tract, 160 in another, having 240 cultivated, 
and a residence and forty acres in Bellville. As a 
citizen ho fully realizes the benefits to be derived 
from the free-school .system, and is an active sup- 
porter of this and all other interests of his town. 

Benjamin L. Ford, prominently identified with 
the farming interests of Dardanelle Township, was 
born in Pope County, in 1850, the eighth child 
in a family of twelve born to Malachi and Sarah 
Frances (Dawson) Ford, originally of Tennessee, 
but who came to Arkansas in 1840, settling in 
Yell County, subsequently moving to Pope County, 
coming back to Arkansas, settling on a clearance of 
150 acres, where they remained till their deaths, 
the mother dying in 1879, and the father in 1881, 
being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
he an officer in the church, and politically voting 
the Republican ticket. The principal of this sketch 
was reared in his adopted county, having acquired 
but three months' schooling, and what knowledge 
he now possesses has been gained by his own ef- 
forts. In 1877 he settled on 124 acres of land 



"^ 



^1 



,u 



YELL COUNTY. 



147 



four and one-half miles northwest of Dardanelle, 
and soon put thirty acres under a good state of 
cultivation, and in 1887 built for himself a neat 
cottage; he raises such stock as cattle, horses and 
hogs, also owns 200 acres on the La Fave, and 
twenty-seven in Delaware Township. When nine- 
teen years old he wedded Amanda Ellen Brewer, 
born in Yell County, and a daughter of John and 
Nancy Brewer, formerly of Tennessee, but after- 
ward residents of Yell County, where they lived 
until their deaths. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Ford were born nine children — three sons and six 
daughters — three of whom are living: Bebeeca 
Jane, Nancy (who died at the age of fifteen), Hor- 
ace, Harvey (died in infancy), Eliza (died in infancy), 
Alice, Ethel, Amy and Genie. The entire family are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the 
father filling the office of steward. Socially he 
belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 

Z. P. Ford, a prosperous planter of Lamar 
Township, was born in Lincoln County, N. C. , 
June 22, 1831, and received a limited education in 
the common schools, and came to Yell County in 
the fall of 1857, having been married in North 
Carolina, and to whom a family of nine children 
has been born: Catharine J., Eli Martin, Jonas 
Laban, Joseph E., Mary Ann, Susan E. , Sarah 
Lavina and Barbara M. (twins), and William Lee. 
Catharine, Eli, Susan and Lavina are deceased. 
Our subject has a very fine tract of land of 320 
acres, of which he farms and cultivates 100. Him- 
self and wife are most exemplary members of the 
Methodi.st Episcopal Church South, and being a 
public spirited man, aids and contributes to schools 
churches and all worthy enterprises of his town- 
ship. The Democratic party claim him as one of 
its stanchest voters, politically. His parents, Isom 
and Erixna (Beard) Ford, lived in North Carolina 
for a number of years, and the father was known 
as a quiet and unostentatious farmer and mechanic, 
taking no part in the war, and died soon after its 
close. The maternal grandfather was also of North 
Carolina, and married a young lady by the name 
of Martin. * 

C. C. Frisbee, an energetic and progressive 
farmer of Centerville, first saw the light of day in 



Buncombe County, N. C, in 1843, and is a son of 
Josiah and Mary (Herron) Frisbee, who were born 
and married in North Carolina, and were the par- 
ents of seven children, three of whom are now liv- 
ing. The father, a carpenter and farmer by occu- 
pation, and the efficient sheriff of Bureau County 
for many pears, emigrated from his native State to 
Georgia in 1850, thence to Arkansas in 1807, where 
he resided till his death, in 1882, his wife having 
passed to her final home in 1859, and they dying 
in full membership of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. At the outbreak of the late war our sub- 
ject joined Company B, of the Sixty-fifth Georgia 
Regiment, participating in all the principal en- 
gagements, and while in service was wounded in 
his right hand by a gunshot, and in 1865 he re- 
ceived his discharge, and in 1867, going to Hamil- 
ton County, Tenn., met and married Miss Emily 
Carson, of Georgia, and who died in 1873, having 
been the mother of three children: Mary J., 
Martha E. and one who died in infancy. He was 
again united in marriage, to Miss Sarah J. Carson, 
a sister of his deceased wife, and himself and wife 
are trusted members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. He operates a farm of 660 acres, 240 
acres being planted principally in corn and cotton, 
and a few acres sown to wheat and oats. His farm 
is well supplied with good outbuildings and a large 
and commodious barn for the convenience of his 
stock. He is a man, who, having the welfare of 
his county at heart, donates liberally to all public 
enterprises which so materially add to its growth. 
Mrs. Frisbee's parents were natives of South Caro- 
lina and North Carolina, respectively, but were 
married in Georgia, where she was born in 1847, 
one of ten children, and came with her parents to 
Arkansas in 1867, locating in Yell County, where 
her father died in 1889, her mother dying in 1884. 
They were members of the Baptist and Methodist 
Episcopal Churches, respectively. 

Judge Joseph Gault, one of the pioneer citi- 
zens of Yell County, as well as one of the leading 
merchants of Dardanelle, was born in South Car- 
olina to William and Winnie (Cooper) Gault, of 
that State, in 1812, and when old enough was 
placed in the common schools and received what 



f' 



^ 



148 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



schooling these afforded, and when twenty years 
old started out in the work! for himself. In 1834: 
he married his first wife, Miss Bii"d, of South Car- 
olina, and three weeks after the ceremony was 
performed embarked overland for Arkansas, being 
nine weeks on the way. Locating in Johnson 
County he broke ground for a farm, which he 
worked for three years, then came to Yell County 
and entered and made the necessary improvements 
on 160 acres of land, and soon established a gen- 
eral merchandise store on his plantation. In 1841 
he was called upon to part with his wife, who had 
borne him a family of four children, and soon 
after he was united in marriage the second time to 
Miss Mary Briggs, daughter of James Briggs, who 
passed to her final home in 1870. In 1852 he was 
elected sheriff and tilled this ofiice till the bursting 
of the war cloud, when he joined the Confederate 
Army, serving but a short time, when he returned 
home and resumed his mercantile duties. In De- 
cember, 1870, Mrs. Boles (daughter of ThomRS 
May, an old settler of Johnson County as far back 
as LS34, and a well known stock owner, planter 
and merchant, and member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church) liecame his third wife. In 
1878 he established the business known as the firm 
of J. L. Gault & Co. His individual property is 
a line tract of bottom land, and several hundred 
acres of upland and a lovely home on Mount Nebo, 
and a fine residence in Dardanelle, where he lives 
with his wife and several children. In 18S2 he 
was elected county and probate judge, and served 
with great credit to himself and the county. The 
Judge has been the father of many children, eight 
of whom live in Yell County, the sons being mer- 
chants and farmers. His descendants and those 
of the present Mrs. Gault (she having had a large 
family by a former marriage) number nearly 100, 
and are all worthy and respected citizens in their 
respected communities, and their children give 
promise of inheriting the intellect and capabilities 
of their honored ancestors. The family are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcojial Church South, and 
Mr. Gault enjoys the social pleasures found within 
the mysteries of the Masonic fraternity. The 
Judge, full of years and honors, is enjoying the 



fruits of a long life of active labor and the atten- 
tions of his many loving and appreciative friends. 

J. J. Geiger, a planter living in Herring Town- 
ship, was born in Alabama, December 22, 1827. 
His parents, Abraham and Anna W. (Pence) Gei- 
ger, were born in the Palmetto State in 1801 and 
1812, and were married in 1825, and were the 
parents of nine children. In 1858 the family came 
to Arkansas and settled in Yell County, where the 
father carried on his farm till his death in 1863, 
his widosv surviving him till 1878. Both were 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. Our subject owns and operates 100 acres 
of laud, seventy-five of which are highly pro- 
ductive, yielding a good crop of corn and cotton 
each season. He has been twice married, first in 
1855 to Miss Mary A. Herrill and who died in 
1861, leaving four children to his care: Mary J. 
(wife of W. A. Sinclair), George O., Anna N. (de- 
ceased), and Sarah F. (deceased), and in 1862 
Miss Sarah Morse, of Tennessee, became his sec- 
ond wife, and has borne him eight children: Yina 
(wife of William Cralitree), James A. and Robert 
(living). Quandary, Polly A., John N., Sandford 
and Lucy (all deceased). He socially belongs to 
the Masonic order, having been initiated into the 
mysteries of Dutch Creek Lodge No. 269. 

Noah A. Geiger, farmer, Danville, Ark. Mr. 
Geiger, one of the representative farmers of the 
county and a man respected and esteemed for his 
many good qualities, was born in Alabama on De- 
cember 19, 1837 (Dallas County), and is the son 
of Abraham Geiger. He came with his parents to 
Fayette County, Miss., when three years of age, 
and there he was reared to the arduous duties of 
the farm. In the fall of 1857, or when twenty- 
one years of age, he, in company with others, came 
to and settled in Yell County, Ark. He entered 
160 acres of land in the Dutch Creek Valley and 
there remained, improving the same until the 
Ineaking out of the war. About that time he sold 
his farm and bought 160 acres on the south side 
of the creek, about two miles from his foimer 
home, and there he still resides. He improved 
sixty-five acres of land, erected a good frame 
house and a large, commodious barn, but these. 






9 ~>y 



ihL. 



YELL COUNTY. 



149 



however, were destroyed by a storm of wind in 
1885. Since then he has reljuilt and has a fine 
place. His principal crops are corn and cotton. 
In 1861 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Asley 
who died in 1804, leaving one child, a little son, 
who survived his mother only about two months. 
Soon after this Mr. Geiger was prostrated with 
fever and was unable to attend to his work or any 
buginess for five months. In 1800 he was again 
married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Lee, who died in 
November, 1877, leaving two children, both sous. 
During her lifetime Mr. Geiger was engaged in 
the milling business and in the fall of 1866 he 
erected a cotton-gin and corn-mill which was run 
by horse-power. This was the first gin or mill 
erected in that valley after the war. This he 
operated two seasons and then enlarged his mill, 
putting in a small engine and added a saw-mill. 
Two years later, finding that this did not supply 
the demands of the country, he sold out his ma- 
chinery and bought a large engine and enlarged 
his business by adding a flouring-mill. The vent- 
ure was a paying one and a good source of rev- 
enue. After the death of his wife in 1877 he sold 
out the property and devoted his attention entirely 
to his family and his farm. He has now one of the 
finest and most productive tracts of land in the 
valley and a vast amount of valuable timber, con- 
sisting principally of the difFerent varieties of oak, 
iuterspersed, however, with walnut. Some of the 
finest wagon timber in the Wurld is found in this 
vicinity. Staves have been made by the settlers 
and shipped in large quantities down the river to 
Little Rock. On December 3, 1878, Mr. Geiger 
was married to Miss Willie Dewitt, daughter of 
James Dewitt, of this county. Three years later, 
November 5, 1881, fire broke out in the dwelling- 
house and everything was destroyed, the loss be- 
ing about 11,500. The same fall Mr. Geiger 
began making preparations for building another 
house, which was completed and ready for occu- 
Ijancy in the fall of 1882. Mr. Geiger now has a 
comfortable house, which he has insured for 
$1,0(H), and which is the best in the neighborhood. 
He was the first man to bring a cooking stove in 
the valley. This was an old-fashioned Step stove 



No. 8 and cost $35, besides having to be freighted 
thirty miles across the country, across the river 
through an almost trackless wilderness. Mr. 
Geiger has never been an active politician, but he 
has voted the Republican ticket since the war. 
He is not connected with any church, but is a 
truly good man and is living a Christian life. He 
is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Dutch 
Creek. To his last marriage were born two 
daughters, one of whom died at the age of six 
years. He now has three living children: Jesse 
A. (born August 18, 1867), Elbert M. (born Feb- 
ruary 14, 1871, and the husband of Elizabeth 
Ivey), and Myrtle (born January 22, 1888). Jesse, 
the eldest, lives with his father and has bought 
and operates the mill property formerly owned by 
his father. Elbert works a part of his father's 
farm. Mr. Geiger is a strictly temperate man and 
is opposed to the sale of liquor in his county. 
He is public-si^irited and a liberal contributor to 
all worthy enterprises. He is a remarkably peace- 
ful gentleman, never had a case in court, and is 
noted for his honesty, sobriety and his desire to 
do as he would wish to be done by in dealing with 
his fellow men. He is highly respected and is 
one of the best citizens. 

H. C. Gibson, a farmer and manager of the 
Western Arkansas Hedge and Wire Fence Com- 
pany of Dardanelle, is a native of Arkansas, being 
born September 18, 1848, six miles south of Dar- 
danelle. His father was a native of Kentucky, 
was born May 24, 1794, and came to Arkansas 
when eighteen years of age, where he continued to 
live until his death, which was October 25, 1874. 
He joined the Presbyterian Church in July, 1869, 
at the age of seventy-five years. His mother, 
Nancy (AVeburn) Gibson, was of an old family of 
Conway County, where she was born December 10, 
1813. She survived her husband a little over a 
year, dying in the Christian faith in Dardanelle, 
November 23, 1875. Our subject was brought up 
on a farm and received but little schooling, the 
educational advantages of his youth being very 
meager. When twenty years of age he accepted a 
position as clerk in a drug store in his native town, 
remaining in this store two years, when he mar- 



■|v 



A' 



150 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



liod and on<^H<j;o(l in faniiin<^. Ho owns 400 acroH 
of irooil bolloin huul, 200 niidw (^nlUvatioii and 
well iiiiprovcHl. In IS7S lio or(*t'to(l a ('ot,ta{|0 on 
his property on Mount Noho, whoro 1k> spoiids liis 
siiininors, iiiid has douo much to improve and 
linautify this lovely resort. Ho has boon officially 
(ronnoctiod with tho Arkansas Snnnnor Normal School 
of Mount Noho since iis organization, soi'ving 
as director and socretary of tlio Express Company. 
On DtH'enil)er IS, bSTO, he miirriod Miss Alice A. 
Hawkins, daufj;ht((r of J. Hawkins, a merchant of 
Dardiinello. 'J'liis marriage resulted in tlie birth 
of llie following childnMi: Oirrio May (deceased), 
Eoliii Daisy, Ereoman Irby and Gertrude May. 
Mrs. Gibson was born in Helena, Ark., April 22, 
ISIS, moved to I'anola (\)unty, Bliss., with her 
parcnits in ISfiO, and in ISTO returned to her native 
State. She joined tho Methodist Church when 
young, and lived a conscieniious Christian until 
her death, which was on December 21, 1S8S. 

John A. Grace, one of the pioneer settlors of 
Danlauolle Township, emigrated from Gibson 
County, Tonn., in IS-iU, with his father and mother, 
Jesse G. and Phoebe (Gatley) Grace, and seven 
children, he being the youngest of the family. His 
parents were natives of Kentucky, tho father born 
July 27, 1S05, tho mother deceased in this State, 
in 1S57. On arriving in Yell County, tlie father 
l)ought and settled on 1(50 acres of timborland, 
adjoining his son's present farm, and has since added 
100 acres more to this, one-half of which is tilled. 
Our subject was born in Gibson County, Teun., 
September 5, 1813, where he grow to manhood. 
The advantages for an education being very lim- 
ited, lie remained with his parents, assisting in tho 
farm duties, till July, 1801, when he res})ondod to 
the war-cry, and enlisted in the Fifteenth Ar- 
kansas Rogimout, Company D, commanded by 
Capt. Hollowell and Col. McRay. Ho was a par- 
ticipant in tho battles of Oak Hill and Elk Horn, 
thence crossing the Mississippi River to take part 
in the engagements of Corinth No. I and 2, and 
luka, and Baker Cieek. Soon after, just before 
the siege of Yicksburg, he, with one half of his 
regiment, was eai>tured by Gen. Grant, and on 
May 17, 18(58, wen< taken to Indianapolis, thence 



to Fort Delaware, and Point Lookout, Md. In 
December of this same year, they received their 
paroles, and started for Richmond; ujjon reaching 
this city tlioy were given a New Year dinner by the 
ladies of that place. Leaving Richmond for their 
homes, they were obliged to travel in a round 
about way, going tlirougii the Carolinas, Georgia, 
Alabama and Mississippi. From Jackson, Miss., 
they were compelled to walk the entire distance, 
arriving safely at home after many trials. During 
this journ(<y, they found it necessary to pass 
through the Mississippi swamps, breaking the ice 
and wading through water, which was from the 
shoeto]) to the arm's pit in depth. On his arrival 
at home, our subject juirchased the eighty acres on 
whi(!li his hoin(>stead now stands, adding to it till 
he now owns 3(')0 acres, 170 being tilled and ]iro- 
ducing such commodities as cotton, corn and 
wheat. On his farm will be found a good resi 
deuce, barns and sheds. In Octolier, 1S()7, ho 
was joined in matrimony to Bettie Thomas, being 
born in Middle Teuuessee, November 28, 181(5, 
and a daughter of C. Thomas (see sketch). To 
this union were born ten children: John, Jessie, 
Bonnie, William, Mollie, Anna, Ray, Allen, Colum- 
bus and Maggie. He and wife are members of 
the Missionary Baptist Church. John A. is com- 
fortably fixed with this world's goods, enjoying 
life and tho conlidenco of his fellow-citizens, which 
he justly merits; all charitable enterprises, and 
any enterprise contributing to tho welfare of his 
county, receives his most liberal support. Politic- 
ally he is a Democrat, casting his vote with that 
party. 

F. M. Halo, prominently ideutilied with the 
planting interests of Yell County, was born in 
McNairy County, Tenn., February 22, 1848. His 
father, James Halo, a native Virginian, and his 
mother, Elizabeth, of Tennessee, were married in 
McNairy County of the latter State, somewhere 
about tho year 184(5, and located on a farm, where 
they lived and died and raised a family of three 
boys, our subject being a twin and the eldest. 
Tho father was a minister of the gospel, having 
been licensed to preach by the Motliodist E|)isco- 
pal Church South. Being loft to his own re- 



3?; 



I 



^1 



YELL COUNTY. 



151 






sources at the age of nineteen, and having gained 
what little education the common schools of his 
county could give, engaged as a farm band, and 
tlie succeeding year married Isabel Owens, daugh- 
t<!r of James Owens, of Henry County, Teun., 
and who bore him six children: John Robert, Mary 
Susan, James M. , William Washington, Sarah 
Ann and Charles (deceased). In 1877, thinking 
to better his fortune8,he moved to Faulkner County, 
Ark. , and rented a farm, which he worked for 
five years, and here was called to mourn the loss 
of his wife. Moving to Yell County, he rented 
a farm of John Albright, in Hover Townshii), 
then purchased eighty acres from Dr. Clement, 
in Fourche Valley, and soon raan-ied Mrs. Shir- 
ley, widow of Milton Shirley, and who died in April, 
188'J, her two daughters dying while very young. 
He continued still to farm and increased his eighty 
acres to 1G3, with sixty under cultivation. Mrs. 
Henson, widow of James W. Honson, became his 
third wife, and they are the parents of one son, 
Francis. He has been a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, for many years, and his 
wife is a member of the Missionary Bairfist Church. 
He is an exemplary citizen, and a liberal patron 
of education and religion, doing much to support 
schools and churches, and all public interests of 
h!s county. 

M. M. Hale, one of the many prosperous plant 
ers of Yell County, and a citizen of Magazine 
Township, was born in Georgia, March 0, 1834, 
his parents, Thompson and Elizabeth (Johnson) 
Hale, were also natives of this State, and were mar- 
ried in Gwinnett County, where they raised a 
family of seven children, and here the parents, 
wortliy consistent members of the Baptist Church, 
died, the mother in 184-1 or 1845, and the father 
in 18'.)0. The principal of this sketch was early 
trained as a farmer, and when twenty-one rented 
land in his native State, which he worked for two 
years and subsecjuently purchased land. He was 
united in marriage, December 28, 1850, to Miss 
Rebecca S. Wright, who was born in the Palmetto 
State in 1834, the daughter of Berry and Polly 
(Christopher) Wright, and they became the parents 
of the following family: Matthew T., Darling P., 



Sarah E. (wife of William Renington), Irena, 
James B., Mary E., George A. and Selete O. 
Our subject served his country faithfully as a 
soldier in the Confederate Army, enlisting in Com- 
pany B, Forty-second Georgia Regiment of In- 
fantry, commanded by Capt. Putnam Weaver, 
and fought in the battles of Vicksburg, Franklin, 
Chickasaw, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta, Nashville, 
and a number of minor skirmishes, and was pa- 
roled at Atlanta in 181)5, and at the close of the 
war returned to his farm. In 180'J he camo to Ar- 
kansas, and located in this county, where he bought 
1(50 acres of land, clearing and injproving seventy- 
two acres, which yield an abundant crop, and has 
a fine orchard of about four acres, and his farm 
gives evidence that he is a man of thrift, and is 
possessed of broad, [)rogres8ive ideas, and is well 
posted on all methods of modern farming. He and 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South. 

Joseph Hall, a planter of Dutch Creek, is a na 
tive of Arkansas, being born in Yell County, Au- 
gust 11), 1854, his parents, H. M. and Elizabeth 
(Williams) Hall, of Tennessee and Indiana nativity, 
were among the early pioneers of Arkansas, and 
were united in marriage in this county, and became 
the parents of four children: Our subject, Louis, 
Henry M. and Isaac. H. M. Hall followed farm- 
ing as an occupation, and during the late war 
served twelve months in a company of infantry in 
the Confederate Army when he was discharged on 
accoimt of disability, and in 1887 departed this 
life, his widow still living in this county, and is a 
member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Our 
subject was married in Scott County, January 25, 
1877, to Miss Mary F. Rodgers, daughter of 
Thomas and Mary (Tate) Rodgers of Alabama, 
where their daughter was born in 1800. This 
union resulted in the birth of one child, Thomas 
W. Mr. Hall owns a fine tract of land, some 120 
acres in e.xtent, with forty acres thoroughly culti- 
vated, and harvests a good crop of corn and cotton 
each season. Mrs. Hall is an exem])lary Christian 
woman, and a member of the Baptist Church, and 
he is a wide-awake and thrifty farmer. 

David Nicholas HalliBurton, a citizen of Darda- 



'7| 



<^[s 



v 



152 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



nelle, was born at the Post of Arkansas, Arkansas 
County, April 18, 1850. His parents. Judge 
Thomas and Margaret M. (Dameworth) HalliBur- 
ton, were natives of Virginia and Tennessee, re- 
spectively, and his paternal grandfather, David 
HalliBurton, was a Scotchman by birth, and while 
on his way to school, in Edinburgh, in company 
with his brother, was decoyed on board a ship, 
hound for America, and upon its landing in Vir- 
ginia, this country, was put off. Here he married, 
and upon the outlireak of the Revolutionary War, 
enlisted in the Virginia line, and was with Greene 
in his celebrated retreat. The maternal grand- 
father, George Dameworth, was of sturdy old 
Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and emigrated to Ten- 
nessee very early in life, and busied himself with 
farming, and was known as a sound, substantial, 
honest and industrious citizen. The father of our 
subject learned the saddler's trade in Virginia, but 
married his first wife in North Carolina, and then 
moved to Tennessee, where she died, leaving him 
and five children to mourn their loss. He married 
the second time in Humphi'eys County, Tenn., and 
this wife bore him five children, of whom our sub- 
ject was the youngest. Soon after this marriage 
(some time in 1844) he came to the Post of Ar- 
kansas, where he engaged in merchandising. He 
was elected county and probate j lulge of Arkansas 
County in 1846. He was a merchant at the post 
for several years before his removal to Grand 
Prairie, and later settled on a plantation near Swan 
Lake, where he spent the remainder of his days in 
agricultural pursuits, and died in September, 185i), 
his widow surviving him until 1882, her death oc- 
curring in Franklin Parish, La., at the residence 
of her daughter. Judge HalliBurton was a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church, and his wife of the Pres- 
byterian Church. Our subject received his early 
educational training at home, and when seventeen 
years of age, entered a school at Dewitt, then 
worked in a printing office for one year, after which 
he went to Memphis, Tenn., and accepted a posi- 
tion in a railroad office as shipping clerk, and in 
November, 1869, went to Louisiana, where he was 
engaged as shipping and receiving clerk for a firm 
in Madison Parish ; thence to Franklin Parish, here 



teaching school for six months. He was deputy 
circuit clerk, and afterward deputy sherifi' of this 
j)arish, and later became a traveling salesman for 
a wholesale house in Vicksburg, and in 1875 re- 
turned to Arkansas, since which time he has fol- 
lowed various pursuits, and in 1878 settled in 
Dardanelle, Yell County, Ark., and since 1888 has 
been the special agent of the Mutual Life Insur- 
ance Company, of New York. He was married 
January 7, 1880, to Mattie J. Cotton, daughter of 
Jesse H. and Rebecca Cotton, who settled in this 
county in 1861. To this couple have been born 
the following interesting family: Thomas Jesse 
(deceased), Fannie Lou Alice, Minnie Margaret, 
Harold Fordyce, Susan Rebecca and Anna. His 
wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and he is a Mason, affiliating with Bright 
Star Lodge No. 213, of Dardanelle, also a Knights 
of Pythias, belonging to Easley Lodge No. 17, of 
Dardanelle, and is a member of Lodge No. 1233, 
of the Knights of Honor, of this town. Politically, 
he is an aggressive Democratic worker, always striv- 
ing for the interests of his party. He is a courte- 
ous and affable gentleman, who extends a hand of 
welcome to all, and is a liberal supporter of all 
laudable enterprises. 

Clarence E. Haney was born February 9, 1844, 
in this county, and is the son of Thomas J. Haney, 
who came to this State in 1842, from Unionville, 
S. C, and entered 160 acres of land, which he im- 
proved at the rate of five acres a year until his 
death twelve years after, and his widow still owns 
the land and resides upon it, and here our subject 
lived, and at the breaking out of the wai', being but 
eighteen years of age, was conscripted into Com- 
pany F of Col. Hawthorne's regiment, serving two 
years and participating in the battle of Prairie 
Grove, then deserted the Confederate side and 
joined the Federal Army at Little Rock, and fought 
in a number of battles and skirmishes and was 
wounded and taken prisoner at Prairie Grove; was 
exchanged and given a furlough, and received his 
final discharge July 18, 1865, at Lewisburg (now 
Morrillton). He returned to his home and resumed 
farming, and bought 440 acres of land, paying $3 
an acre, and not having a dollar to pay down he 



) 1^ 



gave Lis uote for it, and iu 1880 made Lis last pay- 
ment, every dollar of wLich Las come out of tLis 
land. He Las under cnltivation 150 acres, forty- 
five of tLose being devoted principally to cotton, 
and tLe remainder planted to corn and tLe small 
grains, and as a usual tLing Lis crops average 
well, and Le also raises some cattle. Logs, and Las 
a fine flock of Cotswold sLeej). On Lis farm is a 
nicely painted Louse, a good barn, besides several 
outbuildings. Oa September 29, 1870, Le brougLt 
Lis bride, Mary J. Madden, daugLter of Samuel J. 
Madden, to reign over tLis place, and wLo, after 
fourteen montLs of Lappine.s.s Lere, died leaving 
an infant daugLter to Lis care, and on July 30, 
1870, married Miss Lovina C. Kounsaville, and 
tliey are tLe parents of tLe following family: Edwin 
(l)orii :May 20, 1877), Lama (born July 27, 1870), 
Lydia (born December 31, 1880), Robert E. Lee 
(born May 11, 188:5, died MarcL 2, 1890), MartLa 
A. (born September, 188r>), Grover Earl (born 
MarcL 7, 1888). TLe family are connected witL 
file MetLodist Episcopal CLurcL SontL, and Le is 
a liberal sup{)orter of cLurcLes and scLools, and is 
ii Democrat in politics. 

Tliadeus L. Haney, farmer, CLickalaL, Ark. 
Mr. Haney is a SoutL Carolinian by birtL and 
bringing u\\ Laving been born in tLat State June 
:i, lS3o. His fatlier, TimotLy Haney, was a native 
<if tLe Old Dominion, but was reared in SoutL 
Carolina. Tiiadeus came to tLis State witL Lis 
fatlier in 1880, was reared on tLe farm and re- 
mained witL Lis fatlier until twenty one years of 
age. About tLat time Lis fatLer died, leaving a 
larg(< landed property wLicL was divided among 
Lis nine Leirs, aliout 200 acres falling to our sab 
ject. Mr. Haney Las improved tLis farm and 
adiled to it from time to time, until Le now owns 
140 acres, besides giving to Lis cLildren eacL a 
farm (if 200 acres. His dwelling, outbuildings, 
etc.. indicate a tlirifty and progressive owner. His 
farm, [)rincipally iiottom land, is very productive, 
an4l on tLis Le raises cotton, corn and Lay. He is 
largely engaged in stock-raising — Lorses, cattle, 
sLeep and Logs — and is one of tLe most enterpris- 
ing and successful farmers of tbis section. Mr. 
Haney w!is marrie<l, iu IS^O, to Miss Amanda L. 



George, daugLter of Uackson George, of the Pal- 
metto State, and to tLis union Lave been born four 
cLildren: Julia, Emma, Virginia and Macey, tLe 
eldest tLree being married and residing near tlieir 
fatLer. In 18K2 Mr. Haney enlisted in tLo army 
and served until tLe close. He was in a number 
of small battles and skirmisLes, tLe most import- 
ant being Arkansas Post and Prairie De Hand. At 
Aikansas Post Le was taken prisoaer, aud lay at 
CLicago, HI., for six montLs, wLen Le was ex- 
cLanged. He returned to Lis command in May, 
18(53. He takes very little part in political affairs, 
but votes witL tLe Democratic party. He, witL 
Lis family, are members of tLe MetLodist Episco- 
pal CLurcL. He, in connection witL otLers, formed 
a company aud erected a large scLool building at 
tLe village of CLickalaL, wLere Le resides. 

Dr. J. H. Harkness, anotLer of Bellvillo's pro- 
gressive i)Lysicians claims NortLern Georgia as Lis 
birtliplace, Le being born in tLat State in bSoO. 
His parents, R. W. aud Eveline (Bacon) Harkness, 
were natives of SoutL Carolina and Georgia, re- 
spectively, and were farmers by occupation. TLe 
fatLer served Lis country as a private in tLe late 
war, and came to Arkansas in 1 809, and settled on tLe 
La Fourclie River, owning one of tbe finest farms 
in tLis county, and on wLicL Le still resides, Lis 
wife Laving ileparted tLis life in May, 1S88. TLey 
are members of tbe MetLodist Episcopal CLurcL 
SontL. TLe paternal grandfatLer, Robert Hark- 
ness, of IrisL descent, early came to tLis country 
aud located in CLarlestou, S. C, and engaged in 
busines.s, and later, moving tLence to Georgia, was 
a soldier iu tLe Revolutionary War. TLo maternal 
grandfatLer, William H. Bacon, was a Georgian 
by birtL, and a planter. TLe Doctor was early 
taugLt tbe rudiments of farming, and attended 
scLool till ten years old, wLen Le was obliged to 
dro]) Lis studies, and did not take tLem up again 
till attaining Lis majority, wLen Le worked and 
studied, and in 1873 began tLe study of LiscLoson 
profession witL an luicle, in Georgia, aud tLe next 
year attended lectures at Atlanta, and in tLo spring 
of 1874, wLile yet a student, Le came to Arkansas, 
and began to practice, and in 1885 returned to 
Little Rock to complete Lis studies, graduating 



■n= 



I 



-^p-y 



154 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



hero with high honors. On coming to Bellville ho 
established a practice and opened a drug store, 
carrying a full line of drugs. He owns a fine tract of 
land, UlO acres in extent, .seventy of which are culti- 
vated, and live acres and a residence in town. "He 
married Miss Kate Hamilton in the fall of 1875, 
who bore him one child, Edna. The Doctor, wife 
and daughter worshi]> with the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church South, to which they belong, and he is 
well worthy thu reputation he has earned as a citi- 
zen and physician. 

Hon. J. T. Harrison, of Dardanelle, was born 
in Virginia in 1827. His parents, Joseph and 
Athana (Rollins) Harrison, were of Virginian na- 
tivity, but came to Tennessee in 1838 or 1839, and 
here followed farming as a means of maintenance, 
the father dying in 1S40. His mother was a mem 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch, and died 
in 1802. Our subject's early life was spent in 
Tennessee, where ho received but a limited educa- 
tion, and at the age of fourteen began life's career as 
a farmer. After a complete mastery of the study 
of law, which he had chosen as his profession, he 
was admitted to the bar for practice in 1855. In 
1858 he came to Arkansas, and [jarchased land in 
what is now Logan ('ounty (then Scott), and 
cleared and improved some forty acres of his 400. 
At the bursting of the war cloud in 1801, he enlisted 
in the Confederate Army,*taking part in the bat- 
tles of Oak Hill, and Elk Horn, was dispatched east 
of the Mississippi River, and after the battle of 
Corinth his company was reorganized, choosing him 
as its captain: was a participant in battles under 
Gen. J3ragg in Kentucky, and fought at Richmond 
and Jackson, Miss. Ill health soon overtaking 
him, the Captain was obliged to resign, and com- 
ing home joined the State troops as lieutenant, re- 
maining with this till the close of the war. In 
1809 he moved to Danville and resumed his law 
practice, and abont 1870 changed to Dardanelle, 
where he bought his present i)lace of residence, 
besides owning TjCO acres in Carden l)()ttom, sixty 
of which are under cultivation. He has served 
his State in many of its official positions, being a 
member of the State Constitutional Convention in 
1874, and a representative in 1877, and in 1880 



was State Senator for four years, and since the 
expiration of this office has again taken u[> his 
practice. Ho is a most estimable citizen, vigorous 
Democrat in politics and recognized by that party 
as a leader, and has a most enviable rej)utation as 
an office holder, and is the eitizen.s' friend. He 
married Miss Mary C. Hill, of Perry County, in 
February, 1866, she being the daughter of Dr. 
L. D. Hill, one of the early settlers. To the 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison were born six 
children, four living: Mattie G., Mary A., Cora 
L. and John Hill. 

\V. L. Heck, planter and senior member of the 
well-known firm of Heck & Briggs, general mer- 
chants of Bellville, was born two and one half 
miles south of that village. His parents, A. S. and 
Sarah (Brown) Heck, were originally from Penn- 
sylvania and Alabama, bat the father, whose an- 
cestors were fi-om old Pennsylvania stock of the 
same family with prominent people still residents 
of that State, came to Arkansas in 1828, locating 
at Morrison's Bluff, now in Logan County, which 
was at that time the only tiading post and settle- 
ment for miles around. The following year mov- 
ing his family and effects to the site which he made 
his permanent home, he started a tan-yard, the 
only one within a radius of fifty miles, which at- 
tracted a good trade from the surrounding country, 
until Heck's tan yard was one of the best known 
localities in all Western Arkansas. He died Janu- 
ary 4, 1861, having been married three times, his 
rirst wife having been a Miss Saddler, who bore 
him three children, one of whom is dead, those liv- 
ing being S. S. Heck (who married Simeon Pledger 
about 1854 or l8r)6), and Nancy M. Heck (who 
married N. J. Bnckman about 1850 or 1851, and 
now lives on her father's old homestead); his sec- 
ond wife having been our subject's mother, who 
died in 1845, leaving two children to his care; and 
Mrs. Saddler, nee Balch, became his third wife. 
He was an upright, honest, sturdy pioneer, and 
just such a character as was necessary to lay the 
foundation of a future community. Our subject, 
W. L. Heck, was brought up on a farm and edu 
cated in the common schools, and early taught the 
trade of his father. In July, 1861, he enlisted in 



7i 



V 



v^« 



l^ 



YELL COUNTY. 



155 



Capt. Lawrence's company and was sent to Soiith- 
wostern Missouri, where he fought in the battle of 
Oak Hill, and on August 10, 1861, returned home. 
Ke-enlisting in February, 1802, he was sent east 
of the Mississippi River, participating in the battles 
of luka and Corinth, being wounded and captured 
at the latter place. He was conveyed to the hos- 
pital at luka and, upon recovery, was taken to the 
military prison at Columbus, Ky. , where he re- 
mained until he was exchanged at Vicksburg in 
December, where he was given a furlough and re- 
turned home. Joining a cavalry company the fol- 
lowing June, went to the Indian Territory, taking 
part in the Back Bone tight in August, 1804. Re- 
turning home he went to Little Rock, where he 
remained until the close of the war, when he re- 
sumed his farming duties once more, and May 17, 
1868, established a general store on his farm, remov- 
ing his stock, however, the next year to Danville, 
taking J. T. Briggs into the business as partner, 
under the lirm uame of Briggs & Heck. At the 
expiration of a year J. T. Briggs withdrew and 
Mr. Heck continued the business alone till 1872, 
when he sold out and retired to his farm, where he 
busied himself improving and clearing large tracts 
of land for seven years when, in 1879, he again 
went to Danville and entered into business, which 
he moved to Bellville, in January, 1884, uniting 
with the firm of J. B. Heck & Martin, not chang- 
ing the name of the firm, which was dissolved in 
1880. In September of the same year Mr. Heck 
opened a general store, and in 1 890 the present firm 
of Heck & Briggs was organized, our subject and 
L. L. Briggs being the members. They carry a 
stock of about $5,000 value, and do a business 
of 115,000 annually. His individual property is 
some 1,800 acres of good, fertile, seeding and fair 
timberland, 350 of which are cultivated, and also 
a fine residence in Bellville. Miss Lydia Little- 
john, daughter of Marcellus Littlejohn, became 
his wife January 3, 1867, and they have become 
the parents of two children: Laura (widow of 
Dr. William H. Fergeson, Jr.), and Ladonia. Mr. 
Heck and family are consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, he filling the 
office of steward of the same; he belongs to Dan- 



ville Lodge No. 41, of the Masonic fi-aternity. 
He is courteous and affable, and in his dealings 
with his fellow-men, has always proved worthy 
any trust reposed in him. 

Dr. John B. Heck, a merchant of wide experi- 
ence, and the trustworthy and honored physician 
of Bellville, was born and reared in Yell County, 
his bii'th occurring in 1850, within three miles of 
his present home, and is the only child of Abra 
ham S. and Alfleda (E.-lcL) Heck, of Pennsylvania 
and Tennessee, respectively, and deceased, the 
mother in 1860 and the father in 1801. The sen- 
ior Heck came to Arkansas in its pioneer day, and 
as a means of livelihood busied himself with tau- 
»ii*g, having the only taiiyard in the county. The 
.Doctor's early educational advantages were ex- 
ceedingly few, but being possessed with a strong 
spirit of determination and the desire to become a 
physician, in 1871 he began the study of medicine 
at home, and the succeeding year went to Nashville 
and entered the medical college, and later thence 
attended lectures at a Louisville institute, from 
which he graduated in 1873-74. Returning to 
Arkansas, he opened an oflice at Danville, practic- 
ing here for some nine years, and in 1877 the firm 
of Heck & Briggs was formed, and was so known 
till February, 1881, when the Doctor withdrew 
and came to Bellville, where he and Isaac N. 
Martin opened a general store, which they con- 
ducted till 1885, when he sold out his interest, and 
October of 1886 became one of the firm of F. C. 
Jones & Co., general merchants, carrying a well- 
selected stock, invoicing some $5,000, and doing 
an annual business of $15,000. In 1886 he erect 
ed his present handsome residence, costing him 
$3,000. Besides this property he owns several 
farms, comprising 500 acres, with 150 cultivated. 
He was one of the founders of the town's beautiful 
institution of learning — a most excellent place of 
its character. The Doctor has been twice married : 
First to Miss Alice T. Logan, daughter of Jona- 
than Logan, one of the earliest settlers of this j. _ 
county, who died in April, 1881, leaving him the 
father of one child, Alice. In 1883 Miss FanKie—/f<l 
L., daughter of Dr. D. F. Huckaby, also a pioneer 
of Yell County, became his second wife, and she 



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ay\tu^ 



v- 



<2 w_ 



_* 9 



•k^ 



156 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS: 



XiAjua/^' 



bore him the followhag family: Eula Maze, John 
and Barbara Wave. Dr. Heck and his wife and« 
family are commxuiicants of the 14eiH«iiist £^seo- 
^■l ChHrek Souik, and ho belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, being a member of Christian Lodge No. 
894, of Bellville, and of the Chapter and Council 
of Dardanelle. He is a most exemplary citizen, 
aiding and supporting all of his town's interests. 

James W. Hogan, a wide-awake citizen and 
successful planter of Rover, was born in Yell 
County August 13, 1863, and is the son of James 
W. and Elizabeth (Rounsaville) Hogan, The 
senior Hogan was a jjlanter owning 160 acres of 
land, on which ho made his home and died in 
1863, leaving a widow and two children : (our subject 
and Martha A., who married Albert F. Humjjhrey 
in 1877 and moved to Indian Territory, where 
they now live). After his mother's death, which 
occurred some time in 1877, having survived her 
husband some fourteen years, our subject made his 
home with his uncle, Wood.son R. Hogan, remain- 
ing with him till attaining his majority, when he 
began the world for himself on a farm lying in the 
Fourche Valley, and has followed this calling ever 
since, living a quiet, uneventful life. He was 
married, October 1, 1885, to Mrs. Margaret A. 
Purcelly, widow of James S. Purcelly, and they 
have become the parents of two children: Bertha 
A. (aged four years) and Anna L. (an interesting 
child of eighteen months). Thej' are members in 
good standiug of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
Not havino: had other than the advantasres the 
common schools afforded for an education, and 
realizing the importance of having good institutions 
of learning, ho is a liberal contributor to schools 
and churches and everything that will promote the 
growth of his community. Politically he is a Demo- 
crat, voting always with that party. 

George H. Holder, a farmer of Dutch Creek 
Township, was born May 12, 1839, and is the 
fifth child in a family of eleven born to H. H. and 
Malicia A. (Carr) Holder, also of Alabamian na- 
tivity, and now deceased, the mother in 1855 and 
the father in 1870, both worshiping with the Bap- 
tist Church. Our subject received a good business 
education in Mississippi, and being left to his own 



resources, at twenty-three, commenced life for him- 
self as a farmer on his own land. He was mar- 
ried, in 1861, to Miss Mary Flott, who was born in 
Mississippi in 1842, and this marriage has been 
blessed with nine children : William J. , Caladonia 
(deceased), Bennett L., Walter L. (deceased), Sa- 
fah L., Clementine B. , Archie C, Minnie J., 
Georgia H. and one unnamed (deceased). On the 
alarm of war sounding our subject severed all 
business connection and home ties to become a 
defender of his country, and was one of Company 
B, Twenty-sixth Mississippi Regiment of cavalry 
(Confederate Army) to participate in the following 
battles: Harrisburg (Miss.), Cross Roads fight, 
Athens, Pulaski, and a number of minor skir- 
mishes, and while in a skirmish on the battle- 
ground of Shiloh received a wound in his left 
hand. After his muster out he returned to his 
farm in Tennessee, which he conducted till 1878, 
when he came to this county, and erected for him- 
self and family a comfortable and homelike cot- 
tage in the little village of Walnut Tree. His 
farm lying in Dutch Creek Township comprises 
seventy-five acres of fertile land, fifty-five of 
which are highly cultivated and sown to cotton, 
corn and wheat, which yield a very good harvest. 
He and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and he is an A. F. & A. M., belong- 
ing to Dutch Creek Lodge No. 269. 

Richard Hood, a prosperous merchant of Yell 
County, Ark., came to Richland Township in 1872 
from Monroe County, this State, where he has re- 
sided since 1856. He was engaged in farming up 
to his removal to Yell County, when he opened a 
general merchandise store, keeping a good line of 
all kinds of produce and dry goods, and has met 
with very good success, having laid up a comforta- 
ble fortune to keep him in his older days. He was 
born in Marengo County, Ala., April 27, 1829, the 
son of Robert and Rebecca (Bates) Hood, natives 
of Virginia. The father followed farming all his 
life, dying in 1860 at the age of fifty eight years, 
the mother passing to her final home in 1870 at 
the age of fifty seven years. Richard Hood spent 
the early part of his life in De Kalb County, Ala. , 
receiving but a very limited education, his first oc- 



riv* 



YELL COUNTY. 



157 



cupation being farming, as above stated. He en 
listed in the army in 1861 under Gen. Price, fol- 
lowing him in bis raid, also taking part in the bat- 
tles of Helena (Ark.), Pilot Knob (Mo.), Prairie 
Grove (Ark.), and a great many skirmishes, remain- 
ing in the army vmtil the close of the war, when he 
returned home. He was married in 1858 to Miss 
Martha C. Williams, daughter of J. Williams, a 
native of Tennessee, and although they have no 
children of their own they have raised and taken 
care of a number of orphans: James Hood (a 
nepLew) and Emma Hood ^of Monroe County), 
also Urice James Beckit. Our subject and his wife 
are both members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. Mr. Hood is also a member of Baker 
Creek Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and in politics sup- 
ports the Democratic party. He is ever ready to 
assist in matters of a public nature that would be 
of benefit to his county or party, and is one of the 
successful and representative citizens of this town- 
ship. 

Joseph H. Howard. Among the official repre- 
sentatives of Yell County is Joseph H. Howard, 
whowas elected to the office of sheriff September 
1, 1890, and although a resident of Magazine 
Township was a native of Van Buren County, 
Tenn., born January 81, 1849. His father, Will- 
iam Howard, a gunsmith by trade, was also born 
in this State April 15, 1816, and married about 
184'2 Melinda Haston, a native Tennesseean, being 
born December 26, 1815, and they were the par- 
ents of nine children. Here the father died July 
25, 1859, a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and his widow, seventy-four years of age and in 
full fellowship with the Christian Church, lives in 
this county with her youngest son, Thomas F. 
Our subject began supporting himself at the early 
age of fourteen, remaining under the parental roof 
till his marriage, December 18, 1873, to Miss Sa- 
mantha J. Campbell. She was born in Tennessee 
December 2, 1853, a daughter of Willis N. and 
Louellyn E. Campbell, who were born and married 
in this State. Her father participated in the late 
war, and departed this life April 15, 1875, a mem- 
ber of, and an elder in, the Presbyterian Church; 
his widow, also of like faith, lives with her daugh- 



ter, Mrs. Miller, of this county. To our subject 
and wife were born five sons and three daughters, 
four of whom are living: Johnnie E., Joseph H., 
James W. and William J., and they have had under 
their care for many years an orphan to whom they 
are giving a parents' loving watchcare, and a good 
home. He owns 100 acres of very valuable land, 
with forty under cultivation, and has a most mag- 
nificent orchard of many of the sterling varieties of 
fruit, and altogether enjoys the fruits of his hard 
labor in a prolific farm and comfortable home. 
For four years he served as deputy sheriff, and 
was elected constable of his township for a like 
period of years. Mrs. Howard is a member in 
good standing in the Presbyterian Church. 

John B. Howell, Sr., owner of the large and ex- 
tensive mill plant of Danville, was born on a farm 
in Logan County, Ky., May 12, 1815; here his 
early youth was spent assisting his father in the 
duties of the farm, and in 1836 came with his par- 
ents, John and Mary (Jones) Howell, to Johnson 
County, this State, and settled on land which they 
farmed, and in connection with this ran a store 
of general merchandise, which they had opened at 
Pittsburgh. In 1838 our subject severed his con- 
nection with this business to go to Van Buren and 
take charge of the mail route between Old D(vi<^ht, 
Mo., and Fort Smith, I. T., carrying the semi- 
weekly mail for four years, when he changed to 
the tri weekly stage running between Little Rock 
and Hot Springs, in it, passing over a stretch of 
country for thirty miles without a post-office, and 
while acting as mail cairier was associated with 
Lewis Snap in the inland service, known as the 
pack routes, the mail being carried on horseback. 
In 1846-47 he ran the steamer on the White River, 
fi-om Napoleon to Rock Craw Creek, where it met 
the stage line. His health failing, he sold his boat at 
the expiration of two years and came to Danville, 
and settled on a farm, and when Ihat terrible 
scourge of the sixties visited the land, was well 
fixed financially, owning 3,000 acres of land, 500 
of which were in a thorough state of cultivation, 
the labor of this immense plantation being per- 
formed by seventy -five servants. Soon this was 
laid waste by the devastating armies of the war, 



^. 



■f^ 



stock conliscated, bouses and other buildings de- 
stroyed, and soon nothing remained of this once 
beautiful and vast estate but the land. At the 
close of this long and bloody struggle, he returned 
to Danville, and engaged in farming and milling, 
erecting, in 1809, his large mills, comprising a 
flouring-mill, ginning and wool-carding machinery, 
and a saw-mill attached, all costing in the neigh- 
borhood of $10,000, and in 1880 this entire plant 
with all its contents, was destroyed by fire, it be- 
ing a total loss to him, as it was not insured. In 
1872 he opened the popular Danville, famed 
throughout the county for its genial proprietor, its 
good cheer, and its first-class accommodations. He 
was wedded to Miss Eliza Hurd, of Crawford 
County, who lived to bless his home with her 
presence but a short time. She departed this life 
in 1842, leaving an infant son to the care of her 
husband, who lived to be but two years of age. 
He is not connected with any church, and, although 
voting the Democratic ticket, has never held any 
political ofiice. Our subject has one brother, who 
resides at Clarksville, at the advanced age of 
eighty-one years, and three sisters, all deceased. 

Dr. Daniel F. Huckaby. Among the self-made 
men of Arkansas and Yell County, is the subject 
of this interesting sketch. Although not a native 
Arkansan, he is one whom Yell County has every 
reason to be proud of, for coming to this State in 
the early days of 1839, he has done much to ad- 
vance its growth, and is recognized by the old 
pioneers as one of the founders of the county. He 
was boi-n in Union District, S. C, October 4, 
1813, and is a son of Robert and Susan (Fitch) 
Huckaby, also of South Carolina. He was raised 
on a farm and given but a few weeks' schooling, 
and when twenty years old his father gave him his 
freedom, when he went to Reedstovvn on Broad 
lliver, and apprenticed himself for two years to a 
cabinet maker; working for him a year and a half 
be bought bis time and went to Pinckneyville, and 
accepted a position at his trade at 140 per month. 
At the expiration of fourteen months left this posi- 
tion to accept one at Fackilett lliver, where he re- 
mained three year.s, and during this time (October 
25, 1838) be married Cynthia E., daughter of John 



Haney, of South Carolina, and she became the 
mother of four children: Helen, Dolphus, Rebecca 
and Myrtle. About a year after bis marriage, be 
and nine families from his neighborhood made up 
a train of nine wagons and started overland to Ar- 
kansas. They were seven weeks on the waj', the 
weather being all they could wish and everything 
in their favor they arrived safely at Danville, this 
State, thence journeyed to Spring Creek, near the 
present site of Bellville ; here the colony settled, and 
our subject went to Pittsburgh, Johnson County,and 
worked one year at bis trade; subsequently returning 
to his 100 acres of land, which he bad pre-empted, 
he began improving it, alternating this with- work 
at his trade or at carpentering. About this time 
the settlement petitioned the Legislature to divide 
Pope County, and form a new one; this being 
granted, Yell County was organized; meeting with 
such success, they also prayed the United States 
Government to bring their land into market. Then 
came the momentous question of deciding the loca- 
tion of the coirnty seat, which was finally settled at 
Monroe and afterward moved to Danville. The 
Doctor soon received an appointment from the 
Government as commissioner of public building, 
and let the contract for the erection of a court- 
bouse, he himself being one of the workmen. By 
this time the farms of the colony were yieldiag 
good crops of cotton, which were conveyed to the 
nearest gin (six miles away), and ginned and baled, 
one-tenth of the cotton being paid as toll for gin- 
ning, and $1 per bale for baling. This was hauled 
twenty-two miles to the river, and shipped on the 
"Governor Moorhead " to New Orleans, and ex- 
changed for the necessary commodities of pioneer 
life. On September 22, 1857, the Doctor was 
called upon to part with his loving and faithful 
wife, and remaining a widower till October 4, 1858, 
married Miss Sarah Meers, who bore bim the fol- 
lowing children: Fanfifej^ Anna, Minerva and 
Effie, all living near their parents: He began his 
medical studies in Pickneyville, S. C, while a resi- 
dent in the home of Dr. McGovern, devoting all 
his spare time to his studies, and in 1801 attended 
lectures at McDowells' Medical College at St. 
Louis, but being taken ill was obliged to abandon 



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YELL COUNTY. 



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159 



bis studies and leave for borne, and wbile going 
down the river to Memphis was captured and com- 
pelled to take the oath of allegiance to the United 
States Government, after which be was permitted 
to return home, where he fully recovered bis 
health, and began bis practice; bnt war having 
been declared, and the country in a fearful state of 
agitation, he, a sworn defender of the United States 
Government, was obliged to flee to the Red River 
country, where be practiced till the cessation of 
hostilities, and in May, 1805, returned to Yell 
County, where bis family bad been during the en- 
tire struggle. On the succeeding year be entered 
the Medical University of Louisiana at New Or- 
leans, where he took a regular course, then re- 
turned to bis farm, which he worked in connection 
with his practice, attending lectures from time to 
time till 1882, when be left bis farm (280 acres of 
land, with 100 under improvement and with good 
buildings, it being to a great extent the work of 
bis own bands), and moved to the village of Bell- 
ville and opened an office. In 1853 be was elected 
to the Legislature by a large majority, and was an 
efficient and active worker for the good of bis State, 
and in 1873 was again sent to represent it in the 
Legislative body. He is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church in religion, and a Dem- 
ocrat, politically, is a public-spirited citizen, and a 
hospitable entertainer of bis many friends. 

A. G. Hughes, of the Dardanelle Transfer Com- 
pany, and a well-known citizen of the town, was 
born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1848, and is the 
youngest member of the family l)orn to J. L. and 
Nancy (Little) Hughes, originally of Tennessee 
and Virginia. The maternal grandfather was an 
extensive Virginia planter, and died in that State. 
The paternal grandfather, David Hughes, was one 
of the pioneer farmers of Tennessee, and was the 
proprietor of the livery and transfer business at 
Nashville, to which his son, J. L., succeeded, and 
continued in it for ten years, then took up steam- 
boating, and for five years was captain and owner 
of the "Kate May," which ran from Louisville to 
Nashville. Disposing of this he again established 
himself in the transfer linsiness, carrying this on 
till 1855, when death called him to bis final home. 



A. G. Hughes was reared in Nashville, receiving a 
good common-school education, and when but fif- 
teen assumed the management of a ferry-boat for 
the Government; later on was pilot on a boat on 
the Cumberland River. Being a victim of the Ar- 
kansas fever, in 1808 be came to this State and 
accepted a position on the Arkansas River, subse- 
quently going to Gainesville, Tex., he started a 
business of merchandise, which he closed out in 
about eighteen months' time, and again coming to 
Dardanelle occupied himself with well-digging, 
farming, and a business which was burned out, 
then farmed for three years, at the expiration of 
which time he engaged as traveler and collector 
for C. M. Freed, in 1888, leaving him to form a 
partnership with S. N. Evins (see sketch). In 
1889 Edward Shinn was admitted to the firm. He 
is the owner of two large stables, a lot, and a cot- 
tage on Mount Nebo. Politically he is a Democrat, 
and as a citizen is active and energetic, and thor- 
oughly awake to the interests of bis townsmen. 

John H. Hunt, a wide awake merchant and the 
genial postmaster of Rover, claims this village as 
bis native heath, he having been born here in 
1860, to Richard and Elizabeth (Green) Hunt. 
His grandfather. Hunt, a farmer, who came to 
Arkansas as early as 1857, settled in the little vil- 
lage of Rover, and is thought to have given the 
place its name, was the first postmaster here. His 
father, a native Georgian, being born, educated 
and married there, was a resident farmer of Ar- 
kansas till the call for troops in the early sixties, 
when be enlisted in the Federal Army and died in 
Little Rock in 1804; his widow still survives him, 
and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. Our subject was reared and educated here. 
Beginning the life of a farmer at the early age of 
twelve, be continued in this till twenty-two, when 
he became proprietor of a mercantile business, 
handling hardware, queensware and groceries, etc., 
doing a good trade, and is the owner of some 
valuable land and a fine dwellincr in the villacre. 
In January, 1883, be received the appointment of 
postmaster, and the year following witnessed bis 
marriage to Miss Annie Albright, daughter of 
John Albright, at one time a resident of the State 



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160 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of Georgia, but now a citizen of Rover. To this 
union were bom three children: Ruby (living), 
and John Richard and Tommie (deceased). Mrs. 
Hunt fellowships with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and Mr. Hunt is a member of the 
Rover Masonic Lodge No. 467. 

J. M. Hutchius claims the little State of 
Georgia as the home of his nativity, being born in 
1827, to Redmon and Cassey (Pierson), who also 
claim Georgia as the land of their birth and mar- 
riage. Redmon Hutchins, a farmer, was a soldier 
in the War of 1812, and in 1852 emigrated to Mis- 
sissippi, where he died the following year, his wife 
having departed this life previous to his removal 
to this State. Both were earnest and faithful 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
1844 the marriage nuptials of our subject and Miss 
Mary E. Hearn, of Georgia, were celebrated, and 
to them one child has been born, Mary (wife of 
L. M. Ladd). Being a farmer he followed this 
calling till 1862, when he offered his services and 
life, if need be, to Company D, Third Missis- 
sippi Regiment of cavalry, and being accepted 
did duty as a private till the close of the war, when 
he returned to Mississippi and farmed till 1867, 
then moved to Arkansas, locating in Dutch Creek 
Township, where he has 120 acres of land with 
sixty under cultivation, and in 1868, being ajj- 
pointed postmaster of Walnut Tree, which appoint- 
ment he filled for twenty years, moved to this vil- 
lage and built him a neat residence, where he now 
lives, and in 1872 met with a severe loss in the 
death of his wife, who was a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and subsequently Miss M. 
W. AVhite, born in Alabama in 1850, and daugh- 
ter of J. H. and L. A. (Hern) White, who were 
natives of Georgia, became his second wife, and 
they are consistent members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. He is a man respected 
and honored in political and social circles, having 
been elected justice of the peace of his township in 
1875, and is now acting as worshipful master of 
Dutch Creek Lodge No. 269, of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. 

Judge William D. Jacoway. Prominently 
identified among the legal profession of Yell 



County is Judge Jacoway, the well-known lawyer 
of Dardanelle. He was the fourth child in a 
family of ten born to B. J. and Margaret (Wilkin- 
son) Jacoway, respectively of North Carolina and 
Tennessee, his birth occurring in the latter State 
in 1835. The paternal grandfather, Archibald 
Jacoway, of Scottish descent, emigrated to North - 
Carolina from bonnie Scotland, thence to Alabama, 
where he died. He was a captain in the Indian 
War in Florida. The maternal ancestors were 
among the early settlers of Tennessee. The 
father was a planter, early going from Tennessee 
to Mississippi, subsequently coming to Arkansas, 
and settling near Dardanelle, where he purchased 
a large tract of river- bottom land, which he put un- 
der improvement. He filled many official positions, 
being marshal of the Western District of Arkansas 
during President Buchanan's terra; was twice a 
member of the Legislature, and departed this life in 
1861, while en row^e to his son, Henderson M., a sold- 
ier in the Confederate Army, encamped at Rich- 
mond with his brothers, John A. and B. J., Jr., and 
a brother-in-law, J. L. Hollowell. John A. because 
of his bravery and faithfulness, was commissioned 
lieutenant colonel under Gen. Kirby Smith, and 
B. J. was killed while crossing the Arkansas River 
six miles below Dardanelle. Our subject received 
his schooling at Tennessee's institutions of learn- 
ing, graduating from Irving College in 1855, and 
two years later from Lebanon Law School, here 
being admitted to the bar, and on his arrival in 
Dardanelle formed a partnership with his brother- 
in-law, and were known as the firm of Hollowell 
& Jacoway. Daring the troublous times of 1868 
he removed his family and effects to Texas, and 
when peace was declared he returned to Arkansas, 
and from 1878 to 1882 filled the office of circuit 
judge of his district, and has built one of the 
finest dwelling houses in town. In 1858 he was 
wedded to Miss Elizabeth D. Parks, daughter of 
Walter D. Parks. To this couple have been born 
eleven children: Walter D. (lawyer), Mary E. 
(deceased in Texas), Bennie (deceased in 1881), 
Martha J. (deceased in 1881), LillieD., Earl C. 
(deceased in 1872), William D., Jr., H. M., Jr., 
Irene (attending school at Winchester, Tenn.), 



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YELL COUNTY. 



161 



Ethel and Nina S. The Judge religiously wor- 
ships with the Methotlist Episcopal Church, being 
a member in good standing in that organization. 
William D. Jennings is one of the early settlers 
in Yell County, his parents, Nathaniel and Mary 
(Craig) Jennings, natives of the Old North State 
and Tennessee, respectively, coming to Dardanelle 
in 1850, from Memphis, Teun., where he was born 
May 14, 1836, in Marion County. His father was 
a carpenter, builder and mechanic by occupation, 
and died in 1858, his widow surviving him some 
fifteen years. Our subject's early life was spent 
in his native State, where he received the advan- 
tages of the common schools, and on his coming to 
Arkansas finished his schooling and learned the 
carpenter's trade, which he followed till the out- 
break of hostilities, when he enlisted in Company 
H, Capt. Daniels and Col. Reynolds commanding, 
and fought in many of the famous battles; particu- 
larly was with Gen. Johnston on his renowned 
march to the Atlanta, thence to- Tennessee, fight- 
ing in the battles of Franklin and Murfreesboro, 
and in the fight at Georgetown (Ky. ), skirmishing 
around Cincinnati, and took part in a few minor 
engagements, and while in the service was pro- 
moted to the rank of corporal and sergeant. He 
remained with Gen. Johnston's command till the 
surrender at Jonesboro. On his return to Arkan- 
sas he purchased sixty acres of good iillable land, 
and breaking and cultivating thirty acres began 
farming, his principal product being cotton. He 
was married in 1807 to Miss Jennie E. Hall, who 
was born in Shelby County, Tenn., in 1840, and 
they have become the parents of six children: 
William H. , Lizzie, Wallace, Edgar, Maud and 
Orella. In religion his wife worships with the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, while he is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, 
and politically is a Democrat, being elected on the 
local ticket of his party in 1888, as justice of the 
peace. As a citizen, having the growth of his 
county at heart, he supports all public enterprises, 
and withholds not his aid from the distressed and 
needy, and all find in him a friend and comforter 
in time of trouble. 

James Y. Jones. Among the early settlers of 
1 1 



Arkansas were William and Isabella (Kerley) Jones, 
originally of Tennessee, but came to Yell County 
in 1852, bringing with them a family of ten chil- 
dren, James Y., who was born in Hardeman Coun- 
ty, Tenn., in February, 1840, being about twelve 
years old. Here the father bought land and im- 
mediately began farming, his son (our subject) 
remaining with him till he was twenty years old, 
when he was married to Miss Inez Adcock, daughter 
of W. E. Adcock, also of Yell County, and to them 
were born eight children: Cynthia Ann Isabella, 
James R., William A., Edward A. (deceased). Mar 
tha F., Irene Elizabeth, Levi (deceased), and 
Thomas Henry. In December, 1879, he was be 
reaved of this wife, and some time after married 
the widow of John Simmons, one child, Anderson, 
being the result of this marriage, and for his third 
and present wife he married the widow of John 
Hogan. Our subject has always been a farmer, 
following this from his boyhood days up to man- 
hood, receiving but very little schooling, and he 
now owns 120 acres in the Fourche River bottoms, 
fifty of which are highly improved. During the 
Rebellion he became a soldier in the Confederate 
Army, enlisting in Company E, of the Twenty first 
Arkansas Regiment, and was captured at Vicks- 
burg and sent to Indianapolis, from there to Fort 
Delaware, thence to Point Lookout, and kept in 
confinement nine months, at the expiration of which 
time he was paroled and returned home, never 
going into service again, but after twelve months 
at home was again taken prisoner, and detained 
for two weeks, when he escaped and served as a 
scout till the close of the war, then came home and 
took up his farm duties again. He is a Democrat 
in politics, and a member of the Baptist Church in 
religion. 

W. B. Lemoyne. In 1852 there came to Dar- 
danelle, George W. and Penelope P. (Walton) Le- 
moyne (natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respect- 
ively) and family. George W. was educated in Vir- 
ginia, but on coming to Arkansas secured a school 
in Johnson County, which he taught for some time. 
Studying law and being admitted to the bar in 
Johnson (now Yell) County, he soon became known 
as one of the leading lawyers of his section and 



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102 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



time; being; very prominent and pronounced in his 
political views he was retui'ned to both branches of 
the General Assembly of the State again and again. 
He at one time recruited a company from Dardanelle 
he being chosen as colonel, which was dispatched 
east of the Mississippi River; subsequently resign- 
incf, he returned home. He was a faithful and con- 
sistent worshiper of the church, and an efficient 
member of the Masonic order. His wife died in 1803. 
W. B. Lemoyne, the genial agent for the Pacific 
Express and Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad, 
was born in 1847, in Conway County, Ark., and 
was the eldest son in his father's family, being 
reared in this and attending the private schools of 
the same till his majority, when he entered into the 
mercantile business, which he conducted for three 
years, then settled on a farm, which he now rents, 
devoting his entire time to the railroad and express 
business, to which he was appointed agent in 1883. 
DnrinsT Pre.sident Cleveland's administration he 
was made postmaster of Dardanelle. In 1876 he 
wedded Mrs. Johnnie B. Gordon, daughter of Rob- 
ert Cunningham, an old and highly respected citi- 
zen of Yell County. To Mr. and Mrs. Lemoyne 
were born the following family: Stacy, Anita, Jane 
Penelope, Basil, Morand and Lavanche, all living, 
Mattie being a child l)y her former husband. In 
religion the family worship with the Old School 
Presbyterian Church. Our subject is a conscien- 
tious voter of the Democratic party, being one of 
its most active workers, and socially is connected 
with the K. of P. and K. of H. 

Joseph S. Lofland, farmer, Gravelly Hill, Ark. 
Mr. Lofland is possessed of those advanced ideas 
;ind progressive principles regarding agricultural 
lift!, which seem to be among the chief character- 
istics of those of Arkansas nativity. He was born 
in Yell County, Bluffton Township, February (3, 
1854, and here he was reared to mature years. He 
received but a limited education in the common 
schools, and at the age of twenty-three years he 
began working for himself as a tiller of the soil. 
He first liought eighty acres of land which he im- 
proved and cultivated, but later he moved to Grav- 
elly Hill Township, settling where he now resides. 
He has in his homestead 170 acres of land, all im- 



proved, and has a good residence, substantial 
barns and other buildings. He is progressive in 
his ideas, and is possessed of those sterling quali- 
ties which make a true man and a valuable citizen. 
In 1887 he bought 420 acres of good bottom land, 
lying in BlufFton Township, has about eighty-five 
acres of this tmder cultivation, and rents it out. 
While an agriculturist of advanced ideas, he does 
not lose sight of the stock raising industry, and 
raises horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs. He has 
a good orchard and plenty of fruit for family use. 
His princi[)al crops are corn, cotton and oats. This 
year he has forty acres in cotton and thirty acres 
in corn, all promising a good crop. In FeV)ruary, 
1878, Mr. Lofland was married to Miss T. J. 
Crawley, of Gravelly Hill Township, and they 
have three children: Wilburn, AValker and Battis. 
In politics Mr. Lofland is a Democrat. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is 
liberal in his support of all public enterprises. 

W. S. Lofland, senior member of the firm of 
W. S. Lofland & Co., general merchants at Bluff- 
ton, established the business in this town in 1S()7, 
and here he has since continued. He began with 
a capital of about $1,200, but business has in- 
creased until the firm now sells §15,000 worth of 
goods per annixm. They have a well assorted 
stock consisting of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, 
boots, shoes, harness, saddles, etc. Mr. Lofland 
is also interested in two other stores, one at Dar- 
danelle and another at Mineral Springs, ten miles 
from Bluffton. When Mr. Lofland commenced 
business in this county his entire worldly goods 
wonld not exceed 11,200. To-day he values his 
property at $75,000, which shows what can bo ac- 
complished on the sea of life when a determined 
hand is at the helm. He is also a stockholder and 
one of the directors of the Dardanelle Bank, the 
largest banking establishment in the county. He 
is the owner of about 3,000 acres of land, 000 of 
which are under a good state of cultivation and 
which he rents out. Mr. Lofland was born in 
Western Tennessee on April 24, 1831, and was 
reared to manhood on the farm. He received a 
limited education, and when about thirteen years 
of age moved to this county with his mother. He 



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was obliged to walk five miles to a poor country 
school to get his education. He began working 
for himself in 1853, and the same year went to 
California where he was engaged in mining for 
foiir years. He met with moderate success and 
then returned home where he was married in 1858 
to Miss Emily Gault, daughter of Judge Gault. 
He lived with her twenty-six years, when she died, 
leaving five children — four daughters and a son: 
Mary B. (wife of A. Edwards), Dora C. (married), 
Sarah A. (wife of L. Kelley), Lilly May and Seth 
W. After his marriage Mr. Lofland worked a 
farm until the breaking out of the war, and in 
August, 18fil, he enlisted in Company D, Hill's 
regiment, serving during the war. Some of the 
leading battles in which he engaged were Oak Hill, 
Prairie Grove, Jenkins' Ferry, Marks Mill and oth- 
ers of lesser note. He remained in service until 
the close of the war and then returned to his home 
where he entered the business as above mentioned. 
On January 13, 1888, he took for his second wife 
Miss Louie E. Kelly. Mr. Lofland is in no way 
connected with politics, but votes the Democratic 
ticket. He is a Mason, BlufFton Lodge, and is 
liberal in his support of all churches and other 
enterprises of a public nature. 

Thomas W. Lticas, of the well-known firm of 
Funk, Sewell, Lucas & Hays, proprietors of the 
Howard Mill, came to the State of Arkansas in 
December, 1878, settling first in Franklin County, 
where he remained until 1882, when he removed 
to Yell County, and followed farming until August 
of that year, when he bought an interest in the 
above firm, remaining with it ever since. He was 
born in Carroll County, Tenn., in December, 1847, 
the son of John Lucas, a native of South Carolina, 
but who was born and reared in Tennessee, and 
in 1857 removed to Mississippi, and remained there 
twenty-one years, when he came to this county. Our 
subject was married in November, 1878, in Mar- 
shall County, Miss., to Miss Sallie Quinn, daugh- 
ter of James O. Quinn, born in December, 1856. 
To them have been born three children: Ida, John 
B. and Thomas E. They are all members of the 
Advent Church, of Waveland. Mr. Lucas is a 
Democrat. He is always ready to assist and sup- 



port any enterprise of a public nature of interest 
of his town or county. The firm of which he is a 
member owns the Howard saw, planing and grist 
mills and cotton-gin, which embrace a plant cost- 
ing 15,000. They have capacity to turn out 10,000 
feet of lumber daily, and sell to the trade in their 
own and adjoining counties. 

James P. Lyingo, one of the most prominent 
farmers of the Fourche Valley, came to this county 
from Georgia in 1851, and settled on the farm 
where he now lives. He bought forty acres of land, 
and to this he has added from time to time, until 
he is now the owner of 430 acres, all good valley 
land. He has erected good, substantial buildings, 
keeps a good breed of stock, and in the manage- 
ment of everything connected with his farm he 
displays excellent judgment and thoroughness, 
qualities which can not fail of success. He was 
born April 5, 1830, and from an early age he has 
been familiar with the duties of the farm, it being 
quite natural, perhaps, that he should select this as 
his chosen calling. In the year 1854 his marriage 
with Miss Alvira Molder was consummated. They 
have no children. Mr. Lyingo' s advantages for 
an education were very limited during his youth, 
but this he has improved very materially in later 
years. He is a Democrat, but does not take a very 
active part in politics. He held the office of con- 
stable for some time, and filled that position in a 
very satisfactory manner. Although not a mem 
ber of any church, he is a liberal contributor to 
all, and is honored and respected far and near for 
his hospitality and kindness to the needy and dis- 
tressed. As a tiller of the soil he has been un- 
usually successful, and has 150 acres of his fine 
farm under cultivation. His principal crops are 
corn and cotton. 

T. C. Lynch, the popular member of the firm 
of Brunton & Lynch of Bellville, was born in Yell 
County in 1858, his father being James H. Lynch, 
of Tennessee, who married Martha Evans of North 
Carolina, she bearing him a family of ten children, 
T. C. being the seventh child. Coming to Arkan- 
sas in 1852, and locating in Yell County, they 
bought and broke land for a homestead, where the 
father died in 1875, and the mother is still livinw. 



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HISTOEY OF AEKANSAS. 



They were commnnicants of tbe Methodist Episco- 
I)al Church South. Our subject \yas early reared 
as a farmer, and on attaining his majority still fol- 
lowed this callin;^, buying a farm in 1887, which 
he sold in 1889, and purchased a place in town, 
where he established his present business. In 
1882 he married Miss Julia Bird of Georgia, who 
bore him five children: Oscar Wallace, Martha 
Emma, Malinda Altha, Alice Laura and an infant 
son unnamed. 

Judge J. E. McCall, an agriculturist of Herring 
Township, was born in Alabama, March 11, 1826, 
and is a son of John and Sarah (McCall) McCall, 
who were born in Richmond County, N.C., in 180U 
and March 4, 1804, respectively, but were wedded 
in Alaljama. The father, on his arrival in Alaba- 
ma, was elected county commissioner of Lowndes 
County, and was justice of the peace of Lowndes- 
boro Township for many years, and died in this 
State in 1849; his widow, still surviving and living 
in Alabama, is eighty-six years old, and of the 
Presbyterian faith, having been connected with 
that church for over seventy years. The subject 
of this sketch was united in marriage, in Dallas 
County, Mo. , December 29, 1 860, to Miss Fannie 
Wood, born in Johnson County, this State, Janu- 
ary 4, 1839, daughter of Isaac and Anna (Denton) 
Wood, and they became the parents of four chil- 
dren: Sarah (born in August, 1886, and deceased), 
Paul (born December 16, 1867), John C. (born Oc- 
tober 1, 1872). and William P. (born in 1874). In 
1861 he enlisted in the Missouri State Guards, 
serving six months, when he entered the Confed- 
erate Army, and joined Compan}' G, Eleventh Mis- 
souri Regiment of Infantry, and took part in the 
following battles: Elk Horn, Prairie Grove, Hel- 
ena, Pleasant Hill, Jenkins' Ferry, and was paroled 
at Shreveport, June, 1865. When peace was once 
more restored to the land ho came to Arkansas and 
engaged in farming, which has been his occupation 
ever since, and owns 235 acres of land, cultivat- 
ing sixty. In 1884, as an appreciation of the 
esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens, 
he was elected county judge, served two terms, 
and thus earned his present title of Judge. He 
has been a local preacher of the Methodist Episco- 



pal denomination for twenty two years, and him- 
self, wife and sons are members of a church of the 
same faith, and he socially belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity. 

Dr. William H. McCall, physician, Briggs- 
ville. Ark. Dr. McCall, an energetic practitioner, 
is recognized throughout this county as a friend 
and laborer in the cause and advancement of the 
medical jnofession, and has acquired a flattering 
reputation as a physician. He came with his 
father's family to this State from South Carolina 
in 1860, settled at Mount Holly, Union County, 
was reared on a farm, and remained with his 
father until his majority. His educational ad- 
vantages in youth were good and when he came to 
Arkansas, when seventeen years of age, he was 
fully prepared to enter college. But he was 
deprived of this privilege for several years on ac- 
count of the breaking out of the war. In 1861 
he engaged to teach a country school for |40 per 
month and continued this employment for about 
three years. About this time (October, 1864) his 
father died leaving a large family to support, 
and as he was the eldest child the care of the 
family devolved upon his shoulders. He gave up 
teaching and returned to the farm, where he re 
mained for three years, being very successful 
in this pursuit. During this time he had taken 
up the study oi; medicine. In 1867 he became a 
clerk in the general mercantile store of C. L. Mc- 
Eae & Co. at Mount Holly, Union County, and 
there he continued for six months, but being in- 
terested in the study of medicine, he left the firm 
in the fall of that year, to attend a course of lect- 
ures at Memphis, Tenn. The following spring he 
came to Briggsville Township, Yell County, and 
commenced the practice of medicine, which busi 
ness he has continued up to the present time, 
meeting with excellent success. About two years 
after his arrival he bought a tract of land contain- 
ing KIO acres, and in connection with his practice 
carried on agricultural pursuits. In 1875 he had 
sixty-five acres under cultivation, but in this year 
he sold his place and bought in the same neigh- 
borhood 360 acres, 50 acres of which were im- 
proved. He has added to that improvement until 



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YELL COUNTY. 



165 



be now has about 90 acres cleared, with good 
house, bams and outbuildings. He has, from 
time to time, made other purchases until he now 
owns about 1,800 acres of land, lying in this and 
adjoining townships. His principal crops are cot- 
ton and corn and he has about 000 acres under 
cultivation this year. He is also engaged in gen- 
eral merchandising at Briggsville, where he now 
resides, and is selling about ^10,000 worth of 
goods per year. In 1882 he with J. H. Waldron 
started a grist mill and cotton-gin, the first in the 
neighborhood, but Dr. McCall has since sold out 
his interest. Dr. McCall was born on May 28, 
1843, and was the son of Malcomb and Lydia 
(John) McCall, the latter a daughter of Daniel 
John. On July 27, 1870, our suljject was married 
to Miss Mary C. McRae, formerly of North Caro- 
lina. His political preferences are Democratic, 
and he was chairman of the central committee. 
He is an Old School Presbyterian and gives lib- 
erally of his means to churches and schools, as 
well as all other enterprises for the advancement of 
social and public interests. 

J. H. McCargo, the efficient and popular cir- 
cuit clerk of Yell Coiinty, was born in Charlotte 
County, Va. , the seventh in a family of eight born 
to John M. and Mary Ann (Ellis) McCargo, of 
Virginia. His parents were planters by occupa- 
tion. The father died in ISO-j, just before the sur- 
render of Gen. Lee, at Appomattox, and the mother 
in 1852, a worthy and consistent member of the 
Baptist Church. His paternal grandfather, Heze- 
kiah McCargo, an extensive and very prominent 
planter, died in Virginia, and his maternal grand- 
father, also a planter, and a descendant of a 
Scotch-Irish family. Mr. McCargo spent his youth 
in attendance upon the common schools of his 
native town, and at the Eockingham High School 
of North Carolina, where he was a student three 
years, thus gaining a most excellent education, 
which fitted him for teaching, which he soon took 
up. Being prevented through lameness from tak- 
ing a very active part, yet very anxious to serve in 
defense of his country, he entered the Confederate 
Army in 1864, and was assigned to some of the 
lighter duties of army life. When peace once more 



reigned, he took up the study of dentistry, and, 
upon receiving his diploma, established an office 
and practiced for eight years. On coming to Grav 
elly Hill, this State, he at once began negotiations 
for the erection of a building, to be used for school 
purposes and known as the Piedmont High School, 
in which he opened one of the best schools in the 
county, and which he taught for five years. The 
building is not only an ornament to the county, 
but reflects great credit on the founder of the in- 
stitution. In the fall of 1882 he changed his resi- 
dence to Danville, where for six years he served as 
circuit clerk, Maj. Gee's deputy, and at the expi- 
ration of Mr. Gee's term of office, was elected cir- 
cuit clerk, which office he filled for two years, and 
again in 1890 he was the successful nominee, being 
elected without an opposing vote. He was mar- 
ried in July, 1885, to Miss Ellen E. Pound, daughter 
of the Hon. T. W. Pound, formerly of North Caro- 
lina, but since 1841 a resident of Arkansas, and a 
lawyer of excellent repute, who before the war was 
circuit clerk for many years, and after its close was 
circuit judge, and in 1866 was the first Democrat 
elected to the General Assembly. Prior to his 
death in 1884, he was a resident and practitioner 
of Danville. His wife having preceded him to 
their final home in 1876, after having borne him a 
family of seven children, three of whom live in 
Yell County. Mr. and Mrs. McCargo are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and be- 
longing to the Masonic fraternity, he affiliates with 
the Danville Lodge No. 41. As a j)ublic official, 
he is most exemplary, discharging his duties in a 
manner befitting the office to which he is called, 
and he is everywhere recognized as a pleasant, ed- 
ucated and refined gentleman, an acquisition to the 
community in which he lives. 

Hugh B. McCarrell, the faithful and able sheriff 
of Yell County, was born in West Tennessee in 1846, 
his parents, Greene L. and Eliza (Duckworth) Mc- 
Carrell, were of Alabamaian and North Carolinian 
nativity, but were married in Tennessee, where the 
father followed farming till 1848, when he emi- 
grated to White County, thence in 1856 to Yell 
County, locating three miles west of Danville, 
where he bought land and worked it till 1862, 



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166 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



when iu response to his country's call he enlisted 
in Col. Lemoyne's First Mississippi Company, and 
while stationed at Little Rock was taken sick and 
died. His widow joined him in death in 1882. 
Our subject's school-days were somewhat of a very 
limited character, spending scarcely more than 
twelve months in the school room, but by self-ex- 
ertion and close observation has obtained a very 
fair education. In 1863 entering the Federal 
Army, remained till the close of hostilities, when 
he returned home and again took up farm duties, 
and in 1867 married Miss Louisa J. Briggs, daugh- 
of J. T. Briggs, also of Yell County, and who 
bore him the following family: Mary Lee (who 
died at the age of four), John M., William Sydney 
and Ada Elizabeth. The wife and two young- 
est children are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church South. In 1870 he moved to Danville 
and purchased the E. Haney farm of 280 acres 
with fifty cultivated, and a tract of 215 acres, with 
sixty acres under cultivation, two and one-half 
miles from town, and his residence. His land 
produces some of the finest timber in the county, 
and yields from one-half to one bale of cotton per 
year. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and since 
his residence in town has been a most active State 
and local politician, in 1884 being elected county 
treasurer on his ticket, serving for two years, and 
then elected county sheriff, which office he filled 
for two terms, ably performing the duties which 
fell upon him while in this office. As a man he 
is possessed of good sound judgment, and well 
worthy the honors which have been conferred upon 
him by his fellow-citizens. 

M. W. McClure. Among the early prominent 
settlers of Arkansas were Samuel and Mary (Cala- 
han) McClure, of North Carolina, and farmers by 
occupation, and who came to this State in 1840, 
locating in Fergeson Townsnip, Yell County, where 
the father entered 160 acres of land, making slight 
improvements, subsequently adding and improving 
200 more, on which they resided till their deaths, 
the father's occm-ring in 1857, and the mother fol- 
lowing him in 1858, dying in the Presbyterian 
faith. The father was a very active politician. 
Our subject, who was born in Tennessee, May 8, 



1826, was reared on a farm and when eighteen 
years of age started out to make his own way in the 
world, and on arriving at twenty-one (1847) bought 
eighty acres of his present farm, situated in the 
woods, clearing and improving this and adding to 
it till he now owns 127 acres, with thirty-five under 
cultivation. In the sixties, when the call for 
troops was given, he entered a company com- 
manded by Capt. Gault, remaining in it till it 
reached Little Rock, some time in 1862, when he 
went home. Soon after joining Capt. Daniel's 
company of cavalry, was in service in Indian Ter- 
ritory, and with Gen. Price on his famous raid 
throughout Missouri, and for twenty-one days was 
in continual hearing of battle, and at the time of 
the surrender was with the command iu Texas, 
and at its disbandment came home and once more 
took up farming. He was twice married. His 
first marriage taking jilace in February, 1847, to 
Miss Louisa Haney, daughter of John Haney, a 
pioneer from South Carolina. .She died in Sep- 
tember, 1862, leaving three children to her hus- 
band's care: Wintield (a resident of this county), 
Arkansas (wife of John Ward), Henry (married 
and lives in this county), and John (deceased at the 
age of eight j'ears). His second occurring in 1806 
to Mrs. Mary A. McClure, widow of John McClure, 
and daughter of Edmond Jones, who came from 
South Carolina in 1842 to Arkansas, and died in 
1864, his widow dying in 1877. To them were 
born four children: Clara (wife of Anda HuofF, 
and who died when only nineteen), Willie, Mamie 
and Samuel. He and family are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always taken 
an active interest in politics, and was the successful 
candidate for county treasurer in 1880, serving two 
terms; and is deeplj' interested in school matters, 
being a director of the first free school iu the coun- 
ty; is a Mason, belonging to Christian Lodge No. 
394. 

Dr. A. H. McKenzie. In 1832 Arthur A. 
McKenzie, a native of York County, S. C, born in 
1808, was united in marriage to Rachel E. Barnett, 
also of that county and State, and born in 1810, 
and they became the happy parents of eight chil- 
dren, of whom Dr. A. H. McKenzie is the youngest 



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YELL COUNTY. 



167 



son, having been born iu his parents' native 
county April 18, 1849. The senior McKenzie was 
a farmer, miller and stock dealer by occiipation, 
and in 18G1 enlisted in Company B of the Fifth 
Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteers, com- 
manded by Capt. W. H. Bowen, and in 1802 was 
discharged on account of old age. He died in his 
native State in 1875 a believer of the Presbyterian 
faith, being an elder in the Old School Church of 
that denomination. His widow also died in this 
State in 1889 a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. The Doctor was educated in the Kings 
Mountain Military School, and acquired his pro 
fessional knowledge in the medical department of 
the University of Maryland. Graduating March 

4, 1872, he chose as his first place of settlement 
his native county, where he opened an office and 
began his practice. He came to Arkansas in June, 
1872, and January 9 of the succeeding year mar- 
ried Miss Mary J. McKenzie, who was born August 
31, 1854, and is the daughter of David V. and 
Rebecca (Nolen) McKenzie. To Dr. A. H. and 
M. J. McKenzie have been born ten children: 
David A., Samuel A., Joseph B. (deceased), Carrie 
R. , Walter M., Bergie H., Hattie E., Irvin A., 
Archie S. and James I. Soon after he settled in 
this county the Doctor bought 170 acres of land 
and has improved seventy. He is a Mason of high 
degree, being worshipful master of Centerville 
Lodge No. 462, scribe of Dardauelle Chapter No. 
64, and a member of the Eastern Star. He and 
wife worship with the Presbyterian Church, and as 
a physician he is the trusted friend of his many 
patrons, and his influence for good is felt through- 
out the community. He has recently taken up his 
residence in Dardanelle to educate his children and 
practice his profession. 

James M. McKenzie was born iu York County, 

5. C, November 26, 1851, and is the youngest son 
of David and Rebecca (Noleu) McKenzie, origi- 
nally of South Carolina and North Carolina, the 
father born in 1818 and the mother iu 1821. David 
McKenzie was a farmer and emigrated from South 
to North Carolina at an early day, thence to Ar- 
kansas in 1857, settling on land in Yell County, 
where he died in 1879, a member in good standing 



in the Old School Presbyterian Church. His 
widow surviving and living with her daughter, Mrs. 
Cain, of this county, is also a member of this church. 
When twenty-two years old our subject bought a 
farm and began life for himself on his own land, 
and is now the owner of 160 acres of fine fertile 
land, with eighty-five acres in a good state of culti- 
vation, and in 1889 erected a substantial two- story 
residence on his farm. In 1873 he married Miss 
Lucretia Scarlett, who was born in Pope County 
in 1846, and is a daughter of William and Jane 
Scarlett, and the result of this marriage is a family 
of sis children: Uriah, Edgar, Leroy, Lelar, 
Ernest and Verna. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie, like 
their parents, are faithful members of the Presby- 
terian Church, and he is a progressive farmer and 
carpenter, and takes an interest in public improve 
ments, contributing liberally to all charitable and 
educational in.stitutions. Politically he votes the 
Democratic ticket. 

David S. McNeely, farmer. Gravelly Hill, Ark. 
Mr. McNeely, one of the principal farmers of 
Gravelly Hill Township, was born in Humphreys 
County, Tenn., on August 30, 1844, and moved 
with his father to Graves County, Ky., in 1852. 
There he grew to manhood. On August 30, 1S62, 
he entered the Confederate Army, Company B, 
Second Kentucky Cavalry Regiment, and served 
until peace was declared. He was in the battles 
of Providence, Fort Donelson, Red Hill, Union 
City, Chiokamauga, Shelbyville, and others of 
minor importance. He was with Gen. Bragg iu 
his retreat from Shelbyville, Tenn., to Chattanooga, 
and during that retreat he was in the fight at Elk 
River Bridge. He was cut off from his command 
at Shelbyville, and was three days getting back 
awain, traveling by night. He was with Wheeler's 
command in the raid through Central Tennessee. 
At Missionary Ridge he was taken prisoner and 
retained for fourteen months at Rock Island. He 
was to be exchanged in March, 1865, but before 
this could be effected peace was declared. He 
then returned to his home in Kentucky, where he 
again resumed his occupation as a tiller of the soil. 
In 1868 he was married to Miss Louisa Hendon, 
who died in 1870. She was the daughter of Aaron 



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168 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



Hendon. In January, 1870, Mr. MeNeely moved 
to Drew County, Ark., and purchased a tract of 
500 acres of land which he settled on and improved. 
He resided there about four years and then sold 
out and came to Yell County where he now resides. 
He purchased a farm of 120 acres, which he has 
improved and made a pleasant home. In the year 
1881, while walling a well, he had his right leg 
broken by the falling of rock, and was laid up for 
five weeks. The following year, while heljiing a 
carpenter, a piece of timber fell breaking the same 
leg, which laid him up for seven weeks. In Jan- 
uary, 1872, he was married, the second time, to 
Miss Adelia Julian, daughter of Dr. T. J. Julian, 
and the fruits of this union were seven children, 
all sons, four of whom are now living. Mr. Me- 
Neely is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, 
and has been deacon in the same for ten years. 
He holds license to preach, and is clerk and treas- 
urer of the association. In politics he affiliates 
with the Democratic party, and was at one time 
deputy sheriff of his county. In 1876 he was 
elected justice of the peace, and has held that posi- 
tion ever since with the exception of two years. 
He has been an earnest worker in educational mat- 
ters, and is president of the board of education of 
the Piedmont High School. He is thoroughly im- 
bued with the spirit of the Master, and doing all 
that he can for the cause of Christianity in this 
and adjoining counties. He is in every sense of 
the term a good man, and his worth is recognized 
in his vicinity. 

Mitchell Malone, deceased. This gentleman, 
who was one of the honored and esteemed citizens 
of the county, was born in Alabama, on February 
2, 1825. He was reared on the farm and received 
a limited education in the common schools. In 
November, 1870, he emigrated to Arkansas and 
bought a tract of land containing 190 acres in Yell 
County the following year. This he imjiroved un- 
til he had about thirty-three acres under cultiva- 
tion, erected a box house and other small buildings. 

He was twice married, first to Miss Mary , 

who died in 1858, leaving foiir children, and on 
November 2, 1858, he was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth Crowell, who became the mother of eight chil- 



dren, six of whom are living: Phoebe C, James 
H. , Orena Bell, George, Rosa and Anna. Phoebe 
and James are married, and the others are at home 
with their mother. The father of these children 
died in Yell County, Ark., in 1877, and in his 
death the county keenly felt the loss of one of her 
much esteemed citizens. His widow, Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Malone, was born August 13, 1839, in Ala- 
bama, and is the daughter of Harris Crowell, one of 
the successful farmers of that State. She was 
reared on the farm, and although her educational 
advantages were not of the best, she was faithfully 
di'illed in industrious habits, which beaten track 
she has ever since followed. At the death of her 
husband she was left with eight small children, the 
eldest not over fourteen years of age, and with her 
own hands and the help of her children, she cleared 
seventy acres, which she cultivated. She paid 
$1,500 for the farm, erected a good house, 40x42, 
with a wing 18x18 feet, and also erected a good 
barn besides other outbuildings. She has a good 
apple and peach orchard which she planted, and 
which now supplies her with abundance of fruit, 
and has many other luxuries which are the work 
of this wonderfully determined and resolute lady. 
Although she received limited educational advant- 
ages herself, she is giving her children the benefit 
of a liberal schooling. She is a member of the 
Baptist Church, and is among the foremost to aid 
all who are helpless and in need, giving liberally 
of her means to all enterprises of a laudable nature. 
She has the respect and best wishes of the entire 
community. 

Hon. William N. May, one of the representative 
judges of Dardanelle, and known as a man of high 
moral character, and in no way belittling his repu- 
tation for strict integrity and uprightness, was 
born in Carroll County, Tenn., January 12, 1827, 
and is the son of William May, a farmer, born in 
An.son County, N. C, and Mary Amma King, born 
in Humphreys County, Tenn., in 1810, the daugh- 
ter of James and Isabella King; she departed this 
life in Johnson County, Ark., in 1855, leaving a 
family of ten children to the care of her husband. 
The patei-nal grandfather was a soldier in the War 
of the Revolution, and some of his sons fought in 



:±. 



YELL COUNTY. 



169 



the War of 1812. Judge May spent his boyhood 
days on a farm, and being exceptional!}' bright and 
intelligent, and very fond of books and study, he 
took a four years' course in the academy of Harde- 
man County, Tenn., mathematics, history and 
grammar being his specialties. In his youth he 
formed the idea of becoming a merchant, and with 
this object in view, accepted the positions of clerk 
in Clarksville and Danville, winning an unenviable 
business reputation, and at the expiration of three 
years, partly on credit, and partly with money fur- 
nished by himself and partner, he established a 
mercantile business at Danville, which he con- 
ducted for eight years, when he retired, worth 
$5,000. Purchasing books, he began the reading 
of law, under preceptors, and in 1857 was admitted 
to the bar in Danville, and in 1S58 came to Darda- 
nelle, making it his permanent home. He has a 
large and extensive practice, practicing in the cir- 
cuit, supreme and federal courts of the State, and 
in 1868 was elected to the Arkansas Legislature, 
and during his term of otlice introduced several 
bills, which j)assed and became statute laws; was 
chairman of the committee on rules, and on July 
23, while still a member of the Legislature, he re- 
ceived an appointment from Gov. Clayton, as judge 
of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of the State, tilling 
this office acceptably and well for many years. 
July 8, 1874, he tendered his resignation to Gov. 
Baxter, who refused to accept it, thus obliging 
him to remain in office till the ensuing election, 
which took place November 10, 1874, since which 
date he has served as school director, and was a 
member of the Kepublican State Central Committee. 
He makes a specialty of real estate suits, and his 
only decision ever carried to the United States Su- 
preme Court was sustained, it being on the ques- 
tion. Whether a note given for negroes in 1859 
was collectible under the constitution of 1868. At 
the outbreak of hostilities between the North and 
South, the Judge, with a number of others, being 
obliged to leave Arkansas, removed his family (o 
Chicago, where they sojourned for eighteen months, 
and while here, busied himself in compiling a di- 
gest of the reports of the Supreme Courts of Ar- 
kansas, arranging the work in twenty-two volumes. 



After the surrender, and peace once more reigned, 
he returned to Dardanelle, and resumed his prac- 
tice, which brought him an income of between 
$5,000 and $6,000 a year. In March, 1864, he 
received an appointment as commissioner of elec- 
tion of Y'ell County from Gov. Murphy, and in 
April, 1868, the same executive commissioned him 
circuit judge, but he never qualified. Commenc- 
ing life with scarcely $100, he now owns a very 
tine residence in Dardanelle, worth $12,000, and 
7,000 acres of land in Yell and adjoining coun- 
ties, including much valuable river bottom land. 
Judge May has been twice married, his first wife 
being Miss Martha C. Perry, born in Tennes- 
see, and daughter of Jeremiah Perry, a planter, 
and native of North Carolina, to whom he was 
married in Yell County, February 10, 1853, and 
who died in 1857, leaving one child, Martha 
Cherry (born in this county November 6, 1857). 
On April 2, 1860, he took for his second wife, Mary 
A. E. Hust, of Montgomery County, Tenn. In 
his early political career the Judge was a D<<mo- 
crat, but during the progress of the Kebellion, he 
became a Republican of the most pronounced type, 
and was a tirm friend and stanch supporter of 
Gov. Clayton, when serving as governor and United 
States Senator. Socially, he is a Master Mason, 
being initiated into the mysteries of the Danville 
Lodge No. 41, in the year 1851, and has been an 
honored official, filling all the chairs in this so- 
ciety, and in 1854 was a member of the Grand 
Lodge. In religion, his parents being strict mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church, he was raised in 
that belief, joining the church when eleven years 
old, and is now serving as steward of that denomi- 
nation, and in July, 1881, he was chosen as lay 
delegate to represent his church in the general 
conference. The Judge is held in high esteem 
throughout the community, and is noted for the 
hospitable and unostentatious manner of entei'tain- 
ment of his guests, which are manj\ 

Will A. F. May, known to the bench and bar 
of Yell County as one of the most promising young 
lawyers and ever popular register of the United 
States Land Office, was born in Chicago, November 
5, 1864, and is the only child of Judge William N. 



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170 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



and Mary A. E. (Hust) May. (See sketch of fa- 
tlier.) William May, Jr., was reared aud educated 
in his adopted town, where his educational advan- 
tages were very good, he being a student and 
gi'aduate from the high school of the place. At 
the age of eighteen, preparatory to entering the 
law department of the Ann Arbor University of 
Michigan, ho began reading law under his father. 
Graduating from this university with the degree 
of LL. B. , July 1, 1880, he formed a partner- 
ship with his father and were known as William N. 
May & Son. He continued as a member of this 
tirm till August 3, 188U, when ho received his 
present governmental appointment. Like the ma- 
jority of residents of Yell County, he owns his 
home, a neat cottage, six town lots, and manages a 
200-acre tract of fine river bottom land, 160 acres 
being thoroughly cultivated, and is the happy pos- 
sessor of a cottage on beautiful Mount Neljo, where 
he and family sojourn for their summer's outing. 
His marriage with Miss Lillie B. Mepham, of St. 
Louis, took place in that city, October 13, 1886; she 
is a daughter of William G. Mepham, a large paint 
manufacturer of St. Louis. This marriage has 
been blessed with one child, Arthur Ruport. Mrs. 
May is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South. Our subject politically votes with 
the Republican party, and is in every way worthy 
the res[)ect and esteem conferred upon him ljy his 
fellow citizens. 

Napoleon B. Mills, one of the progressive 
agriculturists of Dardanelle Towiiship, came to 
this State in the fall of 1878 from Tennessee, the 
home of his grandparents and j)arents, the latter 
having been Russ and Surlina (Keesee) Mills, all 
farmers ))y occupation, and who lived and died 
there, the father dying May Ki, 1842, his widow 
surviving him till March '28, 1887. Ttiey were 
the parents of five children, their son. Napoleon, 
who was born in Oliion County, in 1833, being the 
third in order of birth. He was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools of his native 
State, and when twenty years old Ijegan life for 
himself as a car[)enter, and when twenty-two mar- 
ried Miss Mary Marlow, also of Tennessee, and 
daughter of William Marlow, who departed this 



life in 1862, his widow surviving him but a short 
time. This union resulted in the births of the fol- 
lowing family: Polyxna (born February 3, 1858, 
and wife of Frank Findley, of Tennessee), Nannie 
(born March 7, 1860, and wife of J. H. Swindle, 
of Arkansas), Laura (born March 12, 1862, and 
wife of A. L. Jones), Robert Lee (born March 31, 
1864, and died in infancy), Hinton (born April 23, 
1866, and wife of B. L. Holder, of Tennessee), 
William Russell (born January 6, 1869), George 
Keesee (born May 4, 1871), Lillie (born December 

11, 1873). Katie May (born April 20, 1877), Mary 
Ida (born March 20, 1879), Emma (born August 

12, 1883), and Mama Belle (born September 7, 
1883). The year following his marriage he 
bought 100 acres of land in West Tennessee, 
which he farmed till his removal to Arkansas, 
when he purchased KSO acres, 60 of which he 
cleared, and set out some fruit trees, which have 
proved a good investment as an orchard, and is the 
owner of some fine stock. He has also a neat and 
commodious residence on his place. In 1886 he 
bought forty acres of river bottom land, which 
yields about a bale of cotton and sixty or seventy 
bushels of corn to the acre. He is a thorough 
business man, a liberal donator to all educational 
interests, and has been school director for some 
time. Himself and family are communicants of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Mills has 
always been a stanch Democrat and a true South 
ern man. He did not take an active part in the 
Civil War, from the fact that he had a large 
rupture in the side, which he received while in an 
unfortunate ditficulty. He is opposed to high 
protective tariff and all trusts. 

Dr. John E. Mitchell, of Marvinville, one of 
the leading and most successful physicians in Yell 
County came to the village in which he now lives 
in January, 1883, from Conway Station. He be- 
gan the study of medicine with Dr. Kincheloe, of 
Conway Station, staying with him one year, when 
he took a coiirseof lectures in the Missouri Medical 
College, of St. Louis, Mo., remaining there two 
terms, and graduating in 1882. After receiving 
his diploma he came to this county, and, locating 
at Marvinville, succeeded in building up a practice 



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that amouDts to aboiit ?3,000 per year. In 1886 
Dr. Mitchell purchased the Marviaville Mill, which 
he conducted until December, 1889, when he sold 
it to its present owners. About the same time he 
sold his first residence and bought his present 
home. Dr. Mitchell was born in Quitman, Van 
Buren County, January 21, 1861, the son of Robert 
D. and Anna (England) Mitchell, natives of Ala- 
bama and Missouri, respectively. His father 
worked at the carpenter's trade most of his life, 
and at the breaking out of the war enlisted in the 
army, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh in 
1862. Dr. J. E. Mitchell was reared to manhood 
at Quitman, where he remained until 1878, when he 
went to Conway Station, there beginning his pro- 
fessional career, as above stated. He was married 
on April 14, 1885, to Miss Anna M. Smith, daugh- 
ter of J. M. Smith, a native of Tennessee, born 
on November 1, 1867. They have two children: 
Erey M. and John E. In his political views the 
Doctor is a Democrat. 

Joseph Mitchell. Samuel and Harriet (Cavin- 
der) Mitchell, parents of him whose name heads 
this sketch, claim Tennessee as the land of their 
birth and marriage, Samuel being born in 1815, 
and his wife in 1817, and were the parents of sev- 
en children. Our subject, being fifth in order of 
birth, was born in Hamilton County, March 20, 
1849. The senior Mitchell, being induced by the 
fertility of the soil and the invigorating climate of 
the State of Arkansas, emigrated from his native 
heath in 1854, and settled in this county, where he 
entered 120 acres of land, built a log cabin and 
began to improve his land, which, later on, he sold, 
and bought 200 acres in the same neighborhood, 
which he cultivated and worked till his death, in 
1865, his widow surviving him till 1867, when she 
passed to her long home, a member of the Baptist 
Church. Our subject, also a farmer, which calling 
he has followed all his life, is the owner of three 
fine tracts of land, 160 acres on his home place, 
twenty-eight cultivated, and two in orchard of 
some of the well-known varieties of peaches, ap- 
ples and plums; has eighty acres on Dutch Creek, 
with fifty improved and two tenement houses, and 
120 in this same neighborhood, lying about three 



miles from his homestead, and here he has fifty 
acres broken, a productive orchard, one tenement 
house, thirty head of cattle, five horses and a num- 
ber of hogs. On February 21, 1881, he was wed- 
ded to Mrs. Margaret A. Gatliu, widow of William 
Gatlin, who had one daughter by her former mar- 
riage, Ursey. To them were born four children: 
Samuel, Harriet A., James (deceased) and Foley A. 
His wife and her daughter are members of the 
Baptist Church, and ho is the township's popular 
justice of the peace, having been elected to this 
office in 1872; socially is a Mason, belonging to 
Dutch Creek Lodge No. 209, wherein he has been 
worshipful master and filled the chair of senior 
warden and senior deacon for some time. 

Dr. John M. Montgomery, Sr. , one of the old- 
est practitioners in the county of Yell, and like 
many other prominent citizens of the county, a na- 
tive of Tennessee, was born in Giles County on 
March 11, 1823. He was reared on a farm in 
Hardeman County, Tenn., and his early opportu- 
nities for an education were limited. In 1841 he 
began for himself as a farmer, but feeling the need 
of a better education he entered the college at 
Bethel, Tenn., in the fall of that year. He re 
mained there until March, 1843, when his father 
died, and he was obliged to return home to take 
care of the estate. He left home in 1844, and on 
January 1, 1845, he was married to Miss Angelene 
G. Strickland, daughter of S. S. Strickland of Tip- 
pah County, Miss. The Doctor settled in the last 
named county, and was there engaged in farming 
and teaching school until 1853, when his wife died 
leaving him with four children — three sons and a 
daughter: James Scott, Mary G., Samuel J. and 
John M. The eldest died in Texas, and the re- 
mainder are married, and two are living in Arkan- 
sas. The other is in the Lone Star State. After 
the death of his wife Dr. Montgomery was given 
a circuit and began preaching for the Meth- 
odist Church, leading the life of an itinerant 
preacher for two years. He was at this time lo- 
cated in North Mississippi, and during this time 
he began reading medicine. In the fall of 1854 
he took a course of lectures at Memphis, Tenn., 
and later began practicing in Marshall County, 



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Miss. He took a second course of lectures in 1855 
at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in 1855. In 
the fall of that year, October 17, he was married 
to Miss Martha G. Nichols of Marshall County, 
Miss. He continued the practice of medicine for 
five years in that county and then removed to Fay- 
ette County of that State, where he remained until 
1805, when he removed to Abbeville on the Mis- 
sissippi Central Railroad, continuing his practice 
at that place for fifteen years. From there be 
moved to Conway Station, Faulkoer County, Ark., 
continuing there five years, and in the fall of 1885 
he came to Rover Township, Yell County, Ark. 
On December 3, 1887, he moved to Gravelly Hill, 
where he now resides and where he has continued 
bis practice until the present time. During all 
this time he has also given his attention to minis- 
terial work. When be came to this township he 
bought a tract of patially improved land, and since 
then he has erected buildings, and made many im- 
portant changes. Part of this tract he has sold off 
into town lots. He is the father of twelve living 
children, all grown up and married but two. He is 
a Jacksonian Democrat in polities. He is one of a 
company endowing the academy at this place. 

Dr. H. L. Montgomery, the popular physician 
of Herring Township, was born in Mississippi on 
September 29, 1865, and is a son of John M. and 
Martha (Strickland) Montgomery, who were natives 
of iMcNairy County, Teiin., and Marshall County, 
Miss., respectively, and were married in the latter 
State, and to them were born a family of thirteen 
children. His father a Methodist minister for 
many year.s, and a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity, emigrated to Arkansas in 1879, locating in 
Faulkner County, and himself and wife worship as 
meml)ers of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. The Doctor received the greater part of 
his education at Oxford, Miss., and Ijegan his med- 
ical studies in 1880 and commenced practice in 
1881 on the Arkansas bottoms, thence South Bush 
in 1888-84, and attended lectures at Little Rock 
in 1885-86, and on August 12, of the next year, 
was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Hessing, who 
was V)orn in this coimty December 28, 1867. Her 
parents. Bright W. and Sarah (Ivey) Hessing, were 



natives of Haywood County, Tenn., and were born 
January 8, 1832, and May 9, 1836, and were the 
parents of ten children. Her father was captain of 
Company F, of Third Arkansas Regiment of Cav- 
alry, and belonged to the Masonic order. The 
Doctor and wife are the happy parents of two chil- 
dren: Lawrence E. and Ohma. In religion he and 
wife worship with the same denomination as did 
their deceased parents — MethodistEpiscopalChiirch 
South. As a medical adviser the Doctor is held 
in high esteem by his many patients, and is hon- 
ored throughout his community for bis courteous 
and gentlemanly dealing with his fellow-men. 
Mrs. Montgomery is the owner of a fourth interest 
in a 213 acre tract of land in this county. 

William E. Murdock, farmer, Gravelly Hill, 
Ark. Among all classes and in every condition of 
life whore the struggle for a livelihood is going on, 
where can we find independence more forcibly il- 
lustrated than in the life of the industrious, enter- 
prising farmer. Mr. Murdock, one of the foremost 
tillers of the soil in this locality, was born in 
Walker County, Ga. , July 18, 1855, and he was 
early trained to the duties of the farm. His edu 
cational advantages during youth were not of the 
best, but this he has improved very materially since 
growing up, and is to-day a well-informed man. 
His father, Daniel Murdock, died about 1861, and 
left a widow and four small children — two sons and 
two daughters — of whom our subject was the eldest. 
The father was killed in the battle of Chickamauga. 
About six years later the mother removed from 
there, and four years later removed with her fam- 
ily to this county. At that time William E. was 
about seventeen years of age and he started out to 
fight the battle of life for himself, as a hired band. 
While serving in that capacity he made arrange- 
ments to attend school during the winter, and 
worked on the farm during the summer season. 
This be continued for four years. From there 
he went to work for H. C. Haney, with whom he 
remained one year. August 25, 1878, he married 
Mi.ss Martha C. Haney, daughter of J. J. Haney, 
who was killed while in the army. Mrs. Murdock 
was born near Danville, this county, January 9, 
1862. After his marriage Mr. Murdock bought 



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the place where he now lives, and now has eighty 
acres under cultivation. He erected a good house, 
barns and other outbuildings, and is prosperous 
and successful. His farm consisted of 160 acres, and 
in 1S87 he bought another tract of forty acres, 
which is valuable for its timber. His princij)al 
crops are corn and cotton. To his marriage have 
been born five children, all sons: Jordan E., Luther 
N., Grover C, Herbert O. and Chester S. Mr. 
Murdoek is a Democrat. He has been elected jus- 
tice of the peace for five successive terms, giving 
the best of satisfaction. He has also been elected 
school director for two successive terms, and takes 
a deep interest in educational matters. He is 
guardian of the estate of Albert S. Haney, son of 
H. C. Haney (deceased). Though he has lived in 
the county most of his life, he has never been sick, 
and has never found it necessary to have a physi- 
cian in his house. 

John 11. Neelly is counted as one of the most 
prosperous merchants and successful planters of 
Neelly Post-office, a station sis miles below Darda- 
nelle. He was born at Oxford, Miss., in 1847, 
and was the youngest child and second son in a 
family of nine born to Eli and Ellen (Craig) Neelly, 
of Tennessee nativity, and now deceased, the 
father in 1888 at the age of eighty-two, and the 
mother in 18r)7. The senior Neelly was born in 
Maury County, Tenn., where he grew to manhood, 
and in 1850 left Mississippi to go to Arkansas, 
locating near Dardanelle, this State, subsequently 
taking up his residence on the farm now owned by 
his son. He was a member in good standing and 
an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and was one 
of the. number who assisted in the organization of 
the church of this faith at Dardanelle. Our sub- 
ject received his early training and schooling in 
Dardanelle. During this period of his life the 
threatenings of war became a reality, and his 
studies were suspended till the close of the great 
conflict, when he again took them up, becoming a 
student in the school at Clarksville and other insti- 
tutes of learning in Arkansas. On the completion 
of his school days our subject began farming on 
the place purchased conjointly by himself and 
father, and is now the possessor of 400 acres of 



land cleared and thoroughly improved with a fine 
residence and good substantial outbuildings. In 
1882 he opened a store on his farm, here doing a 
business of $10,000 annually. The post oflSce at 
Neelly (named in honor of him), of which he is 
the efficient postmaster, was established in 1880. 
In 1877 he, in company with several others, bought 
a tract of forty acres on the bench of Mount Nebo, 
and he was the second to settle on the moimtain, 
building the first frame house there and doing 
much to enhance the value and popularity of the 
locality. From his cottage is commanded a most 
magnificent view of the surrounding country. In 
politics he aifiliates with the Democratic party. 
He has been twice married, first in 187G to Mrs. 
Nannie (Gibson) Stone, daughter of Joseph Gib- 
son, one of Yell County's eminent pioneers. After 
a marriage of three short years this wife died, 
leaving him childless, and in 1882 he led to the 
altar Miss Hallie Talbert, of Mississippi, whose 
father afterward removed to Arkansas, where he 
died. To this union have been given four chil- 
dren: John Eli, Bessie Grace, Mary Hellen and 
Lila Irma. Himself and family are members of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

William T. Nolan, a blacksmith and wagon- 
maker by trade, being attracted by the rich forests 
of oak and hickory, which grew in and about Yell 
County, came to Bellville in 1882 for the purpose 
of engaging in business. After prospecting and 
looking around he connected himself with Mr. May, 
and is now known as the senior member of the 
firm of Noland & May, wagon-makers, cabinet- 
makers and blacksmiths, and also owners of the 
extensive planing-mill plant, which was added to 
their immense business in 1888, and is fully sup- 
j)lied with machinery for cutting out spokes and 
felloes, and making a greater part of the wood- 
work of the wagons manufactured in his shops, 
the material being supplied from the native timber. 
He was born in 1855, in the State of Mississippi, 
to Javid and Emma P. (Reese) Nolan, also of Mis- 
sissippi, and who followed farming as an occupa- 
tion. After the father's death, January 15, 1870, 
our subject left school with a very limited educa- 
tion, and assumed the care of his widowed mother 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



and an infant sister, who, having grown to maturity, 
has since married and resides in this county, his 
mother remaining with him till her death, August 
3, 1890, being fifty-two years old. He was mar- 
ried November 10, 1878, to Tennessee Payne, who 
was born December 21, 1800, and was a daughter 
of Marcus and Nancy Payne, of Arkansas and Mis- 
sissippi nativity. To this union were born seven 
children: Idella Vincent, Jessie, Cleveland and 
Mary Annie (living); Buffing, Ada and Javid (de- 
ceased). He and family are worthy members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and so- 
cially he has been initiated into the Christian Lodge 
No. 391, of the A. F. & A. M., and politically votes 
with the Democratic party. As a citizen he is active 
and enterprising, doing everything in his power to 
aid and promote the interests of his county. 

Henry J. Page, one of the pioneer farmers of 
this county, emigrated to this State in 1858, when 
it was very sparsely settled, and pre-empted 320 
acres of Government land in what is now Prairie 
Township, paying 50 cents an acre. He came 
with his family and household goods in a prairie 
schooner, and unloaded them within fifty feet of 
where his house now stands, in the fall of the 
above-mentioned year, since which time he has im- 
proved and cultivated ninety acres of as good land 
as there is in the township, on which are a com- 
fortable house, barn and other buildings. He was 
born in the Palmetto State, Feliruary 20, 1823, 
and is the great-grandson of Nathaniel Page, who 
was born in England in 1730; when twelve years 
old he was brought to this country and raised to 
manhood in Virginia. His eldest son, Richard 
Page, was father of John Page, the father of our 
subject, the father born in Virginia, December 17, 
1779, and was married to Elizabeth Vaughn, in 
1822, and were the parents of nine children, seven 
of whom came to this county, three having since 
died. H. J. Page, the eldest son of John Page, 
was united in marriage to Miss Susan, daughter of 
Robert Page, of South Carolina, she having borne 
him ten children, all of whom are living: John J. 
(born October 21, 1857, and married Ann Hanks), 
Martha E. (born October 1, 1859, and married 
James Towel), Roliert N. (born November 2, 1801, 



and married Mollie Lynn), Mary A. (born Febru- 
ary 12, 1864, and married E. B. Harris), Henry 
R. (born July 10, living at home, and a partner in 
the store with his father), Susan A. E. (born Feb- 
ruary 21, 1869. and married to William Evans), 
Nathaniel E. (born September 5, 1871), Lydia I. 
(born April 18, 1874), Amos T. (born August 22, 
1877), and Arthur A. (born April 13, 1880). Our 
subject did not take any part in the late Rebellion 
on account of ill health, yet was a victim to the 
depredations of both armies, and saw his last 
horse taken from him. He is a quiet and peaceful 
citizen and belongs to the Masonic lodge of Chick- 
alah. 

John Murfree Parker, a well-known member of 
the bar of Dardanelle, was born near Danville, Ark., 
November 24, 1849, to George W. T. and Matilda 
C. Parker. His paternal grandfather. King Par- 
ker, and grandmother, Martha, removed from 
Hertford County, N. C, in the year 1817, and set- 
tled near Gallatin, Tenn., and raised a family of 
five sons and three daughters. The youngest son, 
the said George W. T., studied medicine, gradu- 
ated at the Louisville Medical College; came to the 
State of Arkansas, and in 1 844 married Miss Matilda 
C. Simpson, in what was then known as Jefferson 
County; moved to and settled on the farm where 
his son, John M. , was born, and, being strictly 
temperate and quite energetic, he soon became 
very popular, acquiring an extensive practice in 
his profession, and became the owner of a large 
body of land, on which he established a comfort- 
able home, and with slave labor opened up and 
cultivated a good farm. During the late war the 
dwelling-house and afterward much of the fenc- 
ing around the farm was destroyed. To them, 
the said George W. T. Parker and wife, were born 
eight children: Mary J., Alcinda E., John M., 
Adelia F., Cherry Wilua, George C. and two other 
sons who died in infancy. The said John M. Par- 
ker's maternal grandfather, Thompson Simpson, 
and grandmother, Frances, removed from Fairfax 
County, Va., and settled on the Arkansas River, 
below the present site of Pine Bluff, at an early 
day, and the said Thompson Simpson engaged in 
selling goods and planting. He raised a family of 



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YELL COUNTY. 



175 



two sons and five daugbters. The subject of our 
sketch attended school prior to 18G1, but during 
the period of more than four years, while the war 
was going on, he had the misfortune to be entirely 
deprived of educational facilities, and to sustain 
the loss of his mother, whose death occurred in 
August, 18(13; and his father, whose death oc- 
curred in March, 1804. After the war he was 
placed under a guardian, and attended school at 
Dardanelle about nine months. In March, 1868, 
he began the study of medicine, and in the winter 
of 1868-69 attended a course of lectures at Nash- 
ville, Tenn., but, not liking this profession, he 
abandoned it in the spring of 1869, and at once 
commenced the study of law, borrowing books for 
the pursuit of this study. He had his disabil- 
ities, as minor, removed for the purpose, and was 
admitted to the bar in May, 1870, and at once be- 
gan practice in Danville. In the fall of 1871 he 
entered into partnership with Hon. Thomas W. 
Pound, which proved both pleasant and profitable, 
and continued for several years. In the latter part 
of 1889 he removed to and opened an office in Dar- 
danelle. He is the owner of much valuable real 
estate, consisting of about 1,200 acres, also has a 
block with residence in Danville, and property in 
other towns. He was county attorney for a short 
time soon after his admission to the bar. In 1880 
he was an independent candidate for State senator, 
but was defeated. In 1888 was a candidate for 
presidential elector on the Prohibition ticket. 
With the exception of the active race made for 
senator, he has taken little interest in politics; has 
ever been strictly temperate, an active temperance 
worker, and is now an ardent Prohibitionist. He 
married a daughter of R. J. and Mary J. Wood- 
ard, who are old pioneer residents of the county. 
His marriage to Miss Malinda I. Woodard was cel- 
ebrated July 1, 1875, and to this union have been 
born six children: J. Hobart, Harley M. , Cordelia 
J., Herbert W., Olan and one unnamed (deceased). 
He and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. 

Dr. George C. Parker takes his place in the 
history of Yell County as one of its rising and 
most promising young doctors. He was born and 



raised in this county, his birth taking place in 18.58 
near Bellville, his present home, and was the sixth 
child in a family of eight born to G. W. T. and 
Cordelia (Simpson) Parker. [See sketch of John 
Murfree Parker.] The Doctor's educational ad 
vantages were better than the average boy's of his 
time, early attending ^ the State University at 
Fayetteville, and in 1882 commencing the study of 
medicine with Dr. J. M. Rose, and later on taking 
a course of lectures at the Louisville Medical Col 
lege, began the practice of his profession at Dan- 
ville in 1884, and on August 5 of the same year 
changed his location to Bellville, where he opened 
up a large practice, established an eclectic drug 
store, and built a business, which has grown to 
such magnitude that he contemplates enlarging 
his store in the near future. In 1887 he erected 
his pleasant and commodious residence in town. 
In 1884 Emily C. Clark l)ecame his wife, and dy- 
ing in 1887 left him one child, Clark, who sur- 
vived his mother but a short time. On October 6, 
1887, he was again married, this time to Ellen M. 
White, of Yell County, and daughter of J. B. 
White, an old settler here, becoming his wife, one 
son being the result of this marriage, John Claiid 
Earl Scudder, named for Dr. Scudder, of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio. The Doctor though still young is 
rapidly acquiring a vast practice, and sustains an 
excellent reputation throughout the county. INIuch 
of his leisure is spent in study and improvement of 
self, and he is also a member of the State Eclectic 
Medical Association. 

Henry M. Pugh, a citizen of Rover, was born in 
Hall County, Ga., in 1837, his father, E. W. Pugh 
being born near Greenville, S. C. , removed with 
his parents when a mere boy to Hall County, Ga., 
and when grown to maturity followed farming, and 
at the age of twenty-one married Cynthia Wilson, 
the daughter of Newman Wilson, and after living 
in Georgia for fifty years, emigrated to Yell Coun- 
ty, and homesteaded eighty acres of land and im- 
proved the same. He died in 1870; his widow still 
survives, having passed her three- score years and 
ten. Our subject, on coming to Arkansas, bought 
a small tract of land in Montgomery County, which 
he disposed of and came to Yell County in 1865, 



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and settled on the 100 acres which is now his 
hoiue. During t,ho troiiblouH times of the sixties, 
he enlisted in Company I, of the Confederate- 
Army, commanded hy Col. Grinstead, taking part 
in the battles of Helena, Prairie Grove, and 
marched to Little Rock, and immediately after the 
fight ho took the oath of allegiance to the United 
States Ai-my, and joined Company E, of the Third 
Arkansas Cavalry, under command of Col. Rines, 
doing duty as a scout until the Camden raid, when 
the Federal forces, commanded l)y Gen. Steele, 
circumvented and repulsed Gen. Price on his raid 
through Missouri, and on June 30, 180."), received 
his discharge at Lewisburg, Ark. Ho was thrice 
married, his first marriage being to Sarah E. 
Kirkes, Noveml)er 13, 1859, and died, having 
borne him two children: W. T. and Henrietta (de- 
ceased). In 1800 Miss Ellen Simons became his 
wife, and in February, 1870, died, leaving three 
children to his care: James M., Ida and George 
W. , and his third marriage to Savannah E. Payne, 
resulted in the birth of the following family: John 
S., Andrew J., Sarah Ellen, Edward Newton, 
Wesley C, Grover C, Arthur Leo and Emma El- 
dora. His principal occupation is farming a tract 
of land of 15,") acres in Rover Township, soventy- 
fivo of which are fenced and under cultivation. 
He has been a faithful member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, for thirty years, and is a 
liberal contributor to schools and churches, and 
aids in all things conducive to the welfare of his 
community. 

Rev. Jonathan C. Ragon is one of the promi- 
nent farmers and cotton growers of Yell County. 
Coming to this State in 1850, he settled in John- 
sou County, where he remained thirty-seven years, 
ownintr at that time 1 40 acres of good land, which 
he sold, then removed to Riley Township, this 
county, and bought 107 acres. Of the land pur- 
chased ho has about forty acres under cultivation, 
upon twenty-five of which he raises corn and fif- 
teen cotton, besides renting out quite a number of 
acres. Mr. Ragon. was born in Tennessee, July 
24, 1825, the son of Eli Ragon, and was there 
reared to manhood, receiving a common-school 
education. He later learned the carpenter's trade, 



in that line his work being principally gin and 
and press building. He was married in Hamilton 
County, Tenn., in 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, 
also a native Tennesseean, her birth occurring in 
1830, a daughter of Elisha Rogers, of Virginia. 
She died in 1884, leaving three children to mourn 
their loss, two having preceded her. Those living 
are: Martha O. (widow of T. B. Smith), Cordelia 
(wife of J. G. Stevens), and Penelope (wife of 
William Moseley). Later (in the year 1884) Mr. 
Ragon took for his second wife Miss Annie E. 
Elliott, and by her has three children : Mary M. , 
Lottie E. and W. S. During the late unpleasant- 
ness between the States, our subject enlisted in 
First Arkansas Infantry on the Federal side, un- 
der Col. J. M. Johnson and Capt. Parker, his 
regimental commander being Gen. Thayer. He 
participated in the engagements at Fayetteville, 
Hogewood Prairie and a great many skirmishes. 
On account of ill health he was discharged in 
1805, just before the surrender. Socially he is a 
meml)er of the A. F. & A. M., and is also a mem- 
ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he 
has been a minister for over twenty-five years in 
different parts of the State. In politics he af- 
filiates with the Republican party. When Mr. 
Ragon came to this State it was comparatively new, 
and there was little preaching and schools were 
few. He has lived through its wonderful period 
of development to see schools on every hand and 
churches in every hamlet and to witness a pros- 
perous peojjle living under just laws. 

James P. Ramer, a well-to-do planter of Cen- 
terville Township, was born in Morgan County, 
Tonn. , October 7, 1818, and was the eldest son of 
John and Mary Ramer, who were married in Ala- 
bama, and the parents of five .sons and five daugh- 
ters, eight of whom are living. The father was a 
farmer by occupation, and he and wife departed 
this life in Tennessee, being faithful worshipers 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our 
subject was first married while a resident of Mc- 
Nairy County, Tenn., to Miss Martha Walker, also 
of this State, and to this marriage were born the 
following children: Andrew, Elizabeth (deceased), 
Myra, Ellen, Martha, Clarissa, and one unnamed 



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(deceased). The mother of Ibis family died about 
188'), a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Ten years after his first wife's death Mrs. Eliza- 
beth White became his second wife, and bore him 
eight children: George, Iletter, James, Sydney, 
Reuben, Aueritta (deceased), Samuel (deceased), 
and one unnamed (deceased), and he was called to 
mourn his loss in 1882, she being also a communi- 
cant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and subse- 
(juently was married the third time to a Mrs. Vicey 
Kidd, who died a year after marriage, leaving one 
child, Maggie, to his care. He and deceased wife 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and he was the efficient assistant class leader of the 
same. He owns some 200 acres of valuable land, 
with about fifty of it in cut timber. 

James G. Ray, one of the most successful mer- 
chants of Riley To^^nship, but a resident of Mar- 
vinsville, Yell County, this State, came to this 
county in 1859 from Gibson County, Tenn., and 
settled on the tract of land he now owns. After 
taking up his residence here he followed fanning 
until three years ago, when he entered the mer- 
chandising business, opening with a stock at Mar- 
vinsville; he conducted business there until May, 
when he sold out. Upon leaving there he went to 
Bentley and, in July, 1890, opened with a good 
stock and has been doing a very successful busi- 
ness since. He was born in Wake County, N. C, 
October 3, 1832, the son of David and Eda (Joplin) 
Ray, who were also natives of that State. His 
father followed farming in North Carolina, where 
he remained until 1849, when he moved to Tennes- 
see, and came to Arkansas in 185'.), where ho spent 
the remainder of his life and ditnl in October, 
1805; his widow survived him only four yciars. 
James G. received his limited education in Ten- 
nessee, but was married in Logan County, Ark., 
in 18(>3,'to Catherine, daughter of James Lattie, 
l)orn Decemlier 15, 1833. To tliem have been 
born six children, live of whom are living: Eliza 
(wife of Arch MaGorgen), James, Joseph, Priscilla, 
and John, and Ella (deceased). He and his wife 
are members of the Missionary Baptist and Meth- 
odist Episcopal Churches, respectively. Oiir sub- 
ject enlisted at Danville, July 17, 1802, in Company 



H, under Capt. Harrod and Col. Kings, and took 
part in the battle of Prairie Grove; was also in a 
number of skirmishes, and surrendered at Fort 
Smith at the close of the war, when ho returned 
home. He is a member of the Baker Creek Lodge 
388, A. F. & A. M., and was elected magistrate 
and constal)le for several years in which offices ho 
has always performed the duties incumbent upon 
him to the best of his ability. 

Prof. L. B. Reynolds, Gravelly Hill, Ark. It 
has been truly said that ' ' a good education is the 
best inheritance that parents can leave to their chil- 
dren." Riches may take to themselves wings and 
tly away, but a good education will last througli 
life. Prof. L. B. Reynolds, one of the most 
promin(uit and successful educators of the county, 
is a native of Colo County, Mo., and came to Ar 
kansas in the fall of 1872, since which time he has 
given his entire attention to school work. He was 
born on May 25, 1850, and his father was a farmer. 
When fifteen years of age our subject was sent to 
Lansing, Mich., to complete his education, and 
there he remained a student for six years in the 
Michigan University, graduating with the class of 
18*)0. During his time in school lie had taught 
several terms, and was thus enabled to continue his 
studies. He then returned to his home in Mis- 
souri, where he made a short visit and then started 
for Arkansas, being stimulated to this move by 
learning that there was a good opening in that 
State for teachers, which profession he had decided 
to take up. Ho settled at Excelsior, Sebastian 
County, and there engaged in teaching a country 
.school. As he could not prevail on the directors 
to employ him, a young l>oy as it were, he was 
thrown on his own resources and opened a sul> 
scription school. Tiie first month he had eleven 
pupils, the second month eighteen, and the third 
month fifty-four. He then was engaged for one 
year by the Iioard, and tlie fourth month he found 
himself teaching IfiO scholars, and was obliged to 
hire an assistant. There ho remained with excel- 
lent results for t(ni years. Then having an offer 
of an increased salaiy from Hacket City, and find- 
ing himself hampered on account of lack of room, 
he resigned his position and located at Hacket 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



City, where he received $800 for ten months. He 
remained here two years and then resigned his po- 
sition. Later he entered the school at Cochran, 
Scott County, where he was employed as principal 
of their graded schools, and three years later his 
leaving was a source of universal regret. He then 
came to Gravelly Hill to take charge of the Pied- 
mont Academy, at a salary of .|1,00() per year, un- 
der contract for five years, two of which have al- 
ready expired. He has a wide reputation as an 
instructor, and his service.? are always in demand. 
He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In Oc- 
tober, 1880, he was married to Miss Sally Rudell, 
daughter of Edward Rudell, of Excelsior, where 
the Professor was teaching at the time. They 
have had five children, four of whom are living at 
tbe present time — a son and three daughters: Mary 
E., Edward A., Myrtle A. and Laura Fay. So- 
cially the Professor is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
He is an educator in the fullest sense of the term. 
He sees the need of a higher grade of education in 
the county, and is doing all that he can to build 
up the school interests. He cordially invites all 
who want to engage in the profession of teaching 
to come to Arkansas, where their services will be 
appreciated. 

Americus Vespucius Rieff, postmaster of Wave- 
land, Ark., received his appointment as such in 
1881 during Garfield's administration. He came 
to this township in 1874, where he erected the 
present large mill, comprising saw-mill, grist-mill 
and cotton-gin, with a planing mill added, valued 
at $7,000. This business was established in the 
early days, and in connection with his mill he had 
a general stock of merchandise. In lookins 
around for a location for his Franklin County 
mills, he selected his present farm on account of 
lumber, land and water, the timber consisting 
principally of pine and oak. He was born in Nash- 
ville, Tenn., July 1, 1880, being the son of Joseph 
and Lydia (Burton) RiefF. His father was born in 
the Shenandoah Valley, Va., and in 1820 moved 
to Nashville and was a noted builder and con- 
tractor, having constructed with others " Andy 
Jackson Hermitage" in Wilson County (this build- 



ing being still in a good condition). He remained 
in this county until 1836, when he moved to 
Washington County and settled in Fayetteville, 
where he engaged in farming, his farm being 
worked by slaves. Here he built a beautiful resi- 
dence, a number of business blocks and the State 
Bank building. In 1832 he lost his wife in Nash- 
ville. He died in Fayetteville in 1850, when he 
was seventy-five years old, as the result of being 
kicked by a horse and having both legs broken, 
living but a short time afterward. Americus V. 
Rieff was educated in Fayetteville, Ark., and at 
the age of seventeen years joined a company un- 
der Capt. S. B. Enyart, serving in the Mexican 
War one year and was in several skirmishes, but 
not any battles of importance. At the close of 
this war the company was discharged, wheij our 
sul)ject returned home and entered the Ozark In- 
stitute, where he finished his education. After 
leaving school he went into the contracting and 
bnilding business with his' brother, Fenelon (who 
was afterward killed in the Confederate service at 
Pine Bluff, being a captain in Col. Jordan's regi- 
ment), and continued in this business for ten 
years. In 1855 he erected Cane Hill College, a 
very large brick building costing $10,000. In the 
spring of 1801 he raised a cavalry company, 
which were the first State troops that entered 
Missouri, and he assisted in erecting a pole ninety 
feet high at Fayetteville upon which was raised 
the Confederate flag. He took part in a great 
many important battles, being in Gen. McCnl- 
loch's command, and was with Gen. Price in his 
famous raid; was elected captain of a cavalry 
company, joining Col. J. F. Pagan's regiment and 
participated in seventeen engagements. He as- 
siimed command at Pilot Knob, fought in the bat- 
tles of Dug Spring, Oak Hill, Cane Hill, Back 
Bone, Prairie de Ann, Poison Springs, Mark's Mills, 
Little Missouri, Franklin, Jefferson City, Prairie 
'^Grove and other engagements and skirmishes. 
In 1802 A. V. RiefP was appointed master me- 
chanic in the Government workshops, which posi- 
tion he held until the retreat of Gen. Price in 
Missouri, when he re-entered the army. At the 
approaching evacuation of Fayetteville he re- 



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YELL COUNTY. 



179 



turnetl home and moved bis family to Washing- 
ton, Hempstead County, later was paroled there 
and returned to his home in 1866. It can safely be 
said that there are few in this county who have 
done better or more faithfnl work in the defense 
of his country's rights than Mr. Kieif, or one who 
has taken part in more engagements. In the fall 
of 1860 he moved to Little Rock and took a brief 
contract for the Government, and one year later 
west to Van Winkle's Mill. In 1870 he went to 
Franklin County, opened a mill there, remaining 
until 1874. and then moved to his present home. 
In 1854 he was married to Miss Mary J., daugh- 
ter of Isaac and P. H. (Mobley) Spencer, natives 
of Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. To 
them have been born ten children. Those living 
are: Ollie S., William L., Maurice B., Joe Meek, 
Hiram F., Nellie P. and Katie S. Those deceased 
are: Fannie B. (wife of T. A. Pettigrew), Mary 
K. and Hiram. Mr. Rieff is a member of Revilee 
Lodge No. 09, I. O. O. F., Washington Lodge 
No. 1, A. F. & A. M., and in politics is a Demo- 
crat. He has a fine residence of plantation style, 
elegant flowers, trees and a beautiful home, lying 
at the foot of the Magazine Mountains, which are 
2,800 feet high, and named so from the iSpanish, 
owing to the rumbling noises. They are quite 
steep, and at the top are situated the Meda Springs, 
a summer resort. It can be safely said that the 
l^ostmaster of Waveland, Ark., has had an inter- 
esting and eventful life. 

David E. Roberts, a successful tiller of the soil 
living in Magazine Township, and an adopted son 
of Arkansas, claims Madison County, Tenn., as the 
land of his nativity, being born in that section of 
country May 28, 1838, and here received hfs train- 
ing as a farmer, which has been his life's occupa- 
tion, and in 18G1, while still a resident of Madison 
County, was united in marriage to Miss Margaret 
Andrews, also of Tennessee, a worthy Christian 
woman, and member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. By this union they became the parents 
of seven children: Wilson, John, James, Tolly, 
Rollie H. (deceased), Lenora (deceased) and Ida 
(deceased). Soon after his marriage he enlisted in 
Company D (Infantry) of the Confederate Army, 



which consolidated witli the Fifty-second Regiment, 
and while in service took part in some of the 
famous battles and skirmishes, and in April, 1864, 
receiving his discharge from army life, returned to 
his farm in Tennessee, which he worked till 1879 
when he moved to Arkansas, selecting a tract of 
ISO acres in Yell County, ninety of which he cul- 
tivates, and in January of the following year met 
with a sore bereavement in the loss of his estimable 
wife. He remained a widower for two years, then 
wedded Miss Almira Andrews, who was born in 
Tennessee in 1848, and by this marriage became 
the mother of six children, four of whom are still 
living (two having died in infancy): Fenner, Flem- 
ings, Fletcher and Flora. Himself and wife are 
members in regular standing in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and as a planter he is known 
throughout the county as a man of broad intellect, 
and well versed in all that relates to the practical 
side of farming, and politically is a Democrat. Our 
subject's parents, Jacob and Mary (Freeman) 
Roberts, were born and married in the Old North 
State, the former born in 1801, and the latter in 
1802, and were the jiarents of twelve children. 
The father a Methodist minister by profession, left 
his native home and settled in Madison County, 
Tenn., where he died in 1842, his widow surviving 
him till 1870, when she too passed to her filial 
home, dying as she lived a consistent member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

John J. Robertson, one of the prominent resi- 
dents of Yell County, was born in York County, S. 
C, September 20, 1835, and is the son of James 
and Nancy Robertson, also natives of South Caro- 
lina. His father followed farming up to the time 
of his death, which occurred in 1849 at the age of 
fifty years, his mother passing from life in 1853. 
The early part of John J. Robertson's life was 
spent in Alabama, but in 1859 he went to Florida, 
and in 1862 when the call for troops came he en- 
listed in Company D, under Capt. J. L. Hayes and 
Col. J. J. Finley, serving in the Sixth Florida 
Regiment, and taking part in th'e battles of Chick- 
amauga, three days in Bragg' s Army, and was one 
of the number who opposed Gen. Sherman on his 
famous march to the sea, and also served under 



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180 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Johnston, Beauregard and Hood. He was wounded 
at Calboun, Ga., May 16, 1864, being shot in the 
right arm, losing that member at Montgomery, 
Ala., three days later. He was placed in the con- 
valescing company, and upon his recovery he re- 
turned to his home place and went to farming. 
Remaining in Calhoun County, Ala., until the fall 
of 1871, he moved with his family to Yell County, 
locating in Riley Township, where he continued 
farming, and he now owns 320 acres of land, 100 
acres pine land, 200 acres bottom and 20 acres 
upland, upon which he raises corn, grasses and 
cotton. In 1876 he was elected county treasurer. 
He was again elected in 1886, and has been re- 
elected at each election since. He was married in 
1856, in Alabama, to Sarah J. Sharp, by whom he 
has two children living: Sarah E. (wife of James 
Slay) and John S. His first wife died in 1874, 
and in 1876 he married Miss Susan Gatling, 
daughter of Phillip Gatling, a native of Arkansas. 
They have had six children, four of whom are 
living: Jay, Essa, Thomas O. and Julia, and 
those deceased were Minnie and an infant un- 
named. The family are members of the Mission- 
ary Baptist Church, and in his political views Mr. 
Robertson is a Democrat. He takes an active part 
in all enterprises of a public nature promising to 
benefit his town or county. 

Joseph J. Rogers. The above mentioned gen 
tleman is a member of the firm of Rogers & Son, 
consisting of J. J. Rogers and C. C. Rogers, own- 
ers of Marvinville saw and grist mills and cotton- 
gin. They have rebuilt the mill, making it one of 
the best in the county, the plant l)eiug valued at 
$8,000, and, being in a very good location, they 
do the majority of the business in their line. The 
boiler has a capacity of 2D-horse power, and is 
capable of turning out 10,000 feet of lumber dail}', 
but the average run is al)out JJ.OUO feet, mostly 
pine lumber. The capacity of the cotton gin is 
600 bales per season, and they grind corn and 
wheat two days of each week. Joseph J. Rogers 
is an old resident of this State, having moved here 
when quite young, living until last year in Logan 
County, where he moved with his parents in 1858, 
when he then came to this countv. He was born 



in Carroll County, Ga., February 4, 1845, the son 
of Henry and Maria Rogers, natives of Virginia. 
The father followed farming all his life, and died 
in Springfield, Mo., after a great deal of sufPering, 
while in the United States Army. Our subject 
enlisted in 18(53, in Company I, First Arkansas 
Infantry, under Col. Johnson, Lieut. -Col. Searles 
and Capt. " Wild" Bill Heavington. He took part 
in the l^attle of Fayetteville and quite a number 
of skirmishes, and while at Prairie de Ann, was 
taken with the mumps, but still remained with his 
company, and was in the raid at Saline. After 
the war he returned home, and was married Feb- 
ruary 18, 1866, to Miss Mary Hodges, a native of 
Tennessee, and to them have been born five chil- 
dren: Jeremiah R., Calvin C, Flora M., Cassandra 
E. and Mary J. Mr. Rogers and wife and three 
daughters are members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. After living happily together for twenty- 
five years, his wife died June 22, 1890. In poli- 
tics Mr. Rogers is a Republican, and is one of the 
representative citizens of this county. 

Walter W. Scott, one of the successful planters 
of Yell County, and a resident of Herring Town- 
ship, is native-born, his parents, James and Ari- 
minta (Bell) Scott, of Tennessee and North Caro- 
lina, respectively, and who were married in Tennes- 
see, came to Arkansas as early as 1838, buying 
and settling upon land in this county, where in 
1847 their son, Walter, was born. Here the father 
farmed, and in 1857 the family was called to mourn 
the loss of wife and mother, a worthy communicant 
of the Presbyterian Church, and in 1887 the fa- 
ther died. Our subject, being taught the principles 
of farnjing in his l)oyhood days, on reaching man- 
hood still followed it. and now owns 120 acres of 
land, fifty of which are under cultivation ; corn, cot- 
ton and oats are the principal commodities raised. 
His marriage to Miss Martha Shepherd, who was 
born in Georgia, March 8, 1851, was celebrated 
during the year 1872. She is a daughter of Jo- 
sejih and Rachel (Wilson) Shepherd, of North Car- 
olina, who were the parents of ten children, seven 
of whom are living. Her mother died in Georgia, 
in June, 1.S64, and her father is still living, and is 
a resident of Missouri. To the union of Mr. and 



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YELL COUNTY. 



181 



Mrs. Scott have been born two children: William 
W. and Olgia A. Himself and wife are members 
in good standing of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
ia which he serves as clerk. Having the welfare 
of his county at heart, he takes an active part in all 
public improvements, and gives liberally of his 
means to the needy and distressed, and all char- 
itable institutions find in him a ready and willing 
helper. In politics votes the Republican ticket. 

G. M. Shepherd, a planter living in Magazine 
Township, was born in North Carolina in .1847. 
His father, John Shepherd, was born in the Old 
Dominion May 10, 1810, and his mother, Temper- 
ance (Epps) Shepherd, was born in the Old North 
State May 23, 1814, and was married April IH, 
1832, and became the parent of eleven children. 
In 1 879 the family settled in this county, and here 
the father, a member of the Bapti.st Church, was 
laid to rest in 1880. His mother was the lifth 
child born to her parents, who were married in 
Virginia, and died in North Carolina about 1831 
and October 12, 1857, respectively. Our subject 
followed farming as a business, and on January 17, 
ISfiO, his marriage to Miss Margaret Haston was 
celebrated. She was born in Tennessee December 
5, 1850, and a daughter of W. C. and Jane (Denny) 
Haston, who were born and married in the above 
State, and were the parents of ten children. Her 
father was a planter, and for many years was offi- 
cially identified with the public interests of Van 
Bureu County, Tenn., tilling the office of sheriff 
four years, also that of county judge and magis- 
trate. He and deceased wife were members of the 
Presbyterian Church. To the union of Mr. and 
Mrs. Shepherd were born the following family: 
Martha J. (wife of J. A. Blakeuship), Temperance, 
Dalton, Fannie M. , John C. and William C. He 
is the owner of a fine eighty-acre farm with forty- 
seven under cultivation, and about an acre planted 
to orchard, and cotton and corn are the principal 
commodities raised on his place. He is a faithful 
church worker, is superintendent of the Sabbath- 
school and trustee of the church property, and 
gives liberally to all public enterprises. Socially 
he and wife are connected with the Farmers' Alli- 
ance. 



Rev. J. C. Shipp, living in Dutch Creek Town- 
ship, and a licensed minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South denomination, was born in 
Holmes County, Miss., January 15, 1835. His par- 
ents, Josiah and Susan (Smith) Shipp, were origi- 
nally of Tenn., the senior Shipp born April 5, 1804, 
and his wife August 13, 1812, but were married in 
Mississippi about 1834, and followed farming as 
an occupation, and in 1845 left Mississippi for 
Hardin County, Tenn., where the family remained 
till the death of the father, in 1868, the widow dy- 
ing in this county October 20, 1880. They were 
members of long standing in the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, he having united with it some thir- 
ty two years before his death and she walking in 
its doctrines for fifty years. When twenty-one 
the principal of this sketch accepted as his starting 
point in this world's warfare, a position in the dry- 
goods house of A. C. AViningham & Co., at Ham- 
burg, Tenn. Here he remained clerking till the 
outbreak of the Rebellion, when he joined the 
Confederate Army, enlisting in Company E, Fourth 
Regiment of Infantry, Capt. J. O. Tarkington, 
commander; he took part in many of the battles 
in Mississippi, at Memphis, and particularly with 
Hood in his raid to Nashville; was wounded at the 
battle of Okalona (Miss. ), and taken prisoner twice, 
but" managed to escape each time, and while at 
Gainesville, May 10, 1865, was paroled. On receiv- 
ing his final discharge from army life, he returned 
to his home and engaged in farming, and Decern 
ber 10, 1865, witnessed his marriage to Mrs. Saluda 
J. Leeth, widow of Harrison L. Leeth, who was ac- 
cidentally killed. She was born in the Old Domin- 
ion, October 11, 1838, and is the daughter of Peter 
and Mary Ashworth, and who were born in Vir- 
ginia, in 1804 and 1805, respectively. Emigrating 
to Tennessee the year of their daughter's birth, 
they died June 3, and October 17, 1855. Our sub- 
ject and wife have these children, among others: 
Sarah (wife of Jacob Sweeney), John B., Emily 
(wife of M. B. Brooks), Martha (wife of F. Beech), 
Mollie (wife of P. Alley), living; and James, Alden 
and Susan (deceased). He received his license to 
preach while a resident of Tennessee, and followed 
this calling till 1878, when he located in Yell 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



County, where he now lives and owns 180 acres of 
rich land, forty of which are thoroughly cultivated 
and improved with good barns, outhouses, and the 
most essential of all things, good wells of water, 
and a line orchard of some 400 fruit-bearing trees. 
Mrs. Shipp is an earnest Methodist, belonging 
to the same church as her husband, and he 
socially affiliates with the Dutch Creek Masonic 
Lodge No. 269. 

William Sills, one of the prominent citizens of 
this county, is the owner of the Sills' saw and grist 
mills and cotton-gin. He was born near Milford, 
Ohio, January 2, 1836, the son of William and 
Elmira (Davis) Sills, natives of Ohio. His father's 
occupation was that of ship-carpentering up to 
the time of his death, in 1835, when the rest of the 
family came to Arkansas with our subject's grand- 
father, Mr. William Davis, and settled in Craw- 
ford County. In this county William Sills was 
reared to manhood. He received a very limited 
education, and at an early age learned the printer's 
trade, but his health failing, he was compelled to 
give that up, and took to farming. At the break- 
ing out of the war Mr. Sills enlisted in Company 
B, First Arkansas Cavalry, under Capt. Powhatan 
Perkins and Col. De Rosta Carroll, and went with 
the regiment to Oak Hill, where he was taken sick, 
and was discharged. He then returned to Van 
Bnren, Crawford County, and continued farming 
until 1882, when he sold out, coming to Yell 
County. Here he invested in 200 acres of land, 
in company with his son-in-law, J. W. Blevins, 
who owned 500 acres at the time, well cultivated, 
and on which he had built a comfortable frame 
residence, good barns and sheds necessary for his 
stock. Owing to the fact that Mr. William Sills is 
the proprietor of the largest mills in his county, 
he does a large share of the work, and has the 
contract for fiu'nishing the lumber for the new 
pontoon bridge to be built across the Arkansas 
River. His mills are patronized by the farmers 
from Logan and other counties in the neighbor- 
hood, the ginning-mills producing from 325 to 500 
bales of cotton. Of his farm land, Mr. Sills has 
100 acres under cultivation, forty acres of corn and 
sixty acres of cotton. The subject of this sketch 



was married in 1803, to Miss Elenora Bushong, a 
native of Kentucky, but of French de.scent. Of a 
family of nine children born to them, sis are now 
living, viz.: Willie A., Mary E. (wife of J. W. 
Blevins), James E., Ollie, Renna and Harry. Those 
deceased are Eugene, Le Roy and Emma. Both 
he and wife are members of the Christian Church. 
In politics Mr. William Sills is a Democrat, hav- 
ing been elected sheriff of Crawford County in 
1866 on that ticket. He is the supporter of all 
enterprises of a public natirre that would be of 
benefit to his county, and being a very charitable 
man is ever ready to help the needy. 

John N. Smith, miller, Briggsville, Ai'k. This 
prominent business man was born in Chattooga 
County, Ga. , on June 10, 1840, and became famil 
iar with the duties of farm life at an early age. 
His father, John Smith, was born in North Caro- 
lina in 1817, and his mother, whose maiden name 
was Rebecca Jane Eddington, was the daughter 
of Daniel Eddington, of North Carolina. John N. 
Smith came to Ai'kansas in 1871, settled in Scott 
County, and there purchased 160 acres of land, 
which he improved, clearing 140 acres and erect- 
ing good buildings, etc. This he sold and in 
1883 moved to this county, located in this town- 
ship, and here engaged in milling. The mill con- 
sists of a saw-mill, cotton-gin and grist-mill, and 
with all the late improvements for carrying on the 
work. This property is worth $3,000. Mr. Smith 
was married in 1862 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter 
of Jackson Green, of Spartanburg, S. C, and the 
fruits of this union were three children. Mrs. 
Smith died in 1881, and Mr. Smith has since mar- 
ried Mrs. Emma David, who has borne him two 
children. The children to both marriges are 
named as follows: J. B. (who married Miss Eliza- 
beth Allen), J. E., E. C. (who married Eptha Sul- 
livan), Rebecca Jane and Joseph Michael. Mr. 
Smith and family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which he is steward. In 
March, 1862, Mr. Smith enlisted in Company F, 
Thirty-ninth Georgia Regiment Infantry, and 
was in service until the close of the war. He was 
at the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Franklin, Mis- 
sionary Ridge and Chickamauga. He was never 



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YELL COUNTY. 



183 



[ 



wouuded, but was taken prisoner at Vicksburg. la 
politics he is a stanch Democrat. He is sharp and 
shrewd in making a trade yet strictly honest, and 
never goes back on a contract. 

James G. Smyth, president of the Belleville 
Academy, or Dardanelle High School, under the 
supervision of Arkansas Conference South, was 
born in East Tennessee in the year 1859, and is the 
eldest in a family of three born to J. T. and Eliz- 
abeth J. (Morrison) Smyth, who were of North 
Carolina and Virginia origin. The father was an 
itinerant preacher of the Methodist Episcopal de- 
nomination, in charge of the Holston Conference 
of Tennessee. He died in North Carolina, in 1888, 
his widow still surviving him and residing with her 
son James. Mr. Smyth received his early training 
and schooling in Tennessee, finishing his educa- 
tion at the Hiwassee College. In 1878 he was 
licensed as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and in 1870 graduated, taking the 
degree of M. A. For a short time he was engaged 
in teaching, and the following year witnessed his 
location in Bradley, Ark. , whence he went to El 
dorado, and there organized the Independent High 
School. Subsequently he came to M'arren and 
founded the Warren Graded High School, and in 
1885 assisted in the establishment of the noted 
Belleville Academy, with a department for train- 
ing and graduating pupils, which will admit them 
to college. This school opened its first session 
with eighteen students enrolled, and in 1889, 200 
names were found upon the attendance list, forty 
of which were those of boarders. In 1888 Mr. 
Smyth was chosen county examiner, doing much 
while in office to raise the grade of teachers and 
materially benefit them. On November 27, 1880, 
he led to the altar Miss Amanda Neal, of Bradley 
County, daughter of Orilla Neal, formerly of 
Georgia, but later an Arkansan pioneer. This mar- 
riage has been blessed with four children: Victor 
■ Summerfield (who died in infancy), Vasco (who 
died at the age of four). Lano and Lud Bolford. 
Mr. and Mrs. Smyth are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. The former is a Democrat 
politically, and has served as chairman of the 
Democratic Executive Central Committee. He is 



a whole souled gentleman, and has the reputation 
of being one of the best educators in the State. 

Benjamin F. Start, merchant. Gravelly Hill, 
Ark. Mr. Start was born in Hempstead County, 
Ark. , November 30, 1850, and was reared to man- 
hood on the farm. At the age of twenty years he 
began for himself, as a farmer, on rented land, 
and three years later purchased eighty acres of un- 
improved land, which he settled upon and improved 
by clearing thirty acres, erecting a comfortable 
house, barns, etc. There he remained for fourteen 
years, and in the meantime bought an adjoining 
tract of 160 acres, which he also improved. At 
the end of the time mentioned (1886) he entered 
the mercantile business at Gravelly Hill, where he 
has continued successfully ever since, his annual 
sales equaling $3,000. In connection with this 
he still continues agricultural pursuits, and has 
been connected with the steam-miU (saw, grist and 
cotton-mill) at this place. He started out for him- 
self with limited means, and by his industry, per- 
severance and strict attention to business, he has 
been unusually successful. He was married, Sep- 
tember 3, 1876, to Miss Hannah Garner, daughter 
of Elijah Garner of this township. Mrs. Start 
died August 17, 1888, leaving two children, one of 
whom has since died. In August, 1890, Mr. Start 
was married to Mrs. L. M. Garner, widow of Will- 
iam Garner. Mr. Start and his estimable wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
which he is steward, and socially he is a member 
of the A. F. & A. M. lodge of this place. In pol- 
itics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He 
is liberal in his support of all worthy enterprises. 

E. D. M. Stevenson, a planter by occupation, 
and formerly of Carroll County, Tenn., was born 
in that State April 3, 1834, and is the eldest son 
of Samuel G. and Eliza (Seret) Stevenson. The 
senior Stevenson, of French descent and a farmer, 
was born in 1792 in South Carolina, and was mar- 
ried in Tennessee in 1832, where his wife died 
July 4, 1842, leaving five children to the care of 
her husband, who, with his family, emigrated to 
Arkansas in 1870 and settled in White County, re- 
siding here till his death in 1872, being in com- 
munion with the Methodist Episcopal Church, his 



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184 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



wife worsliiping with the Baptist Church. Our 
subject served as a soldier ia the Confederate 
Army, ealistiiig iu Company B of the Fifty- fifth 
Infantry. Being taken prisoner at Island No. 10, 
he soon effected his escape and returned home, 
subsequently joining a company of cavalry, took 
part in the battles of Red Mound (Tenn.), Cold 
Springs (Ala.), and after his mu.ster out came home 
to his farm duties, which he has followed ever 
since, having some 200 acres under his supervision 
in Galla Rock Township, 100 of which he most suc- 
cessfully cultivates. His marriage took place in 
this county February 5, 1871, to Miss Jennie Mc- 
Mullen, who was born in Tennessee, June 15, 1835, 
and this union resulted in the birth of two chil- 
dren: Henry Beutress (deceased) and Samuel F. 
In religion he and wife worship with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and socially he is an A. F. & 
A. M., belonging to Bright Star Lodge No. 101, 
and he is an honest, industrious and upright citizen 
of his township. 

P. N. Strait, a pioneer planter and general 
merchant of Magazine Township, was born in Ken- 
tucky, December 29, 1840, his parents, Wright 
and Maria (Ross) Strait, were also born and mar- 
ried in this State, the father's birth occurring in 
1811, and the mother's in 1814, aud were the par- 
ents of five children, he whoso name heads this 
sketch being the only son. The senior Strait, a 
farmer and house-builder, emigrated to Arkansas 
as early as 1S49. Settling in Clark County, he re- 
mained here till 18G1, when he changed his loca- 
tion to Yell County, and during the succeeding 
year was killed by bushwhackers, his widow sur- 
viving him till 1863. They were members of the 
Missionary Baptist Church, and for many years he 
was justice of the peace in his township. Our sub- 
ject was reared a farmer, which calling he pursued 
nearly his entire life, and during the troublous 
times in the sixties, put aside his farm duties for 
active service in the Federal Army, enlisting in 
1862, in Company I, First Arkansas Regiment of 
Infantry, Samuel M. Bard, captain, and was in the 
battles of Fayetteville, Poison Springs and a num- 
ber of skirmishes. Receiving his discharge in Au- 
gust, 1864, he returned to his home and resumed 



his work on the farm, and is now the prosperous 
owner of five tracts of land, comprising some 800 
acres, 400 highly cultivated, and on which he raises 
cotton, corn and fruits of all varieties, and in con- 
nection with his farm has opened a store, carrying 
a stock of such goods and wares as are found in a 
store of general merchandise. Miss Olive Whattey, 
who was born October 27, 1844, in the State of 
Mississippi, became his wife in 1805. She was a 
daughter of James and Sarah Whattey, who fol- 
lowed farming in Georgia. To the union of our 
subject and wife were born nine children: Emma 
A. (deceased), Viola (wife of W. L. Dale), William 
R., Charles W., Jerusha, Bookee, Mathulda, Le- 
ona, and an infant (deceased). In 1890 he received 
his appointment as postmaster, and is well worthy 
the honor conferred upon him. 

James A. Taylor, one of the leading and most 
prominent farmers of Bluffton Township, was born 
in this county ten miles south of Dardauelle, on 
March 21, 1860, and received but a limited educa- 
tion. He was reared on the farm, and as a conse- 
quence is familiar with the duties of the same in 
every particular. His father, Benjamin F. Taylor, 
was born in Tennessee, and came to this county in 
1848. Here he was married, and here he resided 
for many years, active and successfully engaged in 
cultivating the soil. In November, 1862, he en- 
listed in the Federal Army, Company F, Third 
Arkansas Cavalry, and was in the battle of Saline 
besides numerous smaller engagements. He was 
then taken with the measles, had a relapse, and 
died in April, 1863, leaving a widow and three chil- 
dren, who were named in the order of their births 
as follows: Roxie, James A. and Amos Franklin. 
The first and last named are deceased. James A. 
Taylor remained with his mother near Dardanelle 
for about three years, and then moved with her to 

Township in the La Fouche Valley, where 

he attended school as the opportunity offered. 
At the age of eleven years he moved with his 
mother to Bluffton Township, and there he has 
continued to reside. When about eighteen years of 
age he commenced working for himself, and at that 
time bought eighty acres of land in connection 
with his brother. This he improved by clearing 



^ 



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YELL COUNTY. 



185 



forty-five acres wliicli be uow has in cultivation, 
and erected a tenant house, having rented a por- 
tion of his land. About the time he bought this 
land a good school was opened, and Mr. Taylor, 
feeling a desire to have a better education, rented 
his farm, and that of his mother over which he 
had control, and enrolled himself among the ear- 
liest students of Gravelly Hill High School, as the 
school was called. He had attended about only 
eight months, when sickness in his family caused 
him to abandon his long-cherished desire for a bet- 
ter education. He remained on the farm until twen- 
ty-four years of age, and was then married to Miss 
Samantha Elliott, daughter of J. J. Elliott, of 
Forsythe County, Ga. He then bought a farm of 
120 acres farther down the valley, and four years 
from the time of his marriage his wife died, leav- 
ing one child, a daughter, seven days old. His 
next marriage was in 1888, to Miss Susan Daniels, 
daughter of T. A. Daniels, of Mississippi, and by 
this union he has two children. Mr. Taylor is a 
Democrat in politics, and socially is a member of 
the Masonic lodge at Concordia, No. 310, in which 
organization he holds the office of worshipful mas- 
ter. He has held the office of justice of the peace 
three different times, and is filling that position at 
the present time. He has been school director for 
several years, and is doing all that he can for the 
advancement of education in his township. In his 
support of churches and all enterprises of a public 
nature he has always been very liberal and extends 
a helping hand to those less fortunate in life. 

Columbus Thomas claims Yell County as his 
home by adoption, coming here as early as 1851, 
from his native heath, Sumner County, Tenn., 
where he was born April 6, 1850, to Benjamin and 
Sarah C. (Gambling) Thomas, who were born in 
the same county and State, the father's birth oc- 
curring January 18, 1820, and the mother's in De- 
cember, 1824; both deceased, the father in 1868 
and the mother in 1878. The early life of our 
subject's father was spent in Tennessee, being 
educated under his father (a Virginian by birth, 
and his wife an Englishwoman), who taught school 
in Sumner County for twenty-one years, and com- 
pletely mastering the various English branches 



and surveying, and upon his graduation emigrated 
to Arkansas, where he was elected county surveyor, 
and in connection with the duties of this office he 
taught school and farmed, buying 100 acres of 
land, which he increased to 300; selling this he 
lived in retirement the rest of his days. The prin- 
eijjal of this biography was given a good common 
school education in the .schools of his day, and after 
leaving these engaged in farming, being the pos- 
sessor of 120 acres in his homestead on which is a 
handsome dwelling, 100 of these being sown to cot- 
ton, corn and wheat, two devoted to an orchard of 
apples and peaches, and forty -five acres in their 
natural state. In 1871 he led to the altar Miss 
Mary M. Adams, born in Georgia, January 2, 
1851, and the daughter of J. R. and G. W. W. 
Adams. Her father, ex county surveyor, and jnom- 
inent in his county, is a resident of Morrillton. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Jr., have been born the 
following family: Benjamin (living), Ida, and Will- 
iam (deceased). In 1874 he and wife became 
members of the Missionary Baptist Chiirch. He 
is a stanch Democrat, and is an enthusiast con- 
cerning the growth and welfare of his county. 

William H. Vandiver, a planter of Galla Hock 
Township, was born in Mississippi, May 20, 1842. 
His parents, Elijah and Malinda (Cox) Vandiver, 
were born and married in South Carolina, the 
former's birth occurring December 12, 1812, and 
the latter' s about 1816. His father followed farm 
ing, negro speculation, and stock-dealing, as a 
means of livelihood, and in order to better his 
fortunes, moved his family to Mississippi, where 
he lived until 1885, when he died. The death of 
his wife occurred in 1867. Both were respected 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
he was an honored Mason, having been connected 
with that order for some forty years or more, and 
was quite an active politician of his day. Our 
subject served in the Confederate Army, in defense 
of the Southern cause, enlisting in Blythes' Ninth 
Mississippi Infantry Regiment. He was actively 
engaged for nearly one year, and at its expiration 
was transferred to Maj. Saunders' cavalry. He 
served as an escort to Jefferson Davis, while en 
route to Georgia, and was in many of the noted 



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k. 



186 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



l)attles and skirmishes, particularly in the battle 
of Thompson Station, where 2,300 soldiers sur- 
rendered. While in service, he was wounded live 
times, and was paroled in 1805, and returned to 
Mississippi and resumed his farm duties, continu- 
ing there till 1868, when he moved to Memphis, 
Tenn. , and started a mercantile store, which he 
carried on till 1872, when he again changed his 
location, this time settling on a farm in Yell County, 
where he and wife conjointly own 120 and sixty- 
nine acres of very valuable and well-imjaroved land. 
In 1877 he was married to Mrs. Madora Bryson, 
who was born in Pope County, in 1852, and is the 
eldest daughter of George Parish. To this mar- 
riage was born a son, William. Mr. and Mrs. 
Vandiver belong to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and he is a Knight of Pythias, afliliating 
with Easley Lodge No. 17. Mrs. Vandiver has a 
daughter by her former marriage. Miss Minnie 
Bell Bryson, born December 24, 1872. 

John C. Vinsett is the proprietor of the Vinsett 
saw and grist mills and cotton gin, located in Yell 
County. He was bom in Calhoun County, Miss., 
October 25, 1846, the sou of John Vinsett, a native 
of South Carolina, from where he removed to 
Woodruff County, Ark., in 1S58, and remained 
there until 1871, when he came to this county. 
John C. received what little education he had in 
this county, and the advantages were very poor. 
In July, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, under 
Capt. Wilson and Col. McGee, and took part in the 
battle of Pilot Knob and a number of .skirmi,shes; 
was with Price on his famous raid, when he was 
taken prisoner and brought to Camp Douglas, 
Chicago; was detained there four months, whenhe 
was exchanged at Red River and returned home. 
He followed farming until 18S6, when he put up 
his present mills, at a cost of $8,000. These mills 
have a capacity of 10,000 feet of lumber daily, but 
average only 6,000 feet, and 1 50 bales of cotton, 
grinding only one day of each week. He owns 140 
acres of land, seventy five acres of which are tilla- 
ble, and he rents this out in shares. He was mar- 
ried in 1864 to Miss Amanda Celack, a native of 
Arkansas, born in 1845. Four of the nine children 
born to them are now living: William, Mary (wife 



of William Choate), Martha (wife of J. W. Jones) 
and Angeline (wife of William Lony ). Our subject 
lost his iirst wife in 1881. He was married again in 
1 883, and by this union has one son. He and his wife 
are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and 
in politics he is a Democrat, and has held the office 
of justice of the peace for two terms, also that of 
bailiff. Socially he is a member of Baker Creek 
Lodge No. 388, A. F. & A. M. He is one of the 
influential men of Riley Township, and is respected 
by all with whom he comes in contact, either 
socially or in business. 

James H. Walkup, one of the pioneer settlers of 
Riley Township, came to this county in November, 
1860, and has resided here ever since. He was 
formerly a resident of Mississippi. He bought 120 
acres of laud, improved it and made other pur- 
chases at different times since the war, until he 
now owns 780 acres, a great portion of which is 
improved, and upon which he has built comfort- 
able dwellings, barns, etc. James H. Walkup 
was born in Union County, N. C, March 21, 1823, 
the sou of David M. and Jane (Huey) Walkup, na 
fives of the two Carolinas, and was reared within a 
few miles from Gen. Jackson's birthplace. Re- 
maining in his native home until he was twenty- 
two years old, he had very few educational advan- 
tages, but in later years read a great deal, and in 
this way became well posted. On leaving his home 
he went to South Carolina, remaining twelve years, 
taking a position as overseer. He married Miss 
M. T. Ranson in South Carolina, removing from 
there to Mississippi early in 1857, where he put in 
four crops, and then came to Yell County, as above 
stated. At the opening of the war he enlisted 
and remained until he was compelled to go home 
on account of sickness, but in October, 1863, he 
entered the Federal service in the Third Arkansas 
Cavalry, under Capt. Eddington, but later Lieut. 
Peas took command; then Col. Ryan and Lieut. - 
Col. Fuller, commanding the regiment. They 
were detailed as a guard along the Arkansas 
River. Mr. Walkup was in quite a number of 
skirmishes, being discharged June 30, 1865, when 
he returned home and once more turned his atten- 
tion to farming and cotton-raising. Mrs. Walkup 



*^* 



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YELL COUNTY. 



187 



is a daughter of William and C. (Taylor) Ranson, 
natives of Ireland and South Carolina, respectively. 
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Walkup, namely: Mary E. (wife of C. P. Hudson), 
William A., Jane Alice, Parilla A., Robert L., Lou, 
Ida, Huey B., and Julia E. (deceased). Mr. Wal- 
kup, with his wife and live children, are members 
of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, of 
which he is an elder. He has been a school direc- 
tor some time, and in politics affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 

Paschal P. West. On April 10, 1845, was 
born in South Carolina the subject of this sketch. 
He was raised to manhood in Georgia, and given 
the benefit of the common schools, and learning the 
blacksmith's trade, at the age of nineteen, started 
in business for himself, following this trade, more 
or less, in connection with his farming and milling 
interests. Soon after the establishment of his busi- 
ness he was married to Miss Rebecca Westree, 
daughter of Samuel Westree, of Forsythe County, 
Ga. This union has been blessed with seven chil- 
dren, four of whom are living: Alpha (born in 



Georgia, in 1865, and given a good common school- vmtil he has 152 thoroughly cultivated, and good 
ing, at the age of nineteen married John Crown-^^uildings on his farm. In January, 1861, he was 



ing a man of indomitable energy and push, imme- 
diately set to work to repair his loss, and there 
now stands on the old site new and substantial 
buildings, valued at 11,800, which are in constant 
operation. He has never been connected with any 
religious organization, but gives liberally of his 
means for the support of churches, schools and all 
worthy public enterprises. In political and social 
circles he is respected and esteemed by his fellow- 
citizens, and, although a Democrat, does not take 
any active part in politics, but votes for the best 
man; is an A. F. & A. M. , affiliating with a lodge 
at Bellville, and is postmaster at the little village 
of Milan, which had its origin on his farm. Mrs. 
West is an energetic worker and member of the 
Baptist Church, and, with her husband, enjoys the 
confidence of the community in which they live. 

Francis M. White is a well-known farmer of 
Fergeson Township, and came with his parents, 
William B. and Sophia (Gault) White, from South 
Carolina to this State in 1857, and in 1861 bought 
200 acres of land, paying $7 an acre for the entire 
tract, which he has improved from time to time 



over, a farmer, living in the vicinity of her par- 
ents), Eddie (born in 1876), Eflfio L. (born in 
1878), and George (born in 1880). All have been 
given the advantages of the public schools. Our 
subject fought in defense of his country in Com- 
pany E, Forty-third Georgia Regiment of Volun- 
teer Infantry; was in some small skirmishes, and 
while fighting at Resaca was wounded, and taken 
to the hospital, where he was discharged, on ac- 
count of disability, and returned to his home in 
Georgia. In the fall of 1874 he came to this 
county, and purchased 115 acres of valuable land, 
forty of which are in a high state of cultivation, 
and the remainder good timber land. Here he 
has not only carried on the business of farming, 
l)ut erected mills, and entered quite extensively 
into milling flour, lumljer, and ginning cotton, his 
plant being estimated at $2,500. In 188'J he met 
with a severe loss in the destruction of his entire 
property by tire, together with eighteen bales of 
cotton and 150 bushels of wheat. Our subject, be- 



married to Miss Nancy Crownover. daughter of 
Daniel Crownover, and they have become the par- 
ents of five children, three -of whom are living — 
two sons and one daughter. He, like all of his 
patriotic countrymen, was a soldier in the late un- 
pleasantness, operating with Company F, Third 
Arkansas Cavalry, Federal Army, Capt. Fuller 
commanding, and from the date of his enlistment, 
January 1, 1863, was in the following battles: 
Prairie de Ann, Saline River and Princeton. At 
the latter place he was disaliled by the fall of his 
horse, from which he has never entirely recovered, 
and every day from April 1, till June 1, 1864, saw 
him in some sort of engagement. He was taken 
prisoner and released on palole, and finally dis- 
charged at Danville in May, 1865. He has never 
belonged to a church or secret society, but con- 
tributes liberally toward the erection of churches 
and all matters of public interest, and is ever 
ready to lend a helping hand and speak a word of 
cheer to those in need or distress. He and his 



\^\s- 



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1 



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1S8 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



family are regarded as atuoug the most prosper- 
ous and respected people of their neighborhood. 

Isaac S. Whitford. Among the early pioneer 
settlers to the grand old State of Arkansas, was one 
Isaac S. Whitford, who located in this county soon 
after his marriage to Miss Mary E, Wyatt, which 
was solemnized in Carroll County, Miss. , about 1 850, 
who liore him ten children: Charles W. (deceased), 
Sarah L. (deceased), Lewis H. (deceased), John A. 
(deceased), Elizabeth S. (wife of Hamilton M. Mor- 
ris), Isaac E., Mary C. (deceased), and Alonzo C. 
He served in the late war in Company D, of the 
Third Arkansas Cavalry, of the Confederate Army, 
participating in the battle of Backbone, and a num- 
ber of skirmishes, and at the surrender in 1805, re- 
turned to his home, where he met with a severe 
loss in the death of his wife, who died July '-'A, of 
this year, and soon after he married Mary A. Cobb. 
They became the parents of four children: Rol)ert 
H. , Francis M., Emma J. (deceased), and Berry D., 
and on August 19, 1875, was called to mourn the 
loss of this wife, who died in fnll fellowship with 
the Bai)tist Church, and on February 24, 1S7(J, 
he married Mrs. Louisa F. Coats, his present wife, 
and who had one son, John W. Coats (now de- 
ceased), by a former marriage. Himself and wife 
are members in good standing of the Missionary 
Baptist Church, in which he has tilled the ofSce of 
deacon for many years. He has followed farming 
nearly all his life, living upon his present farm 
since 1851, which is a highly cultivated and very 
(iroductive tract of land. In his community he is one 
of its most trusted and honored citizens. Our sub- 
ject's jtarents, Charles G. and Mary (McKinney) 
Whitford, were born October 18, 1808, in North 
Carolina, and November 9, 1800, in South Caro- 
lina, respectively, but were married in Stewart 
County, Tenn., October 9, 1823, and were the par- 
ents of six children, their son, Isaac, who was born 
in Stewart County, March 17, 1832, being the only 
chikl living. The father was a farmer, and active- 
ly interested in politics, and h(» and wife were con- 
sistent members of the Baptist Church. 

Frank V. Whittlesey, the popular jeweler of 
Dardanelle, owes his nativity to Indiana, being 
born in Vincennes of that State, in 1851, and was 



the yonngest of six children born to Isaac N. and 
Elizabeth V. (Buntin) Whittlesey, natives of Con- 
necticut and Indiana, respectively. His paternal 
ancestors were English by birth, being descended 
from a noted family of that country, and crossed the 
ocean in the grand old "Mayflower." The grand- 
father, Samuel, was a lawyer by profession, being 
at one time a celebrated member of the supreme 
bench of New Jersey, whence he came to Indiana, 
where he died. The maternal grandfather was of 
Irish descent, being born in Cork, emigrated to 
America at an early day, was an officer in the Revo- 
lutionary War, and being a surveyor was elected as 
a commissioner to the Northwest Territory, making 
Vincennes his headquarters, this being his home 
till his death. The field notes of that day show 
his title and signature. Isaac Whittlesey learned 
the trade of watchmaker and jeweler in Watertown, 
N. y. , and when twenty-two years of age came to 
Vincennes, and started a business for himself, 
continuing thus till 1808; he then retired and 
lived in retirement till his death in 1870. The 
principal of this sketch was reared, educated and 
learned his trade in Vincennes, Ind. , the latter be- 
ing accomplished in his father's shop, and under 
his supervision. Being desirous to begin the world 
for himself, he opened a business at Mount Vernon, 
Ind., in 1808, which he conducted till 1870, when 
he went to Missouri, staying for one year, thence 
to Harrisburg, 111., for two years. In 1880, his 
eyes troubling him, he went to Eureka Springs, 
Ark., for treatment, and upon their recovery en- 
tered into business here, and at Fayetteville, in 
which he continued but a short time, coming to 
Dardanelle, in 1881, and established his present 
lucrative business, carrying a stock of about $3,000, 
his annual receipts amounting to $2,500; he is the 
owner of the store building, and is erecting a line 
dwelling house; besides this property he owns 
eighty acres of land, partially cultivated, nine val- 
uable lots, and two cottages on the summit of 
Mount Nebo, and gives much of his time to the 
improvement of that beautiful resort. He was 
joined in matrimony in 1882 to Miss Mattie C. 
May, only daughter of Judge William N. May 
[see sketch]. Their marriage has been blessed 



^' 



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YELL COUNTY. 



]89 



with four children: William N. (living), Mattie 
Elizabeth, Francis Vigo and Efiie (deceased). He 
and family are worthy members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Socially, subject is in affilia- 
tion with the following lodges of the Masonic order: 
Bright Star No. 213, Dardanelle Chapter 04, Brill- 
iant Star Council and Palestine Commandery No. 
7. He is also a prominent member of the Order 
of K. of P. ; has held, or is holding, the highest 
office, and is now tilling the chair of most excellent 
high priest of the Chapter of R. A. M., and is em- 
inent commander of the commandery. 

Lucas AVieser, the prominent fruit and wine- 
grower, near Dardanelle, was born in Baden, Ger- 
many, in 1837, and is the only son born to Julian 
and Varona Wieser, also of Baden, and deceased, 
the father in 1844, and the mother in 1868. Lucas 
received his early training in Germany, in 1866 
becoming a member of the army of that country, 
where he remained till 1871, taking part in the 
battle of Tanberbishofsheim, here receiving a 
severe wound in the shoulder. In 1872 he came 
to America, locating in Pennsylvania, sojourning 
here but two years, thence going to Indianapolis, 
where he secured a position as boss iron-worker, 
working on some of the public buildings. In 1876 
he decided to come to Arkansas, which he did, set- 
tling at Dardanelle; here he bought land and 
planted an orchard and vineyard of about forty 
acres, which are well improved, and on this land 
are some good substantial buildings, erected by 
himself. At present he is actively working at the 
trade of a stonemason, having laid the foundation 
of many of Mount Nebo's massive buildings. In 
1873 Miss Sophia Wieser became his wife, and the 
fruits of this marriage have been five children, two 
of whom survive: Frank Herman and Herman 
Frank, the others dying in infancy. The family 
are members of the Catholic Church. 

J. L. Williams. There was born to the union 
of James N. and Mary Ann (Springer) Williams, 
of South Carolina and Lauderdale County, Ala., 
respectively, a family of sixteen children, he whose 
name heads this sketch being the third child, his 
birth occurring in Union County, S. C, in 1842, 
and he is the lineal descendant of the following 



illustrious persons: His grandfather, Williams, al- 
though born in South Carolina, was an oif spring 
of an old Irish family, his father coming to this 
country at an early day, and locating in the latter 
State, where his family is known as one of the 
oldest in the State, and as one of renowned musical 
talent. The grandfather on the mother's side, 
Jonathan Springer, also of South Carolina, and a 
planter by occupation, came as early as 1820 to 
Alabama, his father being from Virginia, and his 
grandfather from Delaware, whose father, Carroll 
or Lorentz, is supposed to have founded Wilming- 
ton, this State, in 1770. The Springer family is 
said to be direct descendants of Charles Christo- 
pher Springer, a Swedish baron, and who is said 
to trace his ancestry as far back as 410 A. D., to 
Louis, the Pius, of France. The name of Springer, 
says tradition, is derived from this Louis, who, be- 
ing guilty of some misdemeanor, as a punishment, 
was imprisoned, from which he escaped by spring- 
ing or jumping from the third-story window of his 
prison into the lake, and his cousin, the emjieror 
of Germany, hearing of this wonderful feat, par- 
doned him, and conferred upon him the name of 
Springer. Our subject's father, soon after his 
marriage, which took place in Alabama, moved 
to South Carolina, where they remained for two 
years, thence returning to Alal>ama, where his son 
was reared and given a very limited education. 
Here the family continued to make their home till 
the death of the parents, the father departing this 
life August 7, 186U, and his widow surviving him 
till 1889. In 1801 he enlisted in Company I, of 
the famous old Ninth Alabama Regiment, and par 
ticipated in the battles of Forts Henry and Donel- 
son, and was captured at the latter place, and sent 
to the military prison at Chicago, from which, 
after three months' continement, he was the first 
man to make his escape, which was largely com- 
mented upon by the press. Going by the way of 
AVheeling, Va.,and crossing the mountains to Rich- 
mond, he returned home; subsequently returning 
to Virginia, joined his original company, and took 
part in many of the famous battles and skirmishes. 
Being again taken prisoner at Spottsylvania, he 
was held for two months, and finally sent to El- 



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190 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



mira, N. Y. , where be escaped by way of a tunnel, 
wbich he assisted ia digging. On regaining his 
borne, after the close of the Rebellion, he engaged 
in trading, earning enough to enable him to take 
a course of two terms in the West Point High 
School, of Lawrence County, Tenn., and to enter 
Shoal Creek Academy, of Giles County, same State, 
and on completion of his studies, engaged in teach- 
ing, after which he farmed in Alabama for a few 
years, and in 1873 started the store of general 
merchandise at Lexington, and known as the firm 
of Dobbins, Black & Co. In 1875 the iirm dis- 
solved, and he again taught school, and for eight- 
een months served as clerk of public works, on 
Mussel Shoals canal, and it was while here em- 
ployed that he saw tlie notorious outlaws, Jesse 
and Frank James, who robbed the canal company. 
In 1882 he came to Prairie Township, where he 
purchased 202i acres, on which he has made good 
improvements. On September 21, 1809, he led 
Miss Emma S. Skijiworth (daughter of John W. 
Skipworth, a prominent planter, trader and cap- 
italist, of Kussellville, Ky.) to the altar, and to 
them have been born five sons and three daughters: 
John Henry, James Turner, Lona, Bennie Taylor, 
Thomas Jefferson, Robert A., Cora Lee and Lula 
Madora, and on February 20, 1890, were called 
to mourn the loss of this most excellent mother, 
who was an exemplary member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. Her husband was a 
member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and 
since his residence in this county has been an ag- 
gressive politician of the Democratic party, and in 
1890, being the candidate on the Democratic ticket 
to the Lower House of the General Assembly, re- 
ceived the nomination by 600 or 800 majority. 

R. R. Williams. In 1880 Philemon Williams, 
a farmer by occupation, emigrated from Tennessee 
(the State of his nativity) to Arkansas, and entered 
320 acres of land in Johnson County, and in 1838 
was united in marriage to Eleanor Ward, a native 
of the Old Dominion, and he and wife conducted 
this farm till about 1840, when they changed their 
location to Yell County, settling on 300 acres of 
land, Imilt a log cabin, and made many improve- 
ments, and here were born their two children, our 



subject (who was born December 10, 1841), and his 
brother, Henry (now deceased). Mr. Williams 
died about 1844 or 1845, and his widow, who be- 
came the wife of James M. Beard, survived 
him till 1888, when she too passed to her final 
home. Our subject adopted the calling of his 
father as a means of livelihood, and continued in 
it till 1861, when he joined the Confederate Army, 
and his war record is as follows: Enlisting in Com- 
pany H, First Arkansas Riflemen, as a private, he 
took part in the battle of Oak Hill, and sever.'il 
others and a number of skirmishes, and received 
his final muster out in 1865. After his return to 
his farm was married to Miss Sarah J. Harring- 
ton born in Tennessee in 1834, and five children 
were born to bless this union: Ella J. (wife of A. J. 
Withers), Louis, Ida M. , Eugene and James O. 
His wife died in 1874, a member of the Primitive 
Baptist Church. Remaining a widower till June 
27, 1876, he wedded Mrs. Amanda C. Orre, who 
bore him five children: Stella, David S., Sallie G. 
John P. (deceased) and Henry O. On July 9 
1885, he was again called to mourn the loss of his 
wife, she dying in communion with the Presby- 
terian Church, and on_ July 9, 1889, he married 
his third and present wife, born in Tennessee, Sep- 
tember 15, 1872, and a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and they are the parents of a 
son and daughter: Amanda C. and Redmond H. 
His home is situated two and one-half miles east of 
Chickalah, and his farm comprises 190 acres of 
land, with some 100 under cultivation. 

George L. Wirt, merchant, Briggsville, Ark. 
Among the business men of Yell County, Ark., 
who have won distinction as successful merchants, 
and who have, by personal industry and genuine 
business ability, succeeded in establishing a desir- 
able trade, may be mentioned Mr. Wirt, whose 
name heads this brief biography. He was born in 
Alabama on November 25, 1844, and was the son 
of Samuel and Martha (Wood) Wirt, the latter a 
daughter of Joseph Wood, of Alabama. Our .subject 
was married in Alabama on Noveml)er 23, 1867, to 
Miss Ann E. Sanford, daughter of T. J. Sanford, 
of Alabama, and to them were born one living 
child, Benjamin F. In 1878 Mr. Wirt left his 



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YELL COUNTY. 



191 



native State and came to Yell County, where for 
two or three years he was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. In 1880 he was elected justice of the 
peace, serving in that capacity for six years, and 
discharging the duties incumbent upon that office 
in a highly satisfactory manner. His strong good 
sense, his knowledge of human nature, his calm 
conservatism, and in fact his genuine ability were 
soon perceived, and in 1888 he was elected county 
judge and re-elected in 1890. He is an equal 
partner in the general merchandise business with 
Dr. W. H. McCall and D. L. Castleberry, trans- 
acting a biisiness of al)out $10,000 or f 12,000 per 
year, and is a representative and successful business 
man. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
of Briggsville, known as Concordia Lodge, and he 
is a liberal supporter of all worthy movements, es- 
pecially educational and religious enterprises. 

Dr. Ripley E. Woodard, the young and rising 
jnactitiouer of Chickalah, and graduate from Van- 
derbilt College, at Nashville, Tenn., was born in 
this county JVIarch 4, 1803. His parents, Ripley 
J. and Mary (Roliinson) Woodard, were born in 
Mississippi and North Carolina, respectively, but 
were united in marriage in Yell County, where 
were born their family of six children. The senior 
Woodard is a merchant of Danville, and for the 
past twenty years has successfully conducted a 
general merchandise business, and for fifteen years 
has been Danville's popular postmaster. He en- 
listed in 1862, and served until 1865, as a soldier 
in the late Rebellion; is an enthusiast in politics, 
always voting for the best man in his party. Him- 
self and wife worship with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, and he belongs to the society 
of Masons. Dr. Woodard (our subject) began his 
medical studies in 1886, under the direction of 
Drs. Stafford and Capshaw, of Danville, subse- 
quently matriculating at Vanderbilt College, and 
taking two courses of lectuies, received his diploma 
in 1889. and in 1890 oi)ened an oiEce and began 
his practice, which bids fair to become a most ex- 
tensive and lucrative profession in the near future. 
The Doctor is full of energy, and by his courteous 
manner and kindness of heart is bound to rise to 
the topmost round in the ladder of medcial fame. 



Commodore Perry Woodard, merchant. Gravel- 
ly Hill, Ark. This successful and popular busi- 
ness man was born at Danville, Ark., on March 21, 
1866. His father was a merchant, and, having a 
large stock of general merchandise, sold out a few 
years ago, and later was appointed postmaster at 
Gravelly Hill, which position he holds at the pres- 
ent time. He allowed his children to have all they 
could make in legitimate work, and, as a conse- 
quence, Commodore P., at the early age of ten 
years, hired himself out to a mail contractor, carry 
ing the mail from Danville to Ola. For his services 
he received 50 cents a day, and since that time he 
has clothed and taken care of himself, being no 
expense to his father. When not employed in this 
way he worked for farmers in the vicinity. He 
continued in the mail service until fourteen years 
of age and then entered the schools at Danville, 
where he continued his studies until eighteen years 
of age, working during vacations to pay his way. 
In 1884 he hired to J. C. Carter to clerk in his 
store at Bragg, then a country place, but about 
eighteen months afterward a post office was estab- 
lished, and the place given its present name. 
There he remained eighteen months, after which he 
returned to Danville, and hired as a clerk to the 
firm of Runyan & Briggs of that place. Six months 
later he went to Dardanelle to attend the high 
school, but after being there a few months he was 
recalled home by the sickness of his father. He 
then again entered the employ of Kunyan & Briggs, 
with whom he remained six months, after which he 
went to Bellville, and clerked for W. L. Heck six 
months longer. From there he went to Rover, 
clerked for J. W. Gladden six months, and then 
returned to Danville, where he entered the employ 
of Briggs & Capshaw, continuing with this firm 
for fourteen months. During that time he was 
inarried to Miss Minnie Elms, daughter of Eliza- 
beth Elms, of Danville. Later he moved to Grav- 
elly Hill, formed a co partnership with L. L. Briggs, 
and has since made this place his home. The firm 
carries a well assorted .stock of goods, consisting of 
dry-goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes, har- 
ness, saddles and assorted hardware and queens- 
ware. During the past nine months their sales 



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4. 



192 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



Lave amounted to about $4,000. To Mr. and Mrs. 
"Woodard Lave been born one child, a son named 
Olga M.. whose birth occurred on July 25, 1889. 
He and wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 



pal Church, and in politics he is a Democrat. He 
has held the position of assistant postmaster at two 
difiPerent times, and at two different offices, and is 
now notary public. 




^ 



POPE COUNTY. 



193 



k^ 






=®*^ 



Pope County, Its Situation, Boundaries, PiEsources and Pkospects— Its Timber and Its Streams— Its 
Agricultural Products and Minerals— Its Political Townships and Their Area- County 
Organization — The Several Seats of Justice — County Buildings— Pope County's Civil List — 
Judges, Clerks, Sheriffs, Coroners, Surveyors — The Pope County Circuit Court, its 
Officers and Lawyers- Representatives in Senate and Lower House and in Consti- 
tutional Conventions— County- Politics— The Dwight Mission and The Cherokee 
Settlement — Beginning and Progress of Settlement— Land Entries in Pope 
County Prior to 1845— Educational History and School Statistics— Kail- 
ways— Incorporated Towns, Villages and Post-Offices— Old Norris- 
TOWN and Other Once Important Points— Churches— The War 
and Reconstruction Period— The Press. 




Bounteous nature loves all lands. 

Beauty wanders everywhere, 
Footprints leaves on many strands, 
But her home is surely there. — Fidconer. 



OPE COUNTY is situated 
north of the Arkansas Riv- 
er, which is its southern 
boundary. It is bounded 
CD the north by the coun- 
ties of Newton and Searcy; 
on the east by Van Buren 
and Conway Counties, and on the 
west by Johnson County and the 
Arkansas River. It has an area 
of about 512,000 acres. The sur- 
face of the county is considerably 
broken, one-third of the area be- 
mountainous and hilly, one- 
third level and one-third alluvial. 
The entire southern portion of the 
county is underlaid with a bed of 
coal, and the "black diamonds" have been dug 
out in liberal quantities in many localities; but 
thus far coal has been developed only for local con- 
sumption. Of timber there is an abundance in the 

13 



county, of all the valuable varieties, including 
white oak, pine, cypress, toi^ether with red, black 
and post-oak, while the river and railroad transpor- 
tation afford the best of shipping facilities. There 
are about twenty sawmills in Pope County. They 
cut about 15,000,000 feet of lumber per year, 
which is worth $8 per 1,000 feet or 1120,000 for 
the aggregate amount. From the production of 
cotton and lumber this county realizes $680,000, 
which equals $37.44 for each 'inhabitant. The 
money derived from these sources ought of itself 
to enrich the country. Iron is also known to exist 
here, but no effort has been made to ascertain if it 
is in any considerable quantity. Large quantities 
of very fine building stone are found at a depth of 
from one to two feet. This stone is used for the 
construction of chimneys and for laying the founda- 
tions of buildings, but, as the supply seems to be 
inexhaustible, the day is not far distant when it 
will be used for building purposes. 

The northern portion of Pope County, about 



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194 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



sixteen miles in width, is mountainous, the eleva- 
tion pushing clown from the north on the eastern 
border, in the shape of a foot, eighteen or twenty 
miles. The mountainous portions of the county 
include all of Allen, Freeman, North Fork and 
Independence Townships and portions of Liberty 
and Martin Townships. The only valley lands in 
the townships named are those of Indian Creek 
and the Big Piney, in Allen Township, and the 
valleys of the North Fork, in North Fork Town- 
ship, and the Middle and East Forks of the Illi- 
nois Bayou, in Independence Township. The val- 
leys of these creeks are generally narrow, but rich 
and productive. The creeks wind from one side to 
the other, cutting the valleys into tracts of land of 
from eighty to 120 acres, occupied by small but 
thrifty farmers. The Crow Mountain is formed by 
the land at the headwaters of Gum Log Creek, rising 
to an altitude of 200 to 250 feet. It is from three 
to four miles wide and about ten miles long. It 
sets on a line from the northwest to the southeast. 
It breaks abruptly ofP a mile northwest of the town 
of Atkins, its rugged bluffs and clifPs presenting a 
majestic view from that point. This mountain is 
flat on top, and the plateau is pretty densely popu- 
lated. The county court long ago established a po- 
litical township, embracing and running with this 
mountain, called Gum Log Township. 

Perhaps there is not a county in the State that 
has a better supply of running water than Pope 
County, affording the greatest abundance for stock 
in the dryest seasons. Besides the Arkansas River, 
which belts the entire southern boundary, the prin- 
cipal water-courses of the county are Big Piney, 
Illinois Bayou, Point Remove, Galla Creek and 
their tributaries. Big Piney is a water-course of 
considerable magnitude. It ia 100 miles in length 
or longer. It rises far back in the Boston Mount- 
ains, in the counties of Newton and Madison, and 
empties into the Arkansas River, about two miles 
west of the Pope County line. It courses from the 
northwest to the southeast, entering Pope County 
on the west aboiit eight miles south of the north- 
west corner. It then turns north, running a little 
west of south, along the entire western border of 
the county, to a point within about six miles of the 



Arkansas River, when it turns abruptly to the west, 
running due west, or nearly so, for about four 
miles. Crossing the county line, it continues its 
westerly course in Johnson County for about three 
miles, when it makes another abrupt turn to the 
south, and empties into the Arkansas River, in 
Johnson County, about two miles west of the line 
dividing the counties of Pope and Johnson. In- 
dian Creek, a tributary of Piney, is a stream about 
eleven miles in length. It heads at the north 
boundary of the county, about two miles east of 
the western border, and runs due south eight miles, 
then flows to the west three miles, emptying into 
Piney near the county line. The next principal 
water-course in the county is the Illinois Bayou, 
which is formed at the base of the mountain, near 
the center of the county, east and west, and about 
five miles north of the center, north and south, by 
the confluence of the waters of the North Fork, 
Middle Fork and East Fork. The North Fork, 
which is really the parent stem of Illinois Bayou, 
heads in the mountains, at the extreme northern 
boundary of the county, and about the center east 
and west, coursing due south through the mount- 
ains, dividing the center of the county for sixteen 
miles to the base of the mountains, where it is in- 
tersected by the waters of the Middle and East 
Forks. The Middle Fork has its source in Searcy 
County, near the northeast corner of Pope County, 
and the East Fork in Pope Coimty, at the eastern 
border, about four miles south of the northeast 
corner. These streams run convergent from the 
northeast to the southwest, coming together in the 
mountains, about fourteen miles south of the north- 
ern boundary. Continuing their southwesterly 
course for four miles, they abruptly turn north- 
west, hugging the base of the mountain for about 
three miles, to where they intersect the waters of 
the North Fork, which has its course due south, 
at which point it may be said the Illinois Ba3'ou 
proper begins. Then, as if to compromise between 
the directions of these streams, the Illinois Bayou 
adopts a southwesterly course, running almost on 
a parallel with Piney, from six to eight miles east, 
emptying into the Ai'kansas River live miles south- 
west of Russellville. 



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POPE COUNTY. 



195 






Big Piney and the Illinois Bayou supply the 
entire western half of the country with pui-e spark- 
ling water for stock. Besides, these streams have 
numerous tributaries which, throughout the year, 
afford plenty of water for stock, convenient and 
accessible to all that portion of the county west of 
the center north and south. Point Remove, a 
tributary of the Arkansas Kiver, rises in the Bos- 
ton Mountains at the headlands of Little Red 
River in Van Buren County, and empties into the 
Arkansas River in Conway County below the Pope 
County line. This stream is noted for its slight 
fall, its slow running waters, its meanderings and 
its fertile, wide and extended valleys. It enters 
Pope County on the east, about six miles south of 
the base of the mountains, and opens up a wide 
and productive valley onto the valley of the Ar- 
kansas River in this county. Hecker's Fork, a 
tributary of Point Remove, rises in this county, 
near the eastern border, in the Oak Mountain, and 
runs due south from the base of the mountain 
about six miles, emptying into Point Remove. 
Gum Log, a tributary of Point Remove, rises about 
the center of the county, runs a little south of east 
about twelve miles, emptying into Point Remove, 
near the line dividing Pope and Conway Counties. 

The Crow Mountain constitutes the headlands 
of Galla Creek, which drains the country south of 
the mountain to the Arkansas River. It is a short 
stream and runs through a flat but densely popu- 
lated countrj', and affords stock water in good sup- 
ply. From this view of the principal water-courses 
and their windings, it will be seen that there are 
few counties that have so manj' clear running 
streams as Pope County, or whose waters are more 
equally distributed. While the western half of the 
county is better watered than the eastern, it can 
not be truly said that there is any place in Pope 
County where there is any very great scarcity of 
water or inconvenience to it, even in the dryest 
seasons. Wells are relied on chiefly for drinking 
water. The average well is from twenty to thirty 
feet in depth and it is very rare to find a well forty 
feet deep. The greatest abundance of pure water 
is obtained at these depths; the cost of sinking a 
well is from $1.50 to $2 per foot. In the mount- 



ainous portion of the county sjjrings are quite 
common. 

There are about 512,000 acres of land in Pope 
County, only about half of which is occupied. 
There are about 75,000 acres of railroad land, 
20,000 acres of State land, 5,000 acres of school 
land, and 16'.),0O0 acres of Government land, ag- 
gregating 269,000 acres, which leaves 243,000 
owned and occupied by the people. The Govern- 
ment land, which in a technical sense constitutes 
the public domain, is subject to homestead; but in 
the broader sense the railroad, school and State 
land might be said to constitute part of the pul;!ic 
domain, for it is all unoccupied and for sale. The 
railroad lands sell at from $2 to $7 per acre, the 
State land at $1.25 per acre, and the school land, 
to the highest bidder, at not less than $1.25 per 
acre. Land belonging to individuals can be 
bought, bottom lands from |15 to $30 per acre, 
river bottom lands from $25 to $50 per acre, and 
uplands fi'om $5 to $10 per acre. The mountain 
lands are all subject to homestead, except such as 
belong to individuaLs, which can be bought re- 
markably cheap. 

This county is a " sand formation." This 
term is here used in contradistinction to calcareous 
formation. The soil in the valleys, and especially 
the river valleys, is alluvial, and has a sandy sub- 
soils. In the hills or uplands the soil is a sandy 
loam, and in the mountains it is a clay loam, with 
clay subsoils. Silica and alumina enter into the 
composition of the soil in about equal proportions, 
silica slightly predominating in the valleys, and 
alumina in the mountains and uplands. The mount- 
ains and uplands are more retentive of moisture 
than the bottoms, but this is partially due to the 
difference in the character of their subsoils. The 
soil of this country possesses all the chemical in- 
gredients necessary to the wants and growth of 
jjlants, but each particular character of soil excels 
in the growth of certain species. The valley lands 
excel in the growth of corn and cotton. The clay 
loams are unequal for the production of wheat, 
beans, peas, cabbage, turnips, etc., and fruits of all 
kinds; the sandy loams in the production of pea- 
nuts, rye, oats, sweet and Irish potatoes, strawber- 



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196 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ries, peaches, melons and perennial pastures. The 
river bottoms, the richest soil of the country, are 
owned usually by large landholders, who live in 
the uplands, their farms being worked by tenants 
and " share-croppers." All the colored people of 
the county engaged in agriculture are found on 
the river. Land rents from $5 to $6 per acre. 
The production of cotton and corn constitutes the 
exclusive industry. No thought is given to the 
production of fruit or any other luxuries of life. 
Though Pope County is naturally a fine stock 
country little thought is given to stock-raising. 
Cotton holds sway and shuts out all other enter- 
prises. The planters produce a bale of cotton to 
the acre for which they realize on an average $40. 
They usually plant what they deem a sufficient 
acreage of corn to supply their farms. If the sea- 
son is favorable they have an abundance of corn, 
and if unfavorable they have a scarcity. With 
favorable seasons they can raise from sixty to 
seventy-five bushels of corn per acre. 

The people in the uplands are generally thrifty 
and prosperous. Their farms are small, consisting, 
usually, of from forty to 160 acres. The occu- 
pants are the owners. There are few renters in 
the uplands in any portion of the county. Thej' 
are in the valleys, especially on the large river 
farms. The general comforts of life are more 
equally distributed among the people residing in 
the uplands than among any other class. Owning 
their homes, they produce their own consumptions, 
have their little orchards and variety of luxuries 
60 essential to the comfort and happiness of a 
people. They have good society, church and edu 
cational facilities. The uplands are exceedingly 
healthy. Improved uplands sell from $5 to $10 
per acre. There are a great deal of these uplands 
subject to homestead. The finest openings for in- 
dustrious people of small means are the mountains. 
The lands are rich and fertile and can be home- 
steaded or bought at low prices. Stock can be 
raised with but little attention. There is no country 
that nature has done more for. It is as fine an 
apple, peach and grape countrj' as can be found 
anywhere. Grapes grow almost spontaneously. 
The peach and the apple in size, beauty and flavor 



grow to perfection. The chief industries of the 
people are corn, wheat and fruit culture and stock- 
raising. The soil is retentive of moisture, and the 
drouth seldom affects the mountain district. The 
mountains are also noted for honey. The Big 
Piney is one of the most beautiful streams of water 
in the State. Rising far back in the mountains, 
in the lime formations, its waters are peculiarly 
clear and crystal -like, and is an excellent stream 
for fish. It is fordable on horse except in times 
of high water, but footmen can pass over it dry- 
shod only in the dry seasons. The valleys are 
wide and productive and some of the best farms in 
the county are situated on this stream. It is 
claimed that the land here is stronger for the sup 
posed reason that it contains more lime than the 
soil in other portions of the county. While the 
Illinois Bayou is not as long as the Piney, it is 
about the same breadth; its valleys are wider, 
more extensive and continuous. The valleys of 
the Piney are more like a basin from the fact that 
every few miles the hills close in on both sides of the 
stream. On the contrary. Illinois Bayou is not 
closed in by the hills shutting out the valleys ex- 
cept in one place, and for but a short distance, 
and forms one continuous valley of rich and fertile 
lands, extending the full length of the county north 
and south, splitting the center to the base of the 
mountains, thence extending a little west of the 
center to the Arkansas River. Its valleys produce 
from three-fourths to a bale of cotton per acre, 
and from forty to seventy bushels of corn per acre, 
and grow oats, rye and all kinds of grasses well. 
They are of about the same productive capacity as 
the valley of Piney, and this is the most cheerful 
and delightful farming country in the county. The 
valleys of Indian Creek are rich and fertile but 
narrow, except at its mouth where the mountains 
draw back, forming a basin called Leonard's Val- 
ley, which is rich and productive. The most at- 
tractive of these creeks is the North Fork. Its 
valleys are wider than the others, and the creek is 
not so shifting. Its farms are larger, and its 
farmers are a well to-do class of people, and have 
good society, church and school facilities. It will 
thus be seen that the county's principal crops are 






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POPE COUNTY. 



197 



4^ 



[ 



cotton and corn. Cotton produces well; on hill 
lands 700, on bottoms, 1,400 pounds of seed cot- 
ton to the acre; the average yield of corn is from 
20 to 50 bushels, of wheat from 8 to 16, of oats 
from 18 to 30, of rye from 25 to 30 bushels, pota- 
toes, both Irish and sweet, from 200 to 300, tur- 
nips 300, and field peas 40 bushels per acre; to- 
bacco produces about 200 pounds; timothy, 2,000 
pounds; redtop, 2,000 pounds; millet and Hun- 
garian grasses, 3,000 pounds to the acre, and sor- 
glium yields about 100 gallons of syrup on average 
land. All varieties of fruit are successfully culti- 
vated. Peaches are a sure crop; apples do well, 
and grapes will produce anywhere in the county. 

In the matter of health. Pope Connty compares 
favorably with other sections. The lands, as a rule, 
are high uplands, with no swamps or stagnant pools, 
and are easily drained. All who have any practical 
regard for the laws of health, in their modes of liv- 
ing, are rarely sick. The diseases of the country, as 
a rule, are easily controlled. Following is the testi- 
mony of one of Russellville's leading physicians: 
"I have lived a resident of this county since 1854, 
and have been a practicing physician for thirty- 
four years past of that time, having had a large 
and varied experience. The diseases met with here 
are mostly of malarial origin, prevailing more dur- 
ing the summer and fall months than at any other 
time. Those who live in the bottoms along the 
water-courses suffer the most, while the residents 
of the uplands are comparatively exempt. Epi- 
demics are almost unknown, as a rule, and, when 
they do prevail, are generally mild and easily man- 
aged. Whooping-cough and measles, with a case 
of mumps now and then, constitute the entire cata- 
logue of epidemic diseases in this country. Among 
the inflammations, pneumonia is the most prevalent 
during the winter and early spring months, but it 
does not prevail to a great extent, and taken in 
time, is easily managed. Not one physician in ten 
will average, one year with another, more than six 
or eight cases in any one season, at least that has 
been my experience. " There are, in different lo- 
calities in the county, fine chalybeate springs, val- 
uable for the health-producing qualities of their 
waters, which have been found especially effective 



in various chronic diseases. With additional rail- 
way facilities, these springs will, some of them, in 
time, doubtless be developed into popular resorts. 
Following are the names of the several political 
townships into which the county is divided. The 
figures in connection with the name of each town- 
ship represent the area of that townshij) in square 
miles: Allen, 50; Bayliss, 17; Clark, 28; Con- 
venience, 20; Dover, 50; Freeman, 51; Galla 
Creek, 18; Galla Rock, 21; Griffin, 32; Gum Log, 
14; Holly Bend, 17; Independence, 96; Illinois, 
40; Lee, 18; Liberty, 120; Martin, 59; Moreland, 
20; North Fork, 62; Sand Springs, 11; Valley, 
29; Wilson, 32. 

At the close of the year 1825, the then Territory 
of Arkansas consisted of the counties of Arkansas, 
Conway, Chicot, Crawford, Crittenden, Hemp- 
stead, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Miller, 
Pulaski and Phillips. Conway had been erected 
as recently as October 25 of that year. Lovely 
County was erected October 13, 1827, and was 
abolished October 17, 1828. Five days later part 
of the Indian purchase was added to Conway 
County. More than a year after the wiping out 
of Lovely County, Pope County was formed princi- 
pally from Conway. An old record book of deeds 
containing the evidence of real estate transactions 
in Lovely County, in 1828, is among the curiosities 
of the Pope County clerk's office. Pope County 
was erected November 2, 1829. In 1840, Yell 
County was formed out of Pope, by making the 
Arkansas River the line from the mouth of Petit 
Jean up to the crossing of the Miliary road at the 
Dardanelle Rock; thence to the point of Magazine 
Moimtain; thence with said mountain westward; 
and not until 1853 did Pope County relinquish to 
Yell all her lands south of the River. This con- 
cession was made under an act of Legislature 
passed January 5, 1853. Part of Conway County 
was attached to Pope January 6, 1853. The line 
between Pope and Newton Counties was defined 
January 10, 1853. Part of Van Buren County 
was attached to Pope January 12, 1853. The line 
between Pope and Van Buren Counties was de- 
fined February 17, 1859; the line between Pope 
and Johnson Counties, October 19, 1859, and 



i 



J« — «- 



.]^ 



198 



HISTOKT OF ARKANSAS. 



March 27, 1871. The line between Pope and Con- 
way Connties was defined May 28, 1874. The line 
between Pope and Johnson Counties was re-estab- 
lished March 6, 1875, and changed March 9, 1877. 
The temporary county seat of Pope County 
was established at John Bolinger's, on the Arkan- 
sas River, near Hon. John R. Homer Scott's 
" Scotia ' ' farm, and the courts were held there in 
1829-30. One early court was held at the old 
Dwight Mission, on Illinois Bayou. Some time in 
1830 the county seat was established at old Nor- 
ristown and remained there about ten years. No 
county buildings were ever erected at Norristown. 
The courts were held in a small frame building 
leased for the purpose, and prisoners were con- 
fined in the jail of neighboring counties. The first 
court-house at Dover was a log structure. It was re- 
paired and improved from time to time and served 
the county until some time during the war, when 
it was burned. Courts were for a time held in 
churches, until the erection of the brick court- 
house, which stands there still, now in use as a 
school-house, it having been sold by the county to 
Dover for the nominal price of $100. There is 
also at Dover a now useless log jail. The con- 
struction of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Rail- 
road built up Russellville and Atkins and drew 
away from Dover_ the local commerce that had 
made it the business center of the county. The 
removal of the seat of justice to some point on the 
railroad followed as a most natural consequence. 
Ju]y;21, 1880, upon the petitions of C. S. Bell 
and 1,500 others andL. D. Ford and 2,100 others, 
legal voters of Pope County, it was ordered by the 
county coiirt that an election be held September 
0, 1886, at which the following questions should 
be submitted to the people: First, shall the county 
seat be removed or changed ? Second, shall the 
county seat be removed from Dover to Russellville ? 
Third, shall the county seat be removed from 
Dover to Atkins? Each of these petitions con- 
tained a proposition to build a court-house at the 
tovm mentioned therein in case the county seat 
should be removed thereto, and the people of 
Russellville and Atkins proposed for theii' re- 
spective towns to execute a good and sufiBcient 



bond for the use of Pope County, payable to such 
commissioners as might be by the courts appointed 
to erect without cost to the county a comfortable 
and convenient building suitable and sufficient for 
all county purposes and donate the same to the 
county. The court appointed R. O. Mortou, W. M. 
Bell and Joseph Howard, commissioners, to whom 
said bonds should be made payable for the use of 
Pope County, and ordered that said bonds should 
be filed with the clerk of the court. This election 
did not result in a choice of a new location for the 
county seat, though there was a majority for re- 
moval fi'om Dover. At the October term of the 
county court, 1880, T. M. Neal and others, after 
due notice, filed their petition contesting said 
election, and the court, upon hearing, sustained 
the contest and set aside the election, and J. L. 
Shinn and others, as contestees, appealed to the 
Pope Circuit Court. The time for holding the 
Pope Circuit Court, as fixed by law, was the first 
Monday (the first day) of November, 1880; 
but the court was not opened until the third 
day (Wednesday), when the circuit judge appeared 
and proceeded to open and hold the court. On 
the fifth day of said month M. L. Davis was 
elected special judge, and on the twelfth he pro- 
ceeded to try the contest upon the amended peti- 
tion of the contestants and demiirrer of the con- 
testees thereto, and sustained the demurrer and so 
rendered judgment; and thereupon ordered an 
election to be held March 19, 1887. Such an 
election was then held, and a majority of the 
voters of the county voted to locate the county 
seat at Russellville, the ballot standing 1,399 for 
Russellville as against 1,271 for Atkins. In July, 
1886, J. L. Shinn presented to the county court a 
deed conveying to Pope County " all that portion 
of Lot 13 beginning on Oak Street on the east and 
running back west to a point parallel with a line 
running through the center of Lot 18; also the 
east half of said Lot 18; also Lots 19, 20 and 21, 
all of said lots being in Block ' K ' in J. M. Shinn's 
Addition to the town of Russellville." At the 
same time Mr. Shinn offered another site, but the 
one above described was chosen and accepted by 
the county court, April 1, 1887. It was ordered 



^' 



^ 



POPE COUNTY. 



199 



that the county court-house and jail should be 
built on this site, and J. M. Haney, M. H. 
Johnson and L. D. Ford were appointed commis- 
sioners to inspect said structures and receive them 
in behalf of the, county when they should be fin 
ished. July 5, 1887, J. L. Shinn, K. J. Wilson, 
W. G. White and others represented to the court 
that they were preparing to erect the jail and 
court-house in compliance with the obligation of 
their bond, filed with the county clerk August 17, 
188(), and that they had procured and then ten- 
dered to the court for the temporary use of the 
county, while the buildings should be in course of 
erection, fi'ee of cost or rent to the county, suita- 
ble aj^artments for the holding of the courts and 
the safe keeping of the records of the county, lo- 
cated on the second floor of R. J. Wilson's brick 
building at the corner of Main and Jefferson 
Streets in Eussellville. This proposition was re- 
ferred by the court to the commissioners above 
mentioned, who were instructed to meet at Eus- 
sellville July 9, 1887, and inspect the apartments 
so tendered and report to the court, July 12, 
whether they were suitable and safe for the tem- 
porary use of the county. The report of the com- 
missioners being favorable, on July 25, 1887, it 
was ordered that " the clerk of the circuit court 
and ex-officio clerk of the county and jjrobate 
courts and recorder of Pope County remove his 
office and the records, papers and seals therein 
contained from Dover to said apartments so ten- 
dered; " and it was further ordered that thereafter 
the county court and all other courts of record of 
Pope County be held " at said temporary court- 
house " until the completion of the permanent 
court-house. 

May 16, 1888, the commissioners reported to 
the county court the completion and accepitance of 
the new court-house and jail, as follows: "The 
undersigned commissioners, heretofore by this court 
appointed to examine and receive the new court- 
house and jail, proposed to be erected for the use 
of the county at Russellville, in said county, by the 
citizens of said town, the erection of which was 
secured by the bonds of J. L. Shinn and others, 
respectfully report that, pursuant to the order 



of this court heretofore made, they have examined 
and received said court-house and jail erected for 
Pope County pursuant to said bond, and find that 
said court-house and jail are well and substantially 
built in compliance with the terms of said bond, 
and we for said county accept the said court-house 
and jail as being in full compliance with the re- 
quirements of said bond and recommend that the 
obligors on said bond be discharged from lia- 
bility thereupon." The court accepted and acted 
upon the recommendation of this report and or- 
dered that the county offices and the various 
courts should be removed to the new court-house, 
and that the next, and all other terms of the coun- 
ty court, and of all other courts of record of the 
county be there held. The county buildings are 
among the finest in the State, and reflect great 
credit upon the many enterprising citizens who 
contributed toward their erection. 

Pope County civil list is as follows: 1829-30 — 
Andrew Scott, judge; Twitty Place, clerk; H. 
Stennett, sheriff ; W. Garrott, coroner; W. Mitchel, 
surveyor. 1830-32— S. K. Ely the, judge; E. A. 
Pace, clerk; J. J. Morse, sheriff; F. Heron, sur- 
veyor. 1832-33 — Thomas Murray, Jr., judge; 
E. A. Pace, clerk; J. J. Morse, sheriff; S. M. 
Hayes, coroner; E. S. Witt, surveyor. 1833-35 — 
Isaac Brown, judge; E. T. Williamson, clerk; W. 
W. Rankins, sheriff; S. S. Hayes, coroner; E. S. 
Witt, surveyor. 1835-86 — J. J. Morse, judge; 
J. B. Logan, clerk; S. M. Hayes, sheriff; W\ C. 
Webb, coroner; E. S. Witt, surveyor. 1836-38 — 
Benjamin Langford, judge; J. B. Logan, clerk; S. 
M. Hayes, sheriff; J. R. H. Scott, treasurer; J. 
Baker, coroner; E. S. Witt, surveyor. 1838-40 — 
B. Johnson, judge; J. Ferguson, clerk; S. M. 
Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; E. 
Baker, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1840-42 — 
W. Bryan, judge; J. Ferguson, clerk; S. M. Hayes, 
sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; E. Ba- 
ker, coroner; E. S. Witt, sm-veyor. 1842^4 — 
Isaac Brown, judge; J. E. H. Scott, clerk; S. M. 
Hayes, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; E. E. 
Fleming, coroner; E. S. Witt, surveyor. 1844-46 — 
Jesse Mallory, judge; J. E. H. Scott, clerk; J. 
W. Jones, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; 



7p 



ii iv 



9 k^ 



^, 



200 



HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 



M. Tackett, coroner; R. S. Witt, surveyor. 1846- 
48 — David West, judge; J. R. H. Scott, clerk; J. 
W. Jones, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; 
J. S. Banker, coroner; J. H. Brearley, surveyor. 
1848-50— A. J. Bayliss, judge; William Stout, 
clerk; J. Hickey, sheriff; J. H. Patterson, treas- 
urer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. H. Brearley, sur- 
veyor. 1850-52 — A. [J. Bayliss, judge; William 
Stout, clerk; J. Hickey, sheriff; D. F. Williamson^ 
treasurer; J. Bradley, coroner; J. A. Brearley sur- 
veyor. 1852-54 — A. J. Bayliss, judge; William 
Stout, clerk; R. H. Hovpell, sheriff; G. R. Davis, 
treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. Ferguson, 
surveyor. 1854-50 — Cabel Davis, judge; R. H. 
Howell, clerk: J. L. Linton, sheriff; W. S. John- 
son, treasurer; J. S. Banker, coroner; J. W. Mil- 
ler, surveyor. 1856-58 — N. D. Shinn, judge; R. 
H. Howell, clerk; J. L. Linton, sheriff; W. S. 
Johnson, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coroner; J. 
W. Miller, surveyor. 1858-60— N. D. Shinn, 
judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; J. L. Linton, sheriff; 
D. M. Hornbeak, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coro- 
ner; J. W. Miller, surveyor. 1860-62— N. D. 
Shinn, judge; R. H. Howell, clerk; D. C. Brown, 
sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; W. A. Walker, 
coroner; J. W. Chambers, surveyor. 1802-64 — 
J. B. Brooks, judge; A. J. Bayliss; clerk; J. B. 
Erwin, sheriff; W. S. Johnson, treasurer; L. Ma- 
comb, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor. 1864-66 
— J. B. Brooks, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; G. B. 
Fondreu, sheriff; D. F. Williamson, treasurer; L. 
Macomb, coroner; J. Brearley, surveyor. (During 
this term W. A. Strickland was judge; W. H. 
Williams was sheriff, James Bradley was coroner, 
and J. W. Stout was surveyor, from July, 1865.) 
1866-68 — Cabel Davis, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; 
J. Petty, sheriff; S. R. Parker, treasurer; L. Ma- 
comb, coroner; J. W. Miller, surveyor; 1868-72 — 
W. T. Brown, judge; W. H. Hickox, clerk; J. W. 
Stout, sheriff (J. F. Clear from March, 1870); 
John Hughes, treasurer; J. A. Bradley, coroner; 
L. M. Hale, surveyor; J. F. Clear, assessor (J. 
H. Martin from July, 1870). 1872-74— E. H. 
Poe, clerk; J. B. Erwiu, sheriff; W. L. D. Ewing, 
treasurer; William White, coroner; James Potts, 
surveyor; C. E. Toby, assessor. 1874-76 — Frank 



Thach, judge; H. A. Bayliss, clerk; Joe Petty, 
sheriff; S. R. Parker, treasurer; J. P. Langford, 
coroner; James Potts, surveyor; G. W. O. Davis, 
assessor. 1876-78 — Frank Thach, judge; A. J. 
Bayliss, clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; S. R. Park- 
er, treasurer; C. N. Beuetield, coroner; James 
Potts, surveyor; W. M. Peeler, assessor. (Judge 
Thach died and R. B. Wilson was elected in March, 
1878. Treasurer Parker died and F. C. Falls 
was elected in September, 1877.) 1878-80— R. B. 
Wilson, judge; A. J. Bayliss, clerk; R. B. Hogins, 
sheriff'; F. C. Falls, treasurer; J. W. Jones, coro- 
ner; James Potts, surveyor; W. M. Peeler, assessor. 
1880-82— E. C. Bradley, judge; W. J. Reynolds, 
clerk; R. B. Hogins, sheriff; F. C. Falls, treas- 
urer; D. R. Grant, coroner; James Potts, survey- 
or; A. R. Robinson, assessor. 1882-84 — E. C. 
Bradley, judge; James Potts, clerk; J. W. Quiun, 
sheriff; Joe Petty, treasurer; D. R. Grant, coro- 
ner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; A. R. Robinson, as- 
sessor. (P. J. Hollow from March 13, 1884.) 
1884-86 — J. S. Linzy, judge; James Potts, clerk; 
J. W. Quinn, sheriff; George Baird, treasurer; G. 
A. Jamison, coroner; W. R. Hale, surveyor; P. 
M. Austin, assessor. 1886-88— J. T. Bullock, 
judge; James Potts, clerk; John R. Young, sheriff; 
Joseph Petty, treasurer; James H. Shinn, coroner; 
W. R. Hale, surveyor; J. A. Hickman, assessor. 
1888-90— J. T. Bullock, judge; R. B. Hogins, 
clerk; John R. Young, sheriff; W. N. Peeler, 
treasurer; D. R. Grant, coroner; A. Q. Davis, 
surveyor; J. A. Hickman, assessor. 1890-92 — G. 
W. Berryman, jiidge; G. E. Howard, clerk; J. T. 
Bullock, circuit clerk; W. J. Johnson, sheriff; D. 
R. Grant, coroner; J. I. Simpson, assessor; W. 
M. Peeler, treasurer. 

Pope County is in the Fifth Judicial District, 
composed of the counties of Pope, Yell, Johnson 
and Conway. The judge is Hon. J. E. Cravens, 
of Johnson County; the prosecuting attorney is H. 
S. Carter, of Dardanelle. Hon. J. G. Wallace, of 
Russellville, was elected judge, and Jeff Davis, of 
Russellville, prosecuting attorney, September 1, 
1890, to succeed the officials above mentioned. 
The court opens on the first Mondays of April and 
November. It is in the Second Congressional Dis- 



^ ell- 



i V 



fe< 



POPE COUNTY. 



•Ml 



I 



trict, composed of the counties of Pope, Cleveland, 
Lincoln, Grant, Jefferson, Arkansas, Monroe, Prai- 
rie, Lonoke, Woodruff, White, Faulkner, Conway, 
Van Buren, Stone and Cleliurne, represented by 
Hon. C. R. Breckinridge. Pope County was repre- 
sented in the Constitutional Convention of 1836 by 
Thomas Murray, Jr. ; in the Constitutional Con- 
vention of 1861 by William Stout; in the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1864 by William Stout; in the 
Constitutional Convention of 1868 by Walter W. 
Brashear; and in the Constitutional Convention of 
1874 by John E. Homer Scott. 

In the Territorial and State Legislatures this 
county has been represented thus: Upper House 
(Territorial), session of 1831, by Isaac Hughes; 
1833, by John Williamson; 1835 (journals of this 
session missing); 183()-38 (State) with Johnson, 
by J. Williamson; 1840, with Conway, by J. Will- 
iamson; 1842-43, with Conway, by J. Williamson; 
1844-45, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 1840, with 
Yell, by J. Williamson; 1848-49, with Yell, by J. 
Williamson; 1850-51, with Yell, by J. Williamson; 
1852-53, with Yell, by G. W. Lemoyne; 1854-55, 
with Yell, by G. W. Lemoyne; 1850-57, with 
Johnson, by W. W. Floyd; 1858-59, with John- 
son, by W. W. Floyd; 1800-01, special; 1801-02, 
with Johnson, by A. M. Ward; 1802, with John- 
sou, by Ben T. Embry; 1864-65, with Johnson, by 
William Stout; Confederate Legislature, 1864, 
with Johnson, by Ben T. Embry; Sixteenth Legis- 
lature, 1866-07, with Johnson, by J. E. Cravens; 
1808-<59, with Searcy and Conway, by Z. Keeton; 
1871, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 

1873, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 

1874, with Searcy and Conway, by J. R. H. Scott ; 
1874-75, with Johnson, by C. E. Toby; 1877, 
with Johnson, by C. E. Toby; 1879, with John- 
son, by John F. Hill; 1881, with Johnson, by John 
F. Hill; 1883, with Johnson, by B. T. Embry; 
1885, with Johnson, by B. T. Embry; 1887, with 
Johnson, by G. T. Cazort; last session, with John- 
son, by G. T. Cazort; J. M. Harkey is Senator 
elect. Lower House (Territorial) — session of 1831, 
by Andrew Scott; 1833, by W. Garrett; 1835 
(journals of this session missing); 1836-38 (State) 
by M. G. H. Teevault and J. J. Moose; 1838, by 



B. H. Martin and A. C. Sadler; 1840, by John 
Bruton and C. G. Sadler; 1842-43, by M. T. Logan 
and P. Tackett; 1844-45, by James B. Logan; 
1846, by J. B. Annis and James Bruton; 1848-49, 
by J. M. Shinn and J. J. Stirman; 1850-51, by J. 
G. Bruton and C. E. Toby; 1852-53, by J. S. Bow- 
den and James Bruton; 1854-55, by James Brunot 
and William D. Poe; 1850-57, by W. A. Barker 
and J. S. Bowden; 1800-01, special; 1861-62, by 
J. S. Bowden; 1862, by John McFadJon; 1864-65, 
by Robert White; Confederate Legislature, 1864, 
by John McFadden; Sixteenth Legislature, 1866- 
67, C. E. Toby; 1868-69, with Searcy and Conway, 
by W. W. Brashear, J. R. Hall and H. W. Hodges; 
1871, with Searcy and Conway, by A. D. Thomas; 
1873, with Searcy and Conway, by Benton Turner, 
Y. B. Sheppard and J. F. Stephenson; 1874, with 
Searcy and Conway, by L. W. Davis and J. S. 
Venable; 1874-75, by N. D. Shinn; 1877, by L. 
W. Davis; 1879, by E. L. McCracken; 1881, by 
H. C. Howell; 1883, by N. W. Kuhn; 1885, by C. 
E. Toby; 1887, by W. L. Sibley; last session, by 
W. L. Sibley. Lawrence Russell was elected Sep- 
tember 1, 1890. 

The following hold, or have until recently held, 
commissions as notaries pablic in Pope County: 
E. C. Bradley, J. S. Bailey, H. L. Rayburn, 
John W. White, J. T. Bullock, John A. Erwin, 
H. M. Carden, H. Cohen, G. W. Berry man, 
Thomas J. Russell, A. M. Gibson, Robert Chastine, 
J. D. Cleveland, J. E. Joyner, Eugene Moore, 
James H. Shinn, John Boanes, J. J. Lester. 

There are more than 3, 600 voters in this county ; 
about one-third are Republicans. The Democratic 
ticket has not been defeated iu this county since 
reconstruction, except in 1884, it was partially de- 
feated by a combination of the Labor and Repub- 
lican parties. 

When the old Dwight mission station was es- 
tablished on Illinois Bayou, north of the river, in 
Pope County, the Rev. Cephas Washburn, a Pres- 
byterian minister, took charge of it. The Cherokee 
settlement, under their chief, Black Hawk, then 
extended for five miles down the river, and at some 
distance from it. The settlement was like a town, 
of five miles in length. Each Indian family had 



i) >y ' 



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'k. 



202 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



its wigwam and patch of land, containing from one 
to five acres attached. All these patches adjoined 
each other, so that it was one continued field, com- 
posed of patches of a few acres, in the midst of 
which was a wigwam or cabin, in which the fam- 
ilies resided. This accounts for the young growth 
of timber which has been cleared within the mem- 
ory of some of the present inhabitants. 

The first explorers and temporary occupants of 
what is now Pope County were hunters and trap- 
pers. They conveyed information of its many 
beauties and advantages to the posts and older set- 
tlements. Most of the earliest settlement was 
along the Arkansas River and in some of the in- 
terior valleys. The pioneers were, in the main, 
men of worth and determination. Their work was 
in a wilderness, where they were often compelled 
to combat savage beasts, and sometimes fiercer 
men. Perhaps some made but a brief tarry, and 
then pushed on into a newer field, leaving no de- 
scendants here. The majority, however, have left 
a record in the county's history, and the names of 
many are ia the lists of county officials to be found 
elsewhere in these pages. Many reared large 
families, whose descendants may look backward 
now and think with pride of the skill and endur- 
ance dis})layed by their ancestors in laying the 
foundations upon which modern Pope County 
stands. Never were there more honest or more 
hospitable people than these pioneers who broke 
the forest and began to open the way before ad- 
vancing civilization. While such a life as theirs 
might not satisfy the present generation, they seem 
to have been suited to it. Were some of the re- 
fined and cultured people of to-day suddenly taken 
back to the log cabin of their forefathers, what a 
contrast would be presented to them between the 
old order of things and the new. Open-heartM, 
generous hospitality, instead of formality and sus- 
picious welcome then prevailed; personal incon- 
venience was not then thought of; a desire to 
assist others rather than himself characterized the 
average early settler, and to a thoughtfu mind it 
is indeed a serious question, whether or not, with 
all boasted advancement and progress, people of 
to-day are superior to their ancestors in those 



nobler elements of moral courage, deference to 
others and the consideration of the community be- 
fore the individual. The life of the pioneers was 
anything but dull, though, as a rule, not one in 
ten saw a newspaper more than once or twice a year, 
and the only news that reached them from the East 
was brought by the last newcomer, by some trav- 
eler through the country, or perhaps, by letters, 
that did not arrive until about three weeks after 
they had crossed the Mississippi. Notwithstand- 
ing such deprivations, their very surroundings and 
the life they lived furnished excitement that ex- 
actly fitted them, and if any people filled well the 
place assigned them in life, the founders of Pope 
County did. The following reference to the pi- 
oneer epoch is from the pen of Hon. John R. 
Homer Scott, of Russellville: "I look back to the 
good old days with wonder, astonishment and sad- 
ness at the change. No bolts or bars, no locks or 
keys, no shotguns, pistols or bowie-knives wei-ethen 
necessary to guard against the evils which, in this 
day and age beset us on every hand. Killing, 
stealing, incendiarism and other heinous crimes, of 
the most atrocious and heartrending description, 
as constantly portrayed through the public press 
of the present day, were then almost unknown and 
unheard of, to shock our sensibilities, and cause 
sorrow, trouble and distress. But all was peace 
and quiet, and the hearthstone and fireside, the 
sanctuary of domestic happiness, love and enjoy- 
ment. The people were united and cemented in 
the strongest ties of friendship and brotherhood. 
There were then no scandalous misrepresentations 
or bitter partisanship; no animosities, rancors, en- 
vies or jealousies, private or political; no desire or 
animus to j)ull neighbors down or traduce char- 
acter. But each and every one seemed intent upon 
an honest and laudable ambition and pursuit, 
which might result in the betterment of his own or 
his neighbor's happiness, welfare and prosperity. 
Would to God that such a state of affairs as was 
embraced in our early pioneer code yet existed, 
for honesty, integrity, morality and virtue, as dis- 
tinguishing and prominent characteristics, marked 
the advent of the early original settlers of the long 
ago — that we might again realize and enjoy the 



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POPE COUNTY. 



203 



blessings and satisfaction which were once so very 
pleasant, even amid primeval forests and dense 
and lofty canebrakes, and have with us again as 
then, at all times, such grand, congenial and noble 
men for fellowship as Uncle Davy Harkey, Eansom 
and Madison Shinn, George W. Lemoyne, David 
West, John Wilson, John and Mathew T. Logan, 
Dr. Thomas Kussell, Dr. J. McFadden, Dr. G. 
R. Davis, Dr. J. H. Brearley, Samuel Norris, 
Benjamin Langford, George Williams, John, Rob- 
ert T., John L. and D. F. Williamson, Mahlou and 
John M. Bewley, Richard S. Witt, E. W. Duval, 
Thomas Murray, L. N. Clarke, J. L. Cravens, 
Kirkbride Potts, Stephen D. Lewis, William Ran- 
kin, James, Thomas and Philip Madden, Jesse and 
Thomas May, Dick Adams, John Howell, John and 
James Brewton, Andrew Scott, James and William 
Carden, Daniel Gilmore, A. J. Bayliss, Sam Hays, 
Hillary Herring, Abram and John I. Smith, Will- 
iam Parks, Charles and Josiah Perry, John Brad- 
ley, the Howells, Bernards, Jamisons, Logans, 
SuUivans and many other dear old friends fondly 
remembered, but now no more, whose smiles, pres- 
ence, company and counsel once served to enliven, 
cheer and gladden our hearts. Peace to their 
ashes." 

Ever since the war there has been a constant 
stream of home-seekers Howing in this direction 
from other States as well as from other counties in 
this State, which has added greatly to the wealth 
and general prosperity of the county. New towns 
are growing up in communities where a dozen 
years ago the solitude was almost unbroken by the 
presence of man. Railways, not alone in the 
county, but in all parts of the New West, have 
contributed largely to this advancement. All 
parts of the county are now settled, and schools and 
churches are everywhere. The increase in popu- 
lation has been gradual, yet quite steady, and at 
this time the county seems fairly well peopled. 
Notwithstanding this, many magnificent acres re- 
main unoccupied, to which the attention of all who 
wish to settle in a fertile land, a genial climate 
and a moral community is directed, and a cordial 
invitation is extended by the citizens here to all who 
may wish to occupy these lands and unite their 



fortunes with theirs. Following are the names of 
those who are recorded as having entered land in 
Pope County previous to 1845. The orthography 
of the names as given in the records has been pre- 
served and in a few instances may differ from the 
modern orthography of the same family names: 
1833 — Stephen D. Lewis; 1834 — Samuel Norris, 
John J. Morse, John Drennen; 1835 — Thomas 
Russell, Alexander Madden, Mary N. Norris, 
George Poplin; 1S3G — Joseph H. Brearley, Kirk- 
bride Potts, Augustus W. Scott, Robert Davidson, 
Andrew Scott, John E. Homer Scott, Francis Lo- 
gan, Jr., Burr H. Zachary, James Allen, Thomas 
I Butler, Keziah Mason, Isaac Hughes, J. Clark, 
! Willis J. Wallace, William I. Albright, L. C. 
Howell, Sheldon Wooster, James and Philip Mad 
den, Peter Thornberry, Eliza Evans, David Slink- 
ard, James Madden; 1837 — Samuel Norris, En- 
glish J. Howell, Jesse May, John Burkhead, Will- 
iam G. H. Teevault, Cyrus F. Smith, Robert Da- 
vidson, Samuel Davidson, Levi G. Spear, J. D. 
Rose, Alfred Wallace; 1838 — Wilson and Baruett, 
James Tittsworth, Robert Tweed}-, Kirkbride 
Potts, Isaac W. McConnell, Joseph Potts, Thomas 
Russell, Ellen P. Bryan, John E. Bryan, James 
Allen, Thomas, James and Philip Madden, Hum- 
phrey P. Rose, Persis Lovely, Aaron Clark, Thomas 
Butler, Bartlett Zachary; 1839 — Joseph P. Ring, 
Thomas Campbell, James Campbell, Moore & 
Blaisdell, Richard H. Blaisdell, Willbourn and 
Thompson, A. Barnett, John Aplin, William G. 
Barnett, William Aplin, Polly Roberts, William 
L. Wharton, Richard T. Banks, James Menifee, 
William H. Boyer, B. H. Thompson, Joseph Chan- 
dler, Elisha W. Owens, James J. Tweedy, Benja- 
min Moore, Jamea Hollyfield, Jesse Bernard, Vin- 
cents J. Hutton, Abram Bernard, John E. Met- 
calf, R. J. Blounts, Elizabeth Carter, James Car- 
der, Daniel Gilmore, Joseph Parr, George W. 
Carter, Carter and Pattillo, Blake H. Thompson, 
Littleton Pattillo, John F. Burns, Aaron Clark, 
P. H. Smithson, William J. McCormack, Robert 
A. Logan, Isaac N. McConnell, Elizabeth Ewing, 
Cyrus Ewing, James A. Howell, Thomas A. How- 
ell, Joseph D. Combs, David A. Logan, Jesse 
May, Johnson Gibson, Moses Hough, Robert Da- 



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204 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



vidson; 1S40 — Samuel Norris, Haines A. Howell, 
Amasa Howell, James A. Howell, English J. How- 
ell, Nicholas Beatty, Thomas J. Dait, Aaron Clark, 
Thomas Russell, Coke B. Darnell, Thomas H. An- 
drews, William A. Logan, Benjamin D. R. Shinn, 
Josiah S. R. Honeycutt, Cyrus Gibson, Elizabeth 
Parkett, Dempsa Taylor, Nancy Clark; 1841 — 
Owen Williams, Ephraim Lemley, Thomas J. Dare, 
William A. Logan, Charles Himina, James Bru- 
ton, Thomas B. Wade, Robert B. Ross, John Bru- 
tou, Adam Ross, Jephtha Johnson, Ellis A. Gard- 
ner, James McCoy, Isaac Brown, William A. Bark- 
er, Lewis Potter, Edmond Tyler, Benjamin Lang- 
ford, John Rowland, Nathan B. Rowland, Robert 
S. Buley, John L. Goates, John Petrie, George 
P. Williamson, John Logau, Meredith Webb, John 
A. Bryan, William Bryan, Richard Young, John 
Williamson, William Phillips, Philip C. Hollidger, 
William O. Bryan, David S. Williamson, Augustus 
N. M'ard, William Euuia, James G. Williamson, 
Alexander D. Crews, John S. Williamson, Ellen 
P. Bryan, William Bryan, Horatio Bernard, Henry 
Phillips; 1842 — Henderson Beuefield, John Sulli- 
.van, Peter Pless, Joseph D. Tate, Joshua A. 
Hearne, Garrett Pless, John Harkey, Robert Mc- 
Anulty, Leonard Maddox, Samuel H. Howell, 
James M. Shinn, James L. Hardaway, Samuel 
Battenfield, John Battenfield, Elijah T. Timmons, 
Richard A. Bryan, David F. Williamson, Robert 
T. Williamson, George M. P. Williamson, Richard 
Ennis, John E. Shinn, John S. Williamson, James 
Allen; 1843 — Joseph C. Johnson, Horatio Ber- 
nard, William O. Bryan, Samuel H. Balch, Na- 
thaniel D. Shinn, William L. Poynter, Calvin Vir- 
dan, Caleb Davis; 1844 — W. A. Saphamore, 
George H. Feeter, William A. Logan, Joel Jones, 
William S. Johnson, A. Cochran, Miranda Taokett, 
James F. Hill, Candez Reynolds, Stephen Mat- 
theAVs, R. D. Ashmore, Samuel C. Strickland, Sam- 
uel Maloney, John H. Williams, A. A. Price, 
John S. Williamson, Elijah Pruitt, John Howell, 
James E. Harville, Moses W. Harville, James G. 
Williams, Samuel M. Hays, William H. Logan, 
R. W. Jamison, William C. Dixon, John Ewbanks, 
William J. Farriba, Robert Edmiston, Joseph Wil- 
son, R. Cunningham, Adam Ross, George Rush- 



ing, Sarah Hays, William M. Mason, John Wilson, 
Tristram Rye, William Rye, Enoch Wood, Jesse 
Dunlap, Samuel Leonard, Hiram A. Linzey, Isaac 
Brown. In 1879-80 Pope County particijiated 
with Faulkner and Conway Counties in a quite 
extensive German immigration. 

During pioneer times in this county there was 
a small class of men who with propriety might 
have been called itinerant school masters. One of 
these would find a settlement where enough chil- 
dren lived within a reasonable distance to consti- 
tute a small school. Visiting parents and guard- 
ians, he would organize a subscription school, usu- 
ally agreeing to teach a term of three months for 
a stipulated price per pupil. After having ob- 
tained enough subscribers to support a school of 
from fifteen to thirty pupils, this traveling educator 
would begin his school, board around with his pa- 
trons, teach for the time agreed upon, and then 
pass on and find another settlement where he would 
in like manner organize and teach another school, 
thus keeping himself almost always employed. An 
old surviving pioneer says that, though they were 
all strangers, these pedagogues were usually hon- 
est and gave satisfaction as teachers. As they 
kept constantly on the move, it was seldom that 
one of them was employed twice in the same set- 
tlement. By the time the settlers could afford a 
second term of school, the first teacher had passed 
beyond recall, and his place would be filled by 
another stranger. This county had to depend 
upon subscription schools entirely until the estab- 
lishment of the present free school system. Some 
of the parents sent their children away for educa- 
tional advantages. The public schools of Arkan- 
sas are a jjost belluni organization. Prior to that 
epoch, the educational facilities of Pope County 
were very limited and primitive. The scarcity of 
population rendered permanent schools impractica- 
ble, and a small log cabin, 18x20 feet in size, 
would accommodate all the children within a ra- 
dius of six to ten miles, and a teacher did not have 
to be far advanced educationally to secure a school. 
The school-houses served also as a place of public 
worship. Now Arkansas has a well organized 
public school system with a State superintendent 



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POPE COUNTY. 



205 



of public instruction, and a county examiner iu 
each county. Provision is made in the Constitu- 
tion of the State for the support of public schools, 
requiring an annual tax of twenty cents upon each 
$100 of taxable property, to be levied and collected 
for that purpose, in addition to a per capita tax of 
one dollar upon each adult male inhabitant. The 
territory of each county has been laid off by the 
respective county courts into convenient school 
districts, which are managed by three directors 
elected by the electors of the district. In addition 
to the amount raised by State tax, each school dis 
trict, by vote, can levy a tax not to exceed fifty 
cents upon the $100 for the support of its school. 
A large portion of the districts vote the full 
amount allowed by the law, paying in the aggre- 
gate for this laudable purpose seventy cents on the 
$100 of taxable property together with a poll tax 
of one dollar. In towns and densely populated 
neighborhoods this enables the schools to be kept 
open for nine months in each year. 

Pope County has made great advancement un- 
der the operations of this law, and her public 
schools are in a flourishing condition. New dis- 
tricts have been added almost every year, until 
now there are about 100. About the same number 
of teachers are employed, and the county has 
nearly fifty school-houses. There are over 7,000 
children of the school age in the county, of whom 
not GOO are colored. The latter are taught sepa- 
rately. New school-houses are being built in 
nearly all parts of the county, and an almost unan- 
imous desire is manifested l)y the citizens to build 
up and protect that bulwark of the peojile's intel- 
lectual advancement — the public free-school. In 
the Russellville Graded School are enrolled nearly 
400 pupils. Prof. A. E. Lee, principal, is filling 
his second term with marked acceptability. His 
assistants are Profs. M. H. Baird and R. A. Ross, 
and Miss Teeter of Ohio, Miss McClure of Vir- 
ginia, and Miss Lillie Rankin of Russellville. 
There are about 300 pupils enrolled in the Atkins 
School. Prof. J. H. Fry is principal and also 
county examiner. Mr. T. D. Bullock is teacher in 
the intermediate department, and Miss Scarlett in 
the primary dej)artment. Dover also has a good 



public school. Its last principal was Prof. J. E. 
Howard, 1889-90, who was elected county clerk at 
the September election, 1890. These schools are 
carefully graded and thoroughly equipped. 

The Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad was 
completed through Pope County in 1872-73. It has 
stations in this county at Atkins, Russellville and 
several other convenient points. This railway has 
done much to develop the county and advance its 
best interests. It has had an influence upon set- 
tlements, the growth of towns, and in removing 
the center of trade and the seat of justice from 
the interior of the county to the Arkansas Val- 
ley. Russellville is on this line of railroad and 
has one of the largest and most fertile districts 
in Arkansas or any other State tributary to her, 
which promises shortly to be further opened up 
by a line of railway from Kansas City to Hot 
Springs, thus crossing the State transversely to 
the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, and mak- 
ing Russellville the distributing point for an im- 
mense area of as rich and fertile territory as pre- 
sents its upturned face to the beams of Phoebus. 
The following are the names of the several 
post-ofiSces in Pope County: Allegan, Appleton, 
Atkins, Augsbui-g, CaglesviUe, Dover, Economy, 
Freeman, Gum Log, Hector, Holly Bend, Laurel, 
London, Moreland, Pearl, Northwood, Potts Sta 
tion, Russellville, Santos, Scottsville, Silex Smyr- 
na. Atkins, Dover and Russellville are monej'- 
order offices. Several of the places mentioned 
are business and trading points of importance. 
Three of them are incorporated towns. Rus- 
sellville is a flourishing little city of about 1,500 
inhabitants, situated in a lovely, fertile valley be- 
tween the Crow and Norristown ranges of mount 
ains, for healthfulness and picturesque scenery 
hard to be surpassed. The town is immediately 
on the line of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Rail- 
road, seventy-five miles from Little Rock. The 
place is beautifully laid out. The streets are wide 
and run at right angles and are lined with shade 
trees, which present an appearance of comfort and 
tranquility during the long summer days. The 
sidewalks are paved with flagging, of which there 
is an abundant supply near the town. The build- 



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206 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ings are in the most part constructed of wood, but, 
with the exception of a few which look like old 
family relics, they are constructed after modern 
designs, and some of them are really beautiful and 
attractive. The dwellings generally are comforta- 
ble and conveniently arranged and display a 
refined taste in keeping with the high culture and 
progress of the inhabitants. The principal busi- 
ness houses are of brick, and some of them are de- 
cided ornaments in an architectural way and would 
be an honor to any city in the State. Russellville 
is one of the principal business towns in the county 
and is the county seat. It is an old town, having 
been settled as far back as 1840. The town has 
made rapid improvement since the completion of 
the railroad in 1872-73, and is now one of the 
most prosperous in this part of the State. The 
past few years have marked many improvements 
in the asjaect and commercial importance of the 
place. The population has largely increased, the 
town has spread over a mile of territory, and 
numerous broad streets have been laid out and 
many handsome and commodious business houses 
and residences have been erected. Russellville is 
justly famous for its freedom from contagious or 
serious local diseases. The moral and social status 
of the people is not surpassed in the State; her 
educational facilities are of the best; the public 
school building, a handsome two-story edifice, is 
one of the largest and finest in Western Arkansas. 
The city is under excellent municipal control, and 
strict sanitary measures are enforced. Its scrip is 
worth 100 cents on the dollar and it has no out- 
standing debts. In the matter of churches, Rus- 
sellville is well to the front. It has seven religious 
denominations represented, as follows: Christian, 
Methodist South, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, 
Primitive Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian and 
Presbyterian, the latter denomination possessing 
as yet no church building. 

An advantage possessed by Russellville is the 
wealth of the coal district surrounding it, one of 
the Ouita Coal Company's mines being distant just 
two miles west, and undeveloped coal fields a short 
distance southeast, so that it is exceedingly favor- 
ably situated respecting manufacturing, fuel (either 



wood or coal) being cheap and abundant; and its 
present and jjrospective transportation facilities 
surpass those of any other town between Little 
Rock and Van Buren, possessing as it does the 
Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, and the Dar- 
danelle & Russellville Railroad, the latter road 
connecting Russellville with the Arkansas River 
four miles distant. The seat of justice of Pope 
County was located at Russellville in 1887, and the 
county buildings were erected by the citizens of the 
town, and, together with the land on which they stand) 
presented by them to Pope County. Russellville 
was incorporated June 7, 1870. The following 
named persons have been mayors : B.' W. Cleaver, 
L. S. Poe, J. E. Battentield, A. E. Luker, G. E. 
Buruey, J. B. Erwin. J. H. Battenfield, S. N.Evans 
Robert H. Jamison, J. A. Erwin, J. E. Richards, J. 
W.Russell. Several additions to Russellville, known 
as J. L. Shinn's addition, J. M. Shinn's addition, 
S. M. Shinn's addition, Luker' s addition, Russell's 
addition and Torrence's addition, have been platted 
with a view to furnishing cheap and comfortable 
homes, inducing an increase of population, and 
extending the visible limits of the town as well as 
enhancing its real estate interests. J. L. Shinn's 
addition is the largest and most important, em- 
bracing most desirable territory and affording op- 
portunities to home-seekers seldom equaled. It ia 
probable that Mr. Shinn has done more than any 
other one man to build up Russellville' s interests. 
During recent years the capitalists of Russell- 
ville have to a considerable extent turned their at- 
tention to manufacturing. Perhaps the most im- 
portant industry is that of the Melrose Manufactur- 
ing Company, of which J. L. Shinn is president; 
J. M. Haney, superintendent, and J. E. Batten- 
field, secretary and treasurer, and which gives em- 
ployment to from fifty to seventy-five operatives. 
Incorporated in 1882, the annual business has 
.shown a decided rise each year. The plant is situ- 
ated on the line of the Little Rock & Fort Smith 
Railroad, and occupies a one-story brick building 
52x252 feet in dimensions, with a boiler-room 
24x50 feet. The officers of the company are busi- 
ness men of recognized ability. Rope and twine 
are manufactured. L. M. Smith's flouring-mill 






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POPE COUNTY. 



207 



has a capacity of about forty barrels of flour per 
day. In connection with this mill is a carding 
factory, one of the best in the State, which pre- 
pares the raw wool for the making of all kinds of 
woolen goods. Under the same management are 
a planing-mill, re-sawing machinery, a fruit-box 
manufactory, and a cotton-gin which can gin and 
bale twenty-five bales of cotton per day. Tirown, 
Settle & Co.'s foundry and machine shop is one of 
the most profitable enterprises of the city. They 
work a large force of hands. The Russellville Can- 
ning & Evaporating Company have an extensive 
plant here, and employ a large force putting up 
l)erries, fruits and vegetables. This enterprise will 
be an inducement to farmers to devote more time 
to the cultivation of these products than hereto- 
fore. Another important enterprise is the wagon 
and plow factory of Luker, Davis & Co., with a 
capacity of over 400 wagons a year. The Citizens' 
Savings Bank was organized under the name of the 
Weimer Savings Bank, in 1S87, with a capital of 
$10,000, and condiTcted as a private bank by W. 
G. Weimer, its founder, until April 1, 1890, when 
it was reorganized by a stock company with a 
capital of $50,000. It is the olde,st bank in Rus- 
sellville, and has been very successful since its 
opening. It does considerable business with sur- 
rounding counties, and contemplates early reorgan- 
ization under the national banking system. Its 
officers are G. W. Harkey, president; R. F. Roys, 
vice-president; W. G. Weimer, cashier; James A. 
Potts, assistant cashier. The People's Exchange 
Bank was organized March 22, 1S90, with R. J. 
W^ilson as president; John M. Harkey, vice-presi- 
dent; -John W. White, cashier, and W. J. Rey- 
nold?, assistant cashier. Its directors are R. J. 
Wilson, W^ J. White, J. M. Harkey, W. H. Hill, 
W. M. Gates and Charles S. McKi.mey. The 
People's Exchange Bank does all branches of 
general banking business. About December 1 
1890, it will move into its new three-story brick 
building, on the corner of Main and Jefferson 
Streets, which, when completed, will be one of the 
handsomest bank buildings in the State. Besides 
those mentioned, the princijjal business interests 
of Russellville may be thus summarized: General 



stores, J. L. Shinn, White & Son, Morton & Co., R. 
M. Gates & Co., J. B. Everts & Co.,R. H. Tate,R. J. 
Wilson, T J. Russell & Bro., M. Jacobson, Wooten 
& 9'it'^s; grocers. Perry & Son, C. C. Winn, Smith 
& Brown, Bernard Bros. , Tucker & Son, M. L. Gard- 
ner; butchers, Baird Bros.; liverymen, Rodgers & 
Rankin; stationer, W. W. Brashear; wagon-makers, 
C. C. Lukes, J. A. Jamison; dentists, J. W. O'Kelly, 
H. Sherman; hotels. White House, Judd House, 
Central House, Buck House, Bottom House; lum- 
ber dealer, G. E. Howell; mill and gin, A. E. 
Luker & Co. ; printers and publishers, Democrat 
Printing Company, Methodist Herald establish- 
ment; physicians, R. M. Drummond, J. W. Pruitt, 
J. M. Yancey, W. H. Hill; druggists, AVeimer Drug 
Company, J. W. Wells; cigar manufacturer, A. C. 
Lawton; photographer, J. H. Ganner; milliners, 
Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Perry; jeweler, H. C. Wilkey; 
furniture, J. A. Erwin & Co. ; hardware, Love & 
Roys Hardware Co. Russellville is no "mush- 
room" town. The natural causes that build up 
all cities have been at work here from the first, and 
the place has never had a "boom," so called. Its 
growth has been strong and vigorous. Its busi- 
ness men as a class have had life-long training in 
their special pursuits, and to their sagacity and en- 
terprise the future of the town may be safely en- 
trusted. Russellville dominates a magnificent sur- 
rounding country. The Arkansas River bottoms 
for miles are tributary to its trade, while it sup- 
plies the interior country to the north for miles, 
the people bringing in their cotton, and trading in 
exchange. In view of these manifest advantages, 
it requires no prophet to look even a few years 
into the future and see a iiusy little city of 5,000 
or more on the foundation which has been laid so 
deeply and so well. The second town in the 
county in size is Atkins, situated on the Little 
Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, twelve miles from 
Russellville, and prettily located at the foot of the 
Crow range of mountains. From the summit of a 
spur of Crow Mountain, and within a mile of the 
town, a picture of rare loveliness stretches out over 
forest and field as far as the eye can reach, and on 
all sides are fertile farms. The town is onlv five 
miles from the famous Arkansas River bottoms. 



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208 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



where everything grows so abundantly. The 
health of the town is excellent; chills and fever 
are rarely ever known. Atkins has a large mer- 
cantile trade and is a shipping point of large quan- 
tities of cotton. Considerable live-stock is handled 
here. The manufacture of wagons and carriages 
has been a leading industry. Atkins was incor- 
porated October 23, 1876. The following named 
additions to the original town plat have been 
platted: Reynolds', Beeson's and Cahill's addi- 
tions. The gentlemen here mentioned have served 
the town as mayor: J. F. Darr, W. H. McCul- 
lough, James Cagle, William Reynolds, M. Kirt- 
ley, J. A. Westerfield, W. A. Wilson, A. M. Gib- 
son. Following is a list of the principal business 
interests of Atkins: Lester & Riggs, general mer- 
chants; A. J. Sisney, furniture dealer; A. Arnn, 
tinner; "W. S. Hinton & Son, druggists; W. A. 
Galloway, druggist; A. J. Groom, general mer- 
chant; Matthews & Matthews, grocers; Bledsoe 
& Ford, druggists and grocers; J. F. Darr, gen- 
eral merchant; E. A. Darr, general merchant; J. 
C. Darr, general merchant; Reynolds Bros., hard- 
ware dealers; M. F. Cleveland, general merchant 
and furniture dealer; Avera Bros., grocers; C. 
Bell, general merchant; E. Epstein, general mer- 
chant; Paul Reiss & Co., grocers; J. U. Dunn, 
dealer in meat; W. S. Jones & Co., grocers; 
Weaver & Son, wagon manufacturers; Beckham 
& Hammond, blacksmiths and wagon-makers; the 
Scerlett House and Leatherwood House, hotels; 
Weaver & Son, proprietors of saw-mill, planing- 
mill and grist-mill; M. Alewine, cotton-gin and 
grist mill; J. H. Potts, J. H. Westerfield, J. M. 
Yandall, R. B. Whiteside and D. J. Warren, 
physicians; B. F. Wilson, dentist. The Meth- 
odist Episcopal, the Baptist, the Cumberland 
Presbyterian, the Methodist Episcopal South and 
the Catholic Churches all have organizations and 
hold regular meetings at Atkins. Some of their 
houses of worship are very fine buildings. The 
population of this town is about 1,000. Dover, 
long the county seat of Pope County, was incor- 
porated December 3, 1852, and its incorporation 
lapsed some years ago. It was once the seat of 
Dover College, an educational institution of more 



than local celebrity. In the period " before the 
war " it grew to be a town of considerable import- 
ance. The principal business men since the war 
until a few years ago were W. C. McKune, Petty 
& Hollinger, Scott & Howell, West & Brown, 
Young & Hale and Bayliss & Young. The leading 
business men of the present time are T. M. Neal 
&Co. , Dan C. Brown, I. L. Hicks, general mer- 
chants; John R. Homer Scott, steam saw-mill, 
grist-mill, planing-mill and cotton-gin; W. A. 
Baird, druggist; H. Kirchhof, hotel keeper. The 
town has three church organizations: Presbyterian, 
Methodist and Baptist. Brown's and Davis' ad- 
ditions and West Dover were platted some years 
ago. 

There were towns and villages in this county 
which do not now exist or do not exist under their 
former names. The chief of these old towns was 
Norristown, once the county seat, which came with- 
in a vote or two of being chosen as the capital of 
Arkansas. It was nearly opposite the present site 
of Dardanelle. At the time, F. Saugrain set up 
his store at Dai'danelle, Samuel Norris opened an- 
other on the north bank of the river. It survived 
the Saugrain store and had a monopoly of trade on 
both sides of the river for a few years subsequent- 
ly. Nori'istown was founded in 1837, and was for 
a time the county seat of Pope. This influenced a 
number to locate there, among whom was a young 
man, from a store in Little Rock, by the name of 
George Williams, who purchased several lots in 
Norristown, opened a store, boarded for a few years, 
then married a woman of the Haney family. Sub- 
sequently, in the days of Norristown' s decadence, 
he was a pioneer merchant at Dai-danelle. Noth- 
ine remains to mark the site of this once ambitious 
settlement. Other once promising places have also 
disappeared before that irresistible march of civili- 
zation, which destroys that it may build np, making 
the interests of the few contribute to the welfare 
of the many, and compelling the present to yield 
tribute to the future. 

From an early day religion has had a strong 
hold on the people of Pope County. Churches of 
nearly all popular detiominations are to be found 
within the county limits, and Sunday-schools are 



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KUHAL MIDSUMMEK. 



'A 



POPE COUNTY. 



209 



almost as plentiful as day schools. The principal 
church organizations are mentioned elsewhere. 

Some of the most celebrated lawyers of Arkan- 
sas have practiced at the bar of Pope County, and 
the resident attorneys have long taken rank with 
the best in the Fifth Judicial District. The cir- 
cuit judge and prosecuting attorney elect are both 
Russellville lawyers — Hon. -J. G. Wallace and Jeff 
Davis. The oldest member of the local bar is 
Judge L. W. Davis. Col. Dan B. Granger has 
practiced here nearly twenty years, and he and 
Judge R. B. Wilson are partners. W. S. Moore 
was a later partner of Mr. Granger's. Hon. Law- 
rence Russell, recently elected to represent Pope 
County in the State Legislature, is the only mem 
ber of the bar who is both a native of the State and 
a graduate of an Arkansas educational institution. 
Other members of the bar are Horace Bradley, J. 
E. Joyner, John D. Cleveland, J. J. Lester and 
E. C. Bradley. 

In the Civil War, Pope County did its part 
promptly and nobly, at first espousing the cause of 
the State, and later the cause the State espoused. 
The following companies organized in this county 
did brave service: Capt. John R. Homer Scott's, 
Capt. Thomas J. Linton's, Capt.' B. T. Embry's, 
Capt. Caleb Davis', Capt. James A. Stout's, Capt. 
John Randall's, Capt. E. B. Harrell's, Capt. J. 
L. Adams', Capt. David Rye's (afterward Capt. 
A. H. Scott's), and Capt. Dan C. Brown's. The 
only incident of importance in connection with the 
war, other than the organization and equipment 
of the above mentioned companies, which took place 
in this county, was the skirmish at Williamson's 
Camp Ground, three miles north of Russellville. 
In the latter part of the war, after the Federals 
were in possession of Little Rock, some of the citi- 
zens of this county did service for the Union cause 
in Capt. E. W. Dodson's, Cajjt. James Clair's, and 
other companies. The period for the close of the 
Civil War to the adoption of the present State Con- 
stitution was a dark one in the history of Arkansas. 
Political interests were practically in a state of an- 
archy, and all business interests were consequently 
seriously affected. In all of the ills of this period, 
Pope County suffered more or less, and all classes 



of her people gladly hailed the brighter and more 
prosperous era that has come since. Now they 
know no South, no North. The development of 
the country and the upbuilding of its interests are 
the dearest objects of their solicitude. 

The first newspaper published in Pope County 
was established at Dover, in 1869, by Capt. H. P. 
Barry. It was called the Dover Transcript, and 
lived but a few weeks. The next venture was at 
Russellville, where, in 1870, B. W. Cleaver and J. 
K. Perriman started the Russellville Herald, a 
four- column folio. In about a year the Herald was 
suspended, and in 1871 the National Tribune was 
established by J. H. Battentield. In 1872 the 
office of the National Tribune was totally destroyed 
by incendiaries. A new outfit was immediately 
purchased, and the publication of the paper was 
resumed, but a few issues having been missed. In 
1873 the Tribune was edited by Judge L. W. Da- 
vis, and in 1874 by David P. Cloyd, after which it 
suspended. In 1875 a stock company was organ- 
ized, which purchased the National Tribune mate- 
rial, and established the Russellville Democrat, 
with J. E. Battenfield as editor and B. F. Jobe as 
business manager. In 1881 Mr. Battenfield re- 
signed the editorship of the Democrat, and was 
succeeded by B. F. Jobe and John R. Homer Scott. 
They edited the paper until 1882, when W. L. 
Morris succeeded them. In January, 1883, Mr. 
Morris resigned, and Rev. H. B. Milner mounted 
the tripod. Mr. Milner retired in about twelve 
months, and was succeeded by Mr. J. F. Munday. 
He continued as editor until 1887, when he re- 
signed, and was succeeded by B. F. Jobe, who has 
had editorial charge of the paper ever since. In 
1877 D. O. Bell established the Atkins News. It 
passed through several hands, Ernest Jennings, J. 
E. Joyner, O. C. Ludwig, John A. Woolen and W. 
W. Gill having at different times been its editors. 
Some time in 1883 its name was changed to the 
Pope County Reflector, and its publication was con- 
tinued by Gus and W. W. Gill. In 1886 the pa- 
per was moved to Dardanelle. In November, 1881, 
the Biblical View, a paper published in the inter- 
est of the Christian denomination, was issued at 
Russellville by J. Tolbert Garland. It died in three 



if- 



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210 



HISTOEY OF AEKANSAS. 



months. The Arkansas Evangel, edited by Rev. 
B. R. Womack, was moved from Dardanelle to 
Russellville in March, 1882, and was issued from 
the office of the Democrat. It was taken to Mor- 
rilton in 1883. Our Paper, a bi-monthly in the 
interest of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
was launched January 1, 1884, at Russellville. It 
lived but a few months. January 15, 1884, Prof. 
J. H. Shinn, of Russellville, recently elected super- 
intendent of public instruction of the State of Ar- 
kansas, commenced the publication of the Arkan- 
sas Teacher, a monthly devoted to education. The 
paper was issued regularly for a year, and removed 
from Russellville to Little Rock. The Revivalist, 
a religious monthly, was established at Russellville 
by Revs. H. B. Milner and W. M. Robison, in 
June, 1885. It suspended January 1, 1880. In 
August, 1887, Eugene Moore established the 
Mail at Atkins, which he published until May, 
1889, when the paper passed into the hands of a 
stock company, known as the Atkins Printing 
Company. Messrs. Ben G. Sevier and George L. 
Stiffler managed the paper for a few months, it 
finally passing under the control of Mr. Robert W. 
Leigh, manager of the Morrilton Printing Com- 
jsany, who leased the office. It is still under his 
management. The Methodist Herald, a journal 
whose title sufficiently indicates its character, is 
issued at Russellville, weekly. Now in its second 
volume, it is well printed and well conducted im- 
der charge of W. J. McAnally, editor and pub- 
lisher. 



Ben H. Allen. In sketching the life of this 
gentleman it is but just to say that his good name 
is above reproach, and that he has won the confi- 
dence and esteem of all who know him. As a 
tiller of the soil he has been quite successful, and 
is still following that calling. He was born in 
North Carolina, February 19, 1838, to William 
and Nancy (Crump) Allen, both of whom were born 
in North Carolina, the father being an agriculturist 
by occupation. Their marriage took place in their 
native State in 1835, and resulted in the birth of 
ten children, nine of whom are now living, the sub- 



ject of this sketch being the eldest. The other 
members of the family living are Frank, Bettie 
(wife of J. J. Micenhimer), Lucy (wife of John 
Thompson), Sallie (wife of J. Burns), Cara (wife 
of Phil Randel), Fannie (wife of G. Lanier), and 
Maggie (wife of Mr. Bennett) ; George is deceased. 
About 1856 the father of these children was judge 
of Stanly County, and was magistrate for a num- 
ber of years. He died in 1885, a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, also a Mason. 
His wife died in 1870, a member of the same church 
as himself. Ben H. Allen was married in 1869, to 
Miss Bettie Howell of Pope County, and to this 
marriage two children have been born: Minnie and 
Bettie. He was called upon to mourn the death 
of his wife in 1874, she being a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and in Stan- 
ly County, N. C, he was married, in 1877, to 
Miss Eugenia Randel, by whom he has four chil- 
dren: Bennie, Randel, Samuel and Loy. Mr. 
Allen is a well-to-do farmer, and is the owner of 
320 acres of land, of which 155 acres are under 
cultivation. He emigrated from North Carolina 
to Arkansas in 1859, and has since been a resident 
of Pope County. In 1861 he enlisted iu Company 
B, Second Arkansas Cavalry, and served as a 
private soldier on the Confederate side until 1865, 
taking part in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chick- 
amauga, Jonesboro and Nashville. Since the war 
he has devoted his time to farming, and not only 
is his land valuable for farming, but it is also 
heavily underlaid with coal. Mr. Allen and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and he is a member of Russellville Lodge 
No. 254, of the A. F. & A. M. 

M. H. Baird, a prominent educator of Pope 
County, was originally from Georgia, his birth oc- 
curring in 1845, and was the second of eight chil- 
dren born to William and Christian (Campbell) 
Baird, natives of Tennessee and Georgia, respect 
ively. The father was a farmer and lived in Ala- 
bama nearly his entire life. He came to Arkansas 
in 1868, settled near Russellville in Pope County, 
and there resided imtil his death in 1888. The 
mother is still living and makes her home with 
a daughter in Russellville. M. H. Baird was 






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POPE COUNTY. 



211 



reared ia Alabama, where lie had fair advanta- 
ges for an education, and when seventeen years 
of age he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Com- 
pany G, Nineteenth Alabama Infantry, in the 
Western Department. He was in the battles of 
Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge, Chiek- 
amauga and all the engagements of the Georgia 
campaign with Johnston. After this he was with 
Hood and surrendered at Greensborough, N. C. 
Returning to Alabama, he was engaged in the boot 
and shoe manufacturing business until 1S68, when 
he came to Arkansas with his parents. He then 
followed farming for a year or two, attended 
school a year in Russellville, and in 1870 taught 
his first term of school in Conway County. Since 
then he has been almost constantly engaged in 
teaching, principally in Pope County, and is one 
of the most popular and successful educators in 
that county. He is now teaching his fourth year 
as first assistant of the Russellville public school, 
and has been connected with the public schools of 
Pope County since 1870. The first county teachers' 
association was organized in Pope County in 1872, 
and our subject was elected secretary, serving in 
that office in every institute or association since. 
He has been a most earnest advocate of the free- 
school system since its adoption. Mr. Baird was 
married in 1875 to Miss Mary Quinn, a native of 
Arkansas and the daughter of Robert Quinn, one 
of the early pioneers from South Carolina. Mr. 
Baird owns a fine farm of 120 acres one, mile and 
a half east of town, and has seventy-five acres of this 
under cultivation. He also owns a comfortable 
residence in town. To his marriage have been born 
three children — a son and two daughters: Delia, 
Daisy and Max. The family are members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Baird 
has been an earnest worker in the Sunday-school, 
having organized many schools in various parts of 
the county. He is now a teacher in the school. He 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Russellville 
Lodge No. 247, is an Odd Fellow, Chosen Friends 
No. 36, and is a member of the K. & L. of H. , 
No. 535. The Professor is a stanch Democrat, 
and is a consistent worker for that party. 

William A. Baird is one of the self made and 



influential men of Dover, Ark. He was born in 
Cherokee County, Ala., December 2, 1863, and in 
1869 moved with his father to Arkansas, his early 
education being completed in the high school of 
Russellville, under the instruction of Prof. J. H. 
Shinn, now State superintendent of public instruc- 
tion. His father, William Baird, was a farmer of 
Cherokee County, Ala., but was born in East Ten- 
nessee. William A. was reared on his father's 
farm, and at the age of nineteen, having obtained 
a sufficient education, he began teaching in the 
common schools, and carried on this calling in con- 
nection with farming for two years, when he was 
elected to the honorable and trustworthy position 
of county treasurer, a position he filled with marked 
ability for two years. He was then chosen one of 
the county examiners of schools, but at the expira- 
tion of two years he embarked in the drug business, 
at Dover, which he has successfully continued up 
to the present day. Starting on a small capital, he 
has steadily increased his business, until now his 
annual sales amount to $6,000, and he has acquired 
the reputation and title in his town of beincr a 
"hustler." Outside of his business, he is the 
owner of considerable property, in the north part 
of the town, besides other property, and, as he has, 
at all times been strictly honorable and endeav- 
ors to please his patrons, his success is fully 
merited. On January 14, 1886, he was united in 
the bonds of matrimony to Miss Maggie West, a 
daughter of D. P. and Katie West, of Dover. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Baird two children have been born: 
Porter L. (born October 19, 1886), and George H. 
(born December 12, 1888). Mr. Baird is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church, and his wife is con- 
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
He is a member of the Union Labor party, and has 
always shown himself to be public spirited and 
libei-al in the support of worthy enterprises. 

E. A. Bell, merchant. Potts Station, Ark. 
This prominent and most successful business man 
owes his nativity to Lincoln County, N. C, his 
birth occurring in 1847, and is the .son of Alex- 
ander and Mary (Gates) Bell, natives also of the Tar 
Heel State. The father was one of the early set- 
tlers of North Carolina, and was a farmer by occu- 






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<a k_ 



212 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



pation. He removed with his family to Pope 
County, Ark., in the year 1851, purchased land 
and continued agricultural pursuits. His wife re- 
ceived her final summons in 1881, and he followed 
her to the grave in 1884. The paternal grand- 
parents were natives of the Emerald Isle, and the 
maternal grandparents were pioneers of North 
Carolina. E. A. Bell was reared principally in 
Arkansas, received his education in that State, and 
in the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company F, 
Stermon's battalion under Gen. Joe Shelby, and 
was principally in State service. He was dis- 
charged at Louisburg in June, 1865, after which 
he returned to his home in Pope County, and was 
engaged in farming. In the fall of 1865 Miss 
Rebecca Dickey, daughter of Alexander Dickey of 
Pope County, became his wife, and the fruits of 
this union were four children: William S., Martha 
C, one deceased, and Macy H. He was en- 
gaged in farming until the year 1882, when he 
moved to Potts Station on the Fort Smith & Lit- 
tle Rock Railroad, and there he has been engaged 
in merchandising ever since in partnership with 
his brother, Calvin Bell, under the firm name of 
Bell & Bro. They have a lucrative trade and are 
pushing, enterprising business men. Our subject 
still carries on his farm by hired help, and is one 
of the county's best citizens. In politics he affili- 
ates with the Democratic party. He and Mrs. 
Bell are members of the Associate Reformed Pres- 
byterian Church, and is a liberal contributor to all 
worthy movements. 

William T. Blackford has bad an active career 
as a merchant, and by his advanced and progressive 
ideas has done not a little for the mercantile inter- 
ests of this section. He first saw the light of day 
in White County, 111., January 2, 1858, being born 
to A. J. and F. E. (Honn) Blackford, who were 
also born and reared in that county. In 1872 
William T. Blackford moved from Illinois to 
Jackson County, Ark., with his parents, ami here 
began the battle of life for himself at the age of 
twenty-two years. Although he was not given 
much of a chance for acquiring an education, he 
has since remedied this defect in a great measure 
by contact with the world, by business life of act- 



ivity, and by thoroughly reading up the general 
topics of the day. In 1884 he opened a general 
mercantile establishment at Scottsville, Ark., and 
this together with farming, which is his principal 
occupation, has received his attention up to the 
present time. He owns and controls about 266 
acres of fine land in Pope County, the proceeds of 
which, together with his S3,000 stock of general 
merchandise, amounts to a handsome annual in- 
come. He was married in 1881 to Miss F. E. 
Sherrell, a daughter of Sam and Ellen Sherrell, 
and in time the following family of children 
gathered about their board: A. J., Harry, Oscar 
C. and Minnie A., the first two named being de- 
ceased. Mr. Blackford has always been a faithful 
and zealous Democrat, and at all times strives to 
promote the interests of his party. 

James C. Bonds is one among the substantial 
farmers of Pope County, and is a man of recognized 
worth and progressive spirit. He was born on the 
farm on which he now lives, two and a half miles 
west of Dover, January 24, 1837, to Robert and 
Mary E. (Dickson) Bonds, who were born in Dick- 
son County, Tenn. , in 1811 and 1814, respectively. 
In 1834 the}' came to Arkansas, and settled on the 
farm on which James C. is now living, where they 
reared their family consisting of three sons, James 
C, Robert C. and Hugh D., and one daughter, 
Sarah A. A., of whom the subject of this sketch is 
the eldest, and the only one now living. Although 
his early opportunities were very limited, he ol)- 
tained such an education as to enable him to carry 
on the business of the farm successfully, and be- 
ing reared from his earliest youth to a knowledge 
of the business he has been successful. The year 
following his father's death, which occurred in 
1852, he went to California, and was engaged in 
farming and mining for nine years, but with no 
very favorable financial result, and in 1866 he re- 
turned home and once more began following the 
plow on the old homestead, where he has remained 
up to the present time. In his early days he 
walked three miles to school, the same being held in 
a log building erected for the purpose of holding 
meetings and schools, and bis first teacher was 
Andrew J. Bayliss. This building was about one 



TV 



_-i D 



POPE COUNTY. 



213 



mile north of Dover at the grave yard. Logs split in 
halves formed the seats, and the cabin vyas without 
windows. The books used were mostly the old blue- 
backed speller or elementary spelling book of Web- 
ster. The year of his return from California, Mr. 
Bonds married and settled down to life on his moth- 
er's farm. At the end of three years she divided the 
land among her three sons for farming purposes, 
although she was still the owner, and each paid 
rent for the use of the same. She afterward 
deeded her place, which consisted of 240 acres to 
her four children, and until her death, which oc- 
curred in 1877, made her home with her son, James 
C. The latter has since purchased 160 acres ad- 
joining his land, and on this farm he raises cot- 
ton, corn, oats, hay, potatoes, etc., diversifying the 
crops as much as possible. His marriage, which 
took place on November 21, 1866, was to Miss La- 
vina Elizabeth Rye, a daughter of Tristram and 
Peggy G. Eye, who were among the earliest settlers 
of this county. To Mr. Bonds' anion the follow- 
ing children have been born: Jessie Viola and 
Jeania Leola (twins, born September 4, 1867, the 
former being married to Samuel W. Winingham of 
this county, and the latter to Prof. J. A. Evans 
also residing here), Maggie A. (was born June 27, 
1869, and was married to P. F. Winingham, a 
dealer in general merchandise at Morrilton), and 
Mary E. (born February 24, 1873, still residing 
with her parents, and is president of the Young 
People's Christian Endeavor.) The family are 
members of the Camberland Presbyterian Church, 
in which Mr. Bonds holds the office of ruling 
elder. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , the 
K. of H. and the Farmers' Alliance; in the former 
he has filled every station in the lodge. He is 
Sunday-school superintendent, a Democrat, and as 
he and his wife are hospitable and kindly, they are 
highly respected in this community. Mr. Bonds' 
grandfather, Drury Bonds, and wife Sarah came 
to this country in 1834. The family consisted 
of the following children: Dobert, James G. , 
Drury K., Sarah E., Mary and George J. The 
latter and Drury K. became ministers of the gospel. 
The grandfather built the first water-mill in Pope 
County, it being two and one-half miles west of 



the town of Dover, and consisted of a cotton-gin and 
grist-mill. He died in 1855, and his widow in 
1863. Robert Bonds, the father of the immediate 
subject of this sketch, became associated in the 
general mercantile business with John "Wilson and 
T. J. Paxton immediately after coming here, and 
continued thus associated a number of years. 

Rev. J. J. Bowden, farmer, Moreland, Ark. 
Mr. Bowden, who is familiarly known as "Uncle 
Jacky Bowden," was born in Georgia, January 22, 
1814, and is the son of John and Anna (Blackburn) 
Bowden, both natives also of Georgia, and of En- 
glish and German descent, respectively. The fa- 
ther was born in 1751, and was married about 
1796. He and wife emigrated from Georgia to 
Tennessee, and here they received their final sum- 
mons, the father dying at the age of ninety-five, 
and she at the age of sixty-five years. Their fam- 
ily consisted of fifteen children, eight sons and 
five daughters of whom grew to mature years. 
Two died in infancy. Those living are named as 
follows: Polly, William, Feriba, James, Anna, 
Jane, John S., Jackson J., Charles, Newton, Wiley, 
Lucinda and Allen. The paternal grandfather of 
these children emigrated from England to America 
at an early day, and fought for independence in 
the Revolution. When about six years of age Rev. 
J. J. Bowden emigrated with his parents to Ten- 
nessee, and there remained until 1844, when he 
moved to Arkansas. While a resident of Tennes- 
see he met and married Miss Salina Lay, a native 
of Georgia, who bore him six children, two of 
whom are now living, one in Texas, and the other 
in Conway County, Ark. After coming to Arkan- 
sas Mr. Bowden settled in Gum Log Valley, but 
afterward purchased eighty acres of land on Crow 
Mountain, where he resided six years. He after- 
ward purchased 300 acres at Gravel Hill, and gave 
eleven acres of this to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, the land, at the present time, being 
valued at 1100 per acre, upon which he has ex- 
pended on his own account, and out of his own 
pocket, at least 1500. Later he sold this farm, 
and retired to his farm at Gravel Hill, where he 
now resides, and where, despite his increasing 
years, he still carries on his occupation of farming. 



Vfi 






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l^ 



214 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



though in a limited way, having rented most of 
his land to tenants. When Mr. Bowden first lo- 
cated on his present farm, the country was thinly 
settled, and in all the country from Cross Plains 
to Dover there were but two families. On Crow 
Mountain, where there are now about 200 families, 
there were at that time just two families. Mr. 
Bowden joined the church in 1828, and has always 
taken a deep interest in church work. When leav- 
ing Tennessee he brought letters from his church, 
which he deposited in Gum Log Valley, in what 
is now known as David Chapel, where he assisted 
in erecting the first church edifice in Valley Town- 
ship, and probably the first in Pope County. Mr. 
Bowden was licensed to preach in 1848, by Dr. A. 
Hunter; ordained a deacon by Bishop Paine in 
1852, and ordained an elder by Bishop Early in 
1857. His first ministerial work was on Crow 
Mountain, where he organized and erected the first 
church. In 1865, after the close of the war, owing 
to the unsettled condition of aifairs, Mr. Bowden 
was called upon to take in hand the organization 
of the churches of Dover circuit, on which there 
were twenty- four appointments, and to which it 
was difficult or impossible to send a regular itin- 
erant. Mr. Bowden found the churches in a de- 
-H»atalized condition, but undertook the work, which 
he suecessTnlty-accomplished in about a month, 
presiding over that circuit only a year. He organ- 
ized the Sunday-school at Gravel Hill, or Bowden 
Chapel, directly after the war, and also assisted 
in the organization of several others. He went to 
Little Bed River in 1849, where Methodism had 
never penetrated, and established a church, which 
has grown from the seed thus sown to a flourish- 
ing circuit. His first wife dying in 1852, Mr. 
Bowden was married, in August of the same year, 
to Miss Narcissa E. Bewley, daughter of R. S. 
Bewley, of Pope County. The fruits of this union 
were ten children, three of whom died in infancy. 
The remainder are all married, with the exception 
of one son and a daughter. They are named as 
follows: Robert S., Benjamin B., Charles D. , 
George A., Anhana C, Miles E. and Sallie F., all 
but one of whom are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. From 1845 up to the 



beginning of the Civil War, in which he took no 
part, Mr. Bowden was militia captain. He was 
appointed postmaster at Moreland post-office in 
186G, which position he held for three or four 
years. He joined a temperance organization at 
Dover in 1867, and as this is a subject in which 
he takes a great interest, temperance organizations 
have been established all over Pope County. Al- 
though in his seventy-seventh year and somewhat 
deaf, Mr. Bowden can read ordinary print without 
the aid of glasses. He lost his wife in 1885. She 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
also, and was an active worker in the same. 
Despite his old age, he raised, the present year, 
with his own hands, two and one-half bales of 
cotton, thirty bushels of corn and forty bushels of 
sweet potatoes, besides he preached nearly every 
Sunday. 

C. L. Bowden, farmer, Allegan, Ark. Among 
the successful agriculturists of Pope County, 
whose merits are such as to entitle him to repre- 
sentation in the present work, is Mr. Bowden, the 
subject of this sketch. He is a native-born resi- 
dent of Arkansas, his birth occurring in 1850, and 
is a son of Hon. John S. and Elizabeth (Reynolds) 
Bowden, both natives of the Big Bend State, where 
they were united in marriage. They emigrated to 
Arkansas about 1840, settled in Marion County, 
where they remained for about two years, and in 
1842 came to Pope County, settling in Gum Log 
Township. From there they afterward removed to 
Valley Township, where they entered and bought 
200 acres of land, and the father had aboiit ninety 
acres of this cleared at the time of his death, which 
occurred in 1865. He was a prominent man and 
was a member of the Legislature three terms. 
Both he and wife were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Of the twelve children born 
to their marriage, eight are now living: Mrs. Ann 
Mullens, Mrs. Caroline Brashear, James H., Allen, 
Charles L., W. Franklin, Mrs. Bell Doughit and 
Margaret. Charles L. Bowden, subject of this 
sketch, was reared and educated in Pope County, 
and in 1869 began working for himself as a tiller 
of the soil. On Christmas of that year he was mar- 
ried to Miss Margaret L. Ashmore, daughter of 






-k. 



POPE COUNTY. 



215 



James and Denia (Mathews) Ashmore, both natives 
of Tennessee. Mr. Bowden purchased eighty acres 
of land in 1 872, and of these he soon cleared twen- 
ty-five acres, and erected an excellent frame house, 
outbuildings, etc. Later he bought ninety acres 
more, improved about fifteen acres of this, and now 
altogether has about eighty-five acres under culti- 
vation. He is one of the thoroughgoing, enter- 
prising citizens, and a man of good, sound judg- 
ment. To his marriage were born nine children: 
Denia (wife of R. J. Barrett), Minnie May (de- 
ceased), John S., William J., Frank O., Clifton 
H., George E., Virgil R. and Emory. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bowden are worthy members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, and he 
is also a member of the Sunday-school board. Dur- 
ing an average season Mr. Bowden' s farm will 
yield twenty-five bushels of corn, or one-half a 
bale of cotton to the acre. 

Hon. Walter W. Brashear, postmaster at Rus- 
sellville, and a prominent citizen and planter of 
Pope County, Ark., was born in Marion County, 
Ark., in 183'J, and was the eldest of eleven chil- 
dren born to M. M. and Sallie L. (Vaughan) Brash- 
ear, the father a native of the Blue- Grass State, 
and the mother of Tennessee. The father was a 
farmer by occupation, and came to Arkansas in 
1838, locating in Marion County, where he re- 
mained until 1847. He then came to Pope County, 
settled in the northern part on 120 acres, and be- 
ing something of a speculator became the owner 
of several tracts of land. In 1862 he entered the 
Federal Army as a recruiting ofiicer of the Second 
Arkansas Cavalry, continuing in that duty and 
ranking as major until August, 1804, when he was 
killed in an engagement in Searcy County. The 
mother is still living in this county with her 
daughter. She is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, of which the father was also a mem- 
ber. The father was a very progressive and 
active citizen, and was something of a lawyer as 
well as a tiller of the soil. Walter W. Brashear 
was early initiated into the duties of farm life, and 
his educational advantages were limited to the 
common schools of Pope County. At the age of 
twenty-one years he started out for himself as a 



farmer, but just previous to his twenty-first birth- 
day he was married to Miss Mary Rackley, a na- 
tive of Tennessee, who lived but three years, leav- 
ing two children, both of whom are grown and mar- 
ried. The eldest one, Sallie, became the wife of 
Wiley Duvall and resides in this county, and the 
second, Melviua, is the wife of Henderson H. Pigg, 
a farmer of this county. During the Civil War Mr. 
Brashear entered the First Arkansas Cavalry, Com- 
pany L, Federal Army, under Col. M. La Rue Har- 
rison. He was captured near Prairie Grove, Ark. , 
December 9, 1862, and was kept a prisoner three 
months, and upon his return to his command he 
was commissioned quartermaster-sergeant, filling 
that position until peace was declared, and operat- 
ing principally in Arkansas. He was wounded 
near Prairie Gi'ove. He was mustered out at 
Fayetteville, Ark., on August 23, 1865, after 
which he returned home and resumed farming. 
He was married, the second time, in July, 1865, to 
Miss Nancy W. Brewer of Arkansas. On his re- 
turn to Arkansas Mr. Brashear piirchased 200 
acres of land in the geographical center of the 
county and made many improvements adding about 
sixty acres. He has 125 acres under cultivation 
and has erected two tenant houses. Mr. Brash- 
ear has always been active in the county's im- 
provements, and has always been a vigorous and 
conscientious Republican. He was a member of the 
Constitutional Convention in 1S6S, and was a mem- 
ber of the Lower House of the General Assembly 
in that year. He has been justice of the peace of 
Moreland Township for eighteen years, and was 
appointed postmaster at Russellville under Presi- 
dent Arthur. Upon the election of Grover Cleve- 
land he resigned, but was again appointed on 
March 27, 1889, by President Harrison. This 
is a distributing office for fifteen offices, is an 
ofiice of the third grade and is being elevated 
in business. To Mr. Brashear' s second marriage 
were born thirteen children, nine of whom are 
living: Mary E. (married A. C. Bowden and died 
in 1888, leaving one daughter), Mortimore (died at 
the age of three years), Maggie (became the wife 
of C. H. Dunn), Victoria (became the wife of 
Cinclair Perry, and resides with our subject). 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Lincoln (died at the age of two years), Martha 
Liie, Adam C, Ford, Ursly, Warren, Lillian, 
Thomas and Mama are the others. Mr. Brashear 
was baptized in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in February, 1840, and has been an active mem- 
ber since. He was a delegate to the general con- 
ference in Cincinnati in 1880, and to many local 
conferences. Mrs. Brashear and the children are 
members of the same church. Mr. Brashear is a 
Mason, a member of Blue Lodge No. 274, Chapter 
No. 76, and Palestine Commandery No. 7, all of 
Russellville. He has been master of the Blue 
Lodge and secretary of the chapter. He assisted 
in the organization of Cross Plains Lodge and was 
its first master. 

D. C. Brown, merchant of Dover, Ark. In the 
preparation of this brief outline of the life history 
of one of the most worthy residents of Pope 
County, appear facts which are greatly to his credit. 
His intelligence, enterprise, integrity as well as 
many other worthy qualities, have acquired for 
him a popularity not derived from any factitious cir- 
cumstances, but a permanent and spontaneous 
tribute to his merit. He was born in Randolph 
County, N. C, April 12, 1837, and with his father, 
Samuel Brown, a mechanic, came to Arkansas, 
when five years of age, and as he was compelled 
to labor on a farm in his youth, he received only 
the advantages of the common schools near his 
home. At the age of twenty-one years he began 
doing business for himself, entering the general 
mercantile store of D. James as a clerk, and after 
remaining there two years, he severed his connec- 
tion with this establishment and went to Clarks- 
ville, where he entered the store of B. F. Hershey, 
two years also being spent here, at the end of 
which time he had been elected sheriff of Pope 
County, and in August, 1860, gave up his clerk- 
ship and entered upon his duties as a public offi- 
cial, which position he filled in a highly satisfactory 
manner for two years. He then resigned his 
office to enter the Confederate Army as first lieu- 
tenant of Company A, Williamson's battalion of 
Arkansas Volunteers, and was sent to Mississippi, 
where in the fall of 1862 he was discharged on ac- 
count of disability resulting from sickness. In 



December of the same year he had recovered suffi- 
ciently to re-enlist, and was elected first lieutenant 
of Company A, Hill's regiment, Arkansas Cavalry, 
and was immediately placed on active service, and 
was in the battles of Pine Bluff, Poison Springs, 
Mark's Mills, and was with Price on his raid in 
Missouri in 1864. While on that raid near Dover 
he was promoted to the rank of captain, after 
which he took part in the battles of Pilot Knob, 
Boonville, Jefferson City, Independence, Faj'ette- 
ville, afterward going to Camp Monroe, where 
they remained for some time. They were dis- 
mounted near Spring Hill, Ark. , and were assigned 
to duty in Gen. Roan's infantry regiment, and 
were marched to Camp Magruder, La. , thence to 
Shreveport and afterward to Marshall, Tex., where 
they were discharged. Mr. Brown then returned 
home to find his property scattered and every- 
thing laid waste. After teaching a three months' 
term of school on Big Piney Creek he returned to 
Dover and entered into partnership with D. P. 
West in the mercantile business, but this partner- 
ship was dissolved by mutual consent after a few 
years. Since that time Mr. Brown has been in 
business alone. Although he began with a very 
small capital at the close of the war he has accumu- 
lated a good property, and is the owner of a tract 
of land comprising eighty acres, lying near the 
town. He was married on January 10, 1858, to Miss 
R.E.Hagins,of Dover, but she and their infant child 
died while Mr. Brown was in the army. He was 
remarried on February 7, 1866, to Mrs. A. J. 
Rankin, of Dover, and one child, a daughter 
named Marie, blessed their union, she being now 
the wife of J. A. Miller, of Russellville. Mr. 
Brown and his wife are members in good standing 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which 
he holds the office of Sunday-school superintendent. 
He is chaplain in the A. F. & A. M. lodge of 
Dover, is a Democrat politically, and at all times 
gives liberally of his means in the support of 
worthy enterprises. 

J. J. Brown (deceased) was one of the most 
successful and progressive farmers of Pope County, 
Ark. His father and mother were born in Ala- 
bama and came to this county, and at a very early 



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POPE COUNTY. 



217 



day settled in Martin Township with their parents. 
The early educational opportunities of the subject 
of this sketch were very limited, yet he improved 
his opportunities to the best of his ability, so 
that he was enabled to transact all necessary busi- 
ness connected with his farm. He entered the 
army when but sixteen years of age as a private, 
and served three years, but during this time was 
promoted to first lieutenant. Upon his return 
home, at the close of the war, he rented and 
worlied his father's farm, which had been laid 
waste during the war. During this time he was 
married to Miss Sallie L. Rushing of Dover Town- 
ship, who proved to him a helpmate indeed. They 
lived together for twenty-one years in perfect 
harmony, and it was as much by the help of his 
wife as by his own perseverance and energy, that 
he made so great a success of his life. He pur- 
chased lands at different times until he at one 
time was the owner of 1,000 acres, which land was 
in his possession at the time of his death, on 
which he still owed $1,000, which sum of money 
Mrs. Brown has since paid, so that she is the 
owner of the place, free from all incumbrance. 
She has about 350 acres under cultivation, which 
she rents out, but as she is an intelligent and 
shrewd business woman, she has personal super- 
vision of her property. Mr. Brown was reared in 
the Baptist faith, and although not a member of 
any church, was a moral, upright man in every 
worthy particular and had the thorough good-will 
and respect of his fellow-men. He was born on 
March 9, 1844, and died in 1888, his marriage 
having taken place in 1867. He and bis wife 
became the parents of four children: Joseph 
O., Maggie B., Willie G. and I. J. The eldest 
son, Joseph, is attending school at Dover, and is 
now twenty-two years of age. Maggie is married 
to Edward Truitt, and is living in Newton County, 
Ark. , and all the children have received good 
educational advantages. Mrs. Brown was born in 
this county August 15, 1848, but on account of 
the war she attended school but little in her girl- 
hood. She has been a member of the Presbyter- 
ian Church since before her marriage, and is in 
every respect a worthy. Christian lady, being con- 



scientious, charitable and kindly in disposition. 
The buildings on her farm are among the best in 
the county, and it is also improved by a fine peach 
and apple orchard, and, in fact, everything about 
the place bespeaks thrift and intelligent industry. 

Dr. J. W. Bruton. As a man of business Mr. 
Bruton's name and fame is co-extensive with Pope 
County and the surrounding country. He has been 
closely identified with every interest of this sec- 
tion, and as a merchant has built up a large and 
paying business by his ability and foresight. He 
was born in Pope County, Ark., on January 15, 
1837, to James and Sallie (Angel) Bruton, who 
were born in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1 796 and 
1806, respectively, the former passing to his long 
home in 1862, and the latter in 1854. James Bru- 
ton was a minister of the Baptist Church, and rep- 
resented Pope County in the State Legislature for 
three terms, being one of the leading citizens of 
this section during his day. J. W. Bruton has 
spent the most of his life in Pope County, and, 
notwithstanding the fact that his early advantages 
were poor, he has by self application become a 
well-posted and intelligent man. Upon attaining 
his majority he began making his own way in the 
world, and after devoting considerable time to the 
study of medicine he, in 1865, began practicing 
that ])rofession, but in 1886 was compelled to give 
up this calling on account of failing health. He 
then threw open to the public a general mercan- 
tile store at Appleton with a stock of goods worth 
about $2,000, and this calling he has continued 
with flattering success up to the present time. Dr. 
Bruton is also a minister of the gospel, and first 
began preaching the doctrines of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church in 1878. He was married 
in October, 1858, to Miss Jennie Montgomery, a 
daughter of John C. and Matilda (Grayson) Mont- 
gomery, by whom he became the father of these 
children: Elliot B., James H., Elnora V. (de- 
ceased), Viola E., Theora A., Nettie L. and Mit- 
tie M. Dr. Bruton volunteered in the Confederate 
Army in 1862, but was discharged at the end of 
three months on account of ill health. 

James Bruton, father of Dr. J. W. Bruton, as 
a minister was elected chaplain of the State Senate 



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218 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



of Arkansas in 1S54, and filled the position with 
credit to himself, giving satisfaction to all inter- 
ested. He organized very nearly all of the Baptist 
Churches that existed in Pope, Conway and John- 
son Counties before the war. He moderated the 
convention that constituted the first Baptist asso- 
ciation in that jsart of Arkansas. Politically he 
was ever a firm Democrat, and as a legislator he 
was always earnest, working for the interest of the 
people. His name will be long remembered by the 
older citizens of Arkansas. John C. Montgomery, 
father of Mrs. Jennie Bruton, held the office of 
clerk of Monroe County, Ark., for eight successive 
years, and until his death. He was a prominent 
man in said county. Dr. J. W. Bruton' s children 
are as follows: Elliot R. Bruton (was married to 
Mr. J. J. Williams, who is in the mercantile busi- 
ness at Appleton, Ark.), James Homer Bruton (is a 
young man with good business qualifications, who 
has written much for different newspapers; he is a 
merchant of Appleton, Ark.), Viola E. Bruton 
(married John A. Lewis, Esq., a prominent lawyer 
of Appleton). 

A. P. Bryan. Pope County, Ark. , is one of the 
most fertile counties of the State, and in this highly 
productive region Mr. Bryan has resided from his 
birth and has become well known to the inhabitants 
of this section. His birth occurred November 8, 
1845, to Darius and Susan (Hamilton) Bryan, the 
former being a native and farmer of North Caro- 
lina, but was married in this county, his union re- 
sulting in the birth of seven sons and three daugh- 
ters, the following members of the family being 
now alive: Miranda R., (wife of L. D. Cannon), L. 
D., A. P., James, Algianun, Robert, Belle Z. (wife 
of Janjes Grantham), and William E. Nora is dead. 
Mr. Bryan came to this State at a very early day 
and for several years was constable of the township 
in which he settled. He became well known and 
highly honored throughout this section. He and 
his wife both died of smallpox in February, 1876. 
A. P. Bryan has always been a resident of Pope 
County, and for the conscientious discharge of 
every duty in every relation in life no man is more 
worthy of respect and esteem than he. In 1868 
he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy A. Mul- 



lins, a native of the State of Georgia, born in 1845, 
and in due course of time a family of six children 
gathered about their fireside, their names being as 
follows: Eliza E., Charles D., Elizabeth, Finis, 
William F. and George W. By hard work and 
good management Mr. Bryan has become the owner 
of 252 acres of land, 90 of which he has suc- 
ceeded in putting under cultivation, and on which 
he has erected a substantial frame residence and 
good barns. He also has an excellent orchard of 
apple, peach and plum trees and a good vineyard. 
He is a member of Russellville Lodge No. 1353 of 
the K. of H. 

Amos Bullock has given his attention to farming 
throughout life, and as a result of his years o.' hard 
labor he now has a good home and is well fixed 
financially. He was born in Weakley County, 
Tenn., in 1842, to W. J. and Mary A. (Wallace) 
Bullock, who were born in Tennessee and Ken- 
tucky, respectively, their removal to Arkansas tak- 
ing place about 1857. They " jiitched their tent " 
in Pope County, Ark. , and here the father resided 
until his death in 1883, of typhoid fever. He and 
his wife reared a large family to honored manhood 
and womanhood, their sons numbering nine and 
their daughters two. Owing to their large family, 
and the rather hard time they had to properly 
feed and clothe their children, the latter did not 
receive much of an education. In 1869 Amos be- 
gan doing business for himself, and as above 
stated has devoted his life to farming. He was 
first married in 1808 to Miss Lydia F. Rowland, a 
daughter of G. W. and Lavina (Candle) Rowland, 
and to their union these children were born: Mary 
L. (who died at the age of seven), and Sarah E. 
(who passed from life at the age of eight). Mr. 
Bullock' s second marriage took place November 23, 
1871, Mary E. Ross, a daughter of Melton H. and 
Rachel (Brown) Ross, becoming his wife. In 1862 
Mr. Bullock enlisted in the Confederate Army, and 
served until the war was over. He has been justice 
of the peace for six years, and on September 1, 
1890, was elected for another term by the Demo- 
cratic party, of which he has always been a mem 
ber, as are his eight brothers. 

Jackson T. Bullock, clerk of the circuit court. 



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Russellville, Ark. Mr. Bullock, the present effi- 
cient incumbent of the office of clerk of the circuit 
court, is a man of sober, sound judgment, progres- 
sive ideas, and one who attracts the regard of all 
who approach him. He was originally from Weak- 
ley County, Tenn. , his birth occurring on Sep- 
tember 22, 1855, and was the sixth of eleven chil- 
dren born to William J. and Mary Ann (Wallace) 
Bullock, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Ten- 
nessee.- The parents were married in the last 
named State, and the father followed agricultural 
pursuits until 1856, when he came to Marion 
County, Ark., and from there to Pope County in 
the following year. His death occurred in this 
county in 1883. The mother is still living on the 
old homestead, three miles north of Dover. The 
paternal great grandfather of our subject, William 
Bullock, was an Englishman, and came to the 
United States about the time of the Revolutionary 
War. He settled in Virginia, and followed farm- 
ing there until his death which occurred when our 
subject's father, W^illiam Jefferson Bnllock, was an 
infant. Amos Bullock, grandfather of our subject, 
was born in the Old Dominion, emigrated to Ten- 
nessee at an early day, followed farming, and there 
his death occurred about 1858. Jackson T. Bul- 
lock's educational advantages were limited, for he 
attended only the common three months' schools. 
He began teaching at the age of seventeen years 
and followed that as his principal occujsation until 
the age of thirty -one when he was elected county 
judge. He taught many years in one school and 
was a popiilar and very successful educator. He 
held the office of county judge for two terms 
(four years), and on September 1, 1890, he was 
elected circuit clerk of the county. He has ever 
been an active worker for the Democratic party. 
He was married on October 1, 1882, to Miss Win- 
nie Price, a native of this county and daugh- 
ter of Allen A. Price, one of the early settlers 
of Tennessee. The fruits of this union were four 
children: Zola May (who died at the age of seven 
months), Allen Jefferson, Tillie and Mary Frances. 
Mr. Bullock is a Mason, of Scottville Lodge No. 
112, and was master of that lodge for five years. 
He has taken the chapter degrees. Mrs. Bullock 



is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Bullock is the owner of a small farm, has forty 
acres under cultivation, and has a pleasant home in 
Russellville. 

George Byerly, farmer, Atkins, Ark., was born 
in Germany in July, 1819, and has all the promi- 
nent characteristics of those of German birth, be- 
ing thrifty, industrious and enterprising. He is 
the sou of Conrad and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Byerly, 
natives of the old coimtry, who emigrated to 
America in 1836. The parents located in Clarke, 
Ind., bought land and there tilled the soil until 
their deaths in 1818. Of the six children born to 
their marriage, five were sons and one a daughter. 
The daughter, Mary, married a man by the name 
of Caufman, and is now deceased. The sons were 
named Michael, David, George, Paul and John. 
The last named died in Louisville, Ky., several 
years ago. David went to Boston, Mass., on a visit 
and died while there, and Michael died in Indiana 
about 1878. George Byerly removed from Indi- 
ana to Louisville, Ky., aboiit 1848, but prior to 
this, in 1848, he was married to Miss Margaret 
Edlin. He became disgusted with farming in In- 
diana, being obliged to sell corn at 12J cents and 
wheat for 37J cents per bushel, after going a dis 
tance of eight miles to market, and after moving 
to Kentucky he engaged in hack driving in Louis- 
ville, accumulated some money, and then moved to 
Arkansas in 1854, pausing for about two years in 
Conway County before permanently locating in 
Pope County. He here bought land and has been 
engaged in tilling the soil ever since. He now owns 
320 acres of land and has 210 acres under ciilti- 
vation. He has also 112 acres in Conway County. 
When the war broke out he had seventy-five head 
of cattle, twenty-four horses and mules and 2,000 
bushels of corn, all of which were appropriated by 
the Union troops, Mr. Byerly never receiving a 
cent of money for his property. To his marriage 
were born ten children, five of whom are now living: 
John, Michael, America, Mary and Georgia. John 
is married and resides in Logan County, where he 
is engaged in the drug business at National Springs ; 
Michael is clerk in a dry- goods store in Morrillton; 
America resides in Morrillton and is the wife of 



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220 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Richard Brooks who is the owner of a large amount 
of real estate ; Mary married Calhoun Strong, a pros- 
perous merchant of Morrillton, and Georgia married 
James Collins, a farmer of Pope County. Mr. Byer- 
ly has retired from active business, and is living in 
Atkins where he is honored and esteemed. He is 
now seventy-one and his wife seventy years of age. 
Both are church members, he of the Methodist 
and she of the Regular Baptist Church. They 
are liberal contributors to all laudable enterprises, 
and are among the leading citizens of the com- 
munity. 

A. J. Collins, farmer, Holly Bend, Ark. Pope 
County, Ark., is acknowledged by all to be one of 
the best agricultural portions of the State, and as 
such its citizens are men of advanced ideas and 
considerable prominence. A worthy man among 
this class is found in the person of Mr. Collins 
who was born in the Old Dominion, Botetourt 
County, in March, 1840. He removed from Vir- 
ginia to Alabama in 1861, and there he was oc- 
cupied in repairing telegraph line and was engaged 
in the same business in Mississippi and Tennessee 
until 1871. After that he had charge of a gang 
of section hands on the M. & C. R. R. for two 
years. He then returned to Mississippi, bought 
land and was engaged in farming until 1880. In 
1865 he was married to Miss Matilda Feagin, 
daughter of Thomas Feagin, of Mississippi, and to 
them were horn ten children, viz.: William F., A. 
J., J. D., Minnie J., Fanny Ann, George S., Lily 
D., Lulu May, Luther J. and Ann Elizabeth. 
Three of these children are deceased: Lulu May, 
Luther J. and Ann E. William F. and A. J. are 
residing in Texas, but the other children are at 
home with their parents. Mr. Collins lost his 
tirst wife in September, 1885, and was left with 
eight children to care for. Iq January, 1886, he 
was married to Miss Mary J. McMasters, daughter 
of Jonathan McMasters of Mississippi. Our sub- 
ject returned to the last named State on purpose 
to marry Miss McMasters, having formed her ac- 
quaintance some years before while in that State. 
To the last union were born two children: Anna 
Eliza and Luther Franklin, the latter deceased. 
Mr. Collins now owns 120 acres of good land situ- 



ated in Holly Bend Township, Pope County, and 
near Holly Bend post-office, and has sixty-five acres 
under cultivation. He and Mrs. Collins are mem- 
bers of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Col- 
lins was one of twelve children, eight now living, 
two besides our subject residing in Arkansas, born 
to the union of John D. and Nancy (Perry) Collins, 
both natives of Virginia. The paternal grandpar- 
ents were of Irish and the maternal of German 
descent. 

William L. Crow, farmer, Caglesville, Ark. 
Mr. Crow is a man of decided intellectual ability, 
and his progressive ideas and energetic, wide- 
awake manner of taking advantage of all new meth- 
ods have had not a little to do with his success in 
life. He was born in Jackson County, Ark., in 
1865, and is one of twelve children, five of whom 
are living, born to Stephen and Tempy A. (Boyd) 
Crow, the father a native of South Carolina, and 
the mother of Georgia. The children besides our 
subject now living are Mrs. Sarah L. Benton, Mrs. 
Mary A. Sherrell, Mrs. Miley D. Pearson and Mrs. 
Dulcina Howard. The parents moved to Arkan- 
sas in 1860, settled in Jackson County, where they 
purchased 120 acres of land, of which they cleared 
about seventy acres, and then sold out and came 
to Pope County in 1872. There they purchased 
120 acres of land, homesteaded eighty acres more, 
and at the time of his death, which occurred in 
1887, the father had cleared about sixty acres. 
The mother is still living. At the age of nineteen 
years William L. Crow removed to Russellville, re- 
mained there for nearly two years, and then went 
to Center Township, where in connection with 
farming he taught school, engaging in the latter 
occupation about six months each year. He is sole 
heir to his father's estate, in which his mother holds 
a life interest, and he has made many improve- 
ments, erecting barns, cribs, and clearing land. 
His principal crops are corn, cotton and oats, and 
he is also engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Crow is 
a member of the Methodist Eisiscopal Church 
South, is vice-president of Pope County Sunday- 
school Association for Center Township, and is 
also vice-president of the Singing School Associa- 
tion for said township. He has been secretary of 



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POPE COUNTY. 



221 



the Sunday-school Association three terms, secre- 
tary of the home Sunday-school for seven or eight 
years, and superintendent of the same for a year. 
At a special election he was made justice of the 
peace in 1888, and was reelected to that position in 
1890. He has been chairman of the township con- 
vention, and is a member of the Democratic central 
committee of Pope County. Mr. Crow has been on 
the staff of the Eussellville Democrat for ten years 
as correspondent and reporter, and by a system of 
short-hand of his own, is able to report speeches, 
etc. This he has frequently done for the Demo- 
crat, and also writes for the Pope County Mail, 
and for the City and Country, an Ohio publication, 
devoted to farming interests. He has also reported 
for other papers on special occasions. At the pres ■ 
ent time Mr. Crow is turning his attention to fruit- 
raising, having planted 1,200 apple and some 
peach trees, and now has an orchard of about 300 
trees. His land is nicely adapted to fruit-raising, 
all varieties thriving in this section. 

John C? Darr, merchant, Athens, Ark. Prom- 
inent among the successful business concerns of 
Athens stands the mercantile establishment con- 
ducted by Mr. Darr, who is one of the city's most 
enterprising and popular business men. He was 
born in the Tar Heel State, Lincoln County, in 
1833, and of the six children born to his parents, 
Henry R. and Ann (Blackburn) Darr, he was 
second in order of birth. He attained his growth 
on the farm, was educated in the country schools, 
and at the age of eighteen years he left his home 
to learn the trade of plasterer and bricklayer. 
After finishing his apprenticeship, in 1S58, he 
came with his family to Arkansas and settled in 
Pope County. In 1859 he went to Mississippi, 
remained there for one year, and then returned to 
Pope County, where he was residing at the break- 
ing out of the war. He enlisted in Dodson's com- 
pany, and was in a number of skirmishes in 
Arkansas, but was soon taken sick and discharged. 
After a time he joined Company E, Gordon's 
regiment, Cabell's In'igade (cavalry) and served in 
the Trans-Mississippi Department, and on outpost 
duty. He was in several skirmishes in Louisiana, 
was in the battles of Poison Spring and Marks- 



ville, was at Jenkins' Ferry, but not in battle, and 
was in nearly all the engagements of Price's raid 
through Missouri. He was captured near Pisgah 
Church in Pope County in the winter of 1804, was 
sent to the military prison at Little Kock, and was 
released at Gen. Lee's surrender. He then came 
home and for a year was in bad health, and on 
this account went to Texas where he remained 
until 1871. He went to Hot Springs in 1871, 
and was engaged in mercantile business there until 
spring of 1874. While residing in Texas he was 
engaged in contracting and building and erected 
many of the first buildings in Waco and Jefferson. 
In 1874 he came to Atkins, and at once engaged 
in business with his brother, J. F. Darr, the 
partnership continuing until 1881, when they sep- 
arated, and Mr. Darr has been in business alone 
ever since. Mr. Darr now occupies a large build- 
ing, 25x100 feet, with warehouse, and owns another 
building which he erected, 26x120 feet, for a store- 
room. He carries a full line of general merchan- 
dise of about $11,000, and does an annual business 
of about $35,000, buying cotton and doing a plan- 
tation siipply trade. In 1880 he erected a neat 
residence in town and owns considerable other 
town property besides a farm of 260 acres which 
he rents. He was married in 1871 to Miss S. D. 
Wilson, of this county, a daughter of James Wil- 
son, who is one of the old settlers of this section. 
It was in honor of the latter' s grandfather, who 
came here at an early day, that Wilson Township 
was named. To this union were born six chil- 
dren, four of whom are living and two dead: 
Emmett L., Claude W., John E., Lizzie and 
Annie (twins). Annie died at the age of six 
months, and the first born child died unnamed. 
Mrs. Darr, who died in 1883, was a member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Darr 
was married the second time in 1885 to Miss M. 
E. Scarlett, who was born and raised in this town- 
ship (Wilson). 

E. A. Darr, merchant, Atkins, La. This pop- 
ular and very successful business" man was origi- 
nally from North Carolina, his birth occurring in 
1835, and was the third in a family of six children 
orn to Henry E. and Ann (Blackburn) Darr, both 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of whom were natives also of North Carolina. 
The father was a farmer, was quite a prominent 
citizen, and held several county offices of trust. 
He died in his native State in 1845. The mother 
is also deceased. The paternal grandfather, Henry 
Darr, was of German descent, and was a farmer 
by pursuit. He was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary War. His wife lived to be ninety-nine years 
of age, and often told her grandson, E. A. Darr, 
many interesting events of the Revolution. She 
had a number of relics of that eventful period. 
The maternal grandfather, David Blackburn, was 
of English descent, and was also a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. E. A. Darr was taught the 
rudiments of farm labor, but at an early age he 
learned the trade of bricklayer and mason. He 
was married in 1870 to Miss L. C. Plott, a native 
of the Old Tar State, and to them were born eight 
children, five now living: Guy, Ida (died at the 
age of sixteen years), Roy (died in infancy). Fay; 
Ora, Ira, Ree and Ott (who died in infancy). Af- 
ter learning his trade Mr. Darr worked at that 
r;ntil 1860. He came to Arkansas in 1858, settled 
near Atkins with mother and family, and at the 
breaking out of the war in 1861 enlisted in the 
Confederate Army, Company B, Second Arkan- 
sas Mounted Riflemen. He was in the battles of 
Oak Hill (Mo.), Pea Ridge (Ark.), and the command 
then crossed the Mississippi, where Mr. Darr was 
in the battles of Farmington and Richmond, Ky. 
He was wounded at the last named place on Au- 
gust 80, 1862, and reached home in 1863. After 
the war he worked at his trade for a year, and 
then engaged as clerk for R. A. Dowdle, at Galla 
Rock. The next year he became a member of the 
firm, and has since been an active merchant. In 
1873 he came to Atkins, cleared the land, and was 
the first to make a settlement. He was among the 
first merchants. In 1880 he erected his fine brick 
store, 25x140 feet, and carries a full line of gen- 
oral merchandise and plantation supplies. He car- 
ries a stock of goods valued at 112,000, and does 
an annual business of from $50,000 to $75,000. 
He is an energetic business man, abundantly worthy 
of the large measure of success achieved. Aside 
from this he is the owner of about 2,000 acres in 



different tracts, with considerable under cultiva- 
tion and all of which he rents. He was made post- 
master at Atkins in 1873, and was also the first 
railroad agent at that place. He owns one of the 
best residences in the town, and a number of other 
residences. Mr. Darr is a self-made man in the 
fulle.st sense of that much-abused term, and is en- 
terprising, progressive and public spirited. He is 
a member of the A. F. & A. M., Galla Rock Lodge 
No. 172, is a K. of P., of Arcadia Lodge No. 24, 
and is a member of the I. O. 0. F. , Lodge No. 38. 
He is an active supporter of the ]ninciples of De- 
mocracy. 

James F. Darr, merchant, Atkins, Ark., is 
another prominent business man of Atkins, and as 
such he has the confidence and respect of all. His 
birth occurred in North Carolina in 1841, and of 
the six children born to his parents, Henry and 
Ann (Blackburn) Darr (see sketch of J. C. Darr), 
he was fifth in order of birth. He attended the 
schools of his native State, and there remained 
until 1858, when he came to Arkansas, and there 
followed farming until 1874. At the opening of 
the war in 1861, he enlisted in Company I, King's 
regiment, and was in the battles of Prairie Grove, 
Helena and Little Rock, after which he went to 
Louisiana. Later he returned to Arkansas, and 
was in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, and numerous 
skirmishes. He surrendered at Marshall, Tex. 
Returning to Arkansas he first engaged in farming, 
and in 1874 he came to Atkins, where he has since 
been engaged in merchandising. He first was in 
partnership with J. C. Darr, but they dissolved 
partnership in 1881, and our subject has since 
been in business alone. In 1881 he erected his 
fine two-story brick business house, 25x140 feet, 
and has a large warehouse. He carries a stock of 
goods valued at $14,000, and does an annual busi- 
ness of about $30,000. He buys cotton, and does 
a general furnishing business. Aside from his 
mercantile interest he is the owner of 100 acres of 
land, and has sixty-five acres under cultivation. In 
1884 he erected a neat two-story residence, and has 
a pleasant, comfortable home. He is also the 
owner of fifteen acres in town, and two tenant 
houses. He was married in 1868 to Miss Mary J. 



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223 



^ 



Hearia, a native of Pope County, and the daughter 
of J. A. Hearin, who is a pioneer of this county. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Darr were born nine children, six 
of whom are living: John E. (book-keeper in Mr. 
Darr's store), William E., James L., Roy W., 
Alva C. and Earl. Eugene, Carl and an infant 
are deceased. Mr. Darr was the first mayor of 
Atkins. He is a member of the K. of P., Arcadia 
Lodge No. 44, and has been chancellor com- 
mander. Mrs. Darr is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, South. 

John W. Daniel, farmer, Atkins, Ark. Mr. 
Daniel was born in Cherokee County, Ala., on 
February 9, 1859, and is the son of Thomas 
Y. and Elizabeth (Clifton) Daniel, the father 
a native of South Carolina, and the mother 
of Georgia. The parents were married in Chero- 
kee County, Ala. , and resided there until 1860, 
when they removed to Pope County, Ark. They 
bought large tracts of land, 265 acres in Lee 
Township, Pope County, lying on Arkansas River, 
and 440 acres partly in Conway and jDartly in 
Pope Counties. They reared a family of four 
children, William M., Mary D., Thomas Y. and 
John W., all of whom are living in Pope County, 
and engaged in tilling the soil. William married 
Miss Ada Tobey, and is the father of three chil- 
dren. Mary D., married John White, a stanch 
Democrat, who is deputy sheriff and has served in 
that capacity for ten years. Thomas Y. is not 
married, and is also an agriculturist. John W. 
Daniel was married in November, 1887, to Miss 
Lucy H. Talkington, whose parents died several 
years ago. To this marriage have been born two 
children, a son and daughter, Connie and Thom- 
as Y. , the former about two years old and the 
latter two months. Mr. Daniel has 200 acres of 
land in Lee Township, lying on the river, all rich 
bottom land and worth at least $40 per acre. On 
this he raises corn and cotton, producing easily a 
bale of cotton to the acre. Mr. Daniel farms 
some himself, but rents the most of his land. He is 
one of the most prosperous farmers in Pope Coun- 
ty, and one of its most liberal contributors to all 
laudable enterprises. In politics he is strictly 
Democratic. 



Caleb Davis, planter. Gum Log, Ark. The par- 
ents of Mr. Davis, Caleb and Catherine (Henderson) 
Davis, were natives of Maryland and South Caro- 
lina, respectively. The father was a farmer, and left 
Tennessee for Missouri in 1809, settled near New 
Madrid, where he experienced the earthquake shock 
two years later, his house being destroyed by the 
same. He followed farming, and died in 1816. 
The mother died at the same place in 1865. Both 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and reared their son Caleb to that belief. The lat 
ter was born in Tennessee in 1808, moved with his 
parents to Missouri in 1809, and there resided un- 
til 1831, when he came to Arkansas, settling in 
Pope County, on the same farm where he now re- 
sides, the following year. At that time the country 
was a wilderness, and in that year Mr. Davis built 
the first house in Gum Log Valley. He entered 
900 acres of land, cleared 300 acres, and as his 
children grew up he gave them farms, so that at 
the present time he owns Ijut a small portion of 
the original tract. He organized the first Sunday- 
school in this section in 1839, and has been super- 
intendent of that school ever since, being elected 
annually since the first school. On the fiftieth 
anniversary of this school an entertainment was 
given, at which many Sunday-school workers from 
all parts of the State were present. He has also 
been an earnest advocate of public schools, and 
has been director for years. Mr. Davis was a sol- 
dier in the Mexican War, was on frontier duty, and 
was also a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. 
He raised a company and was in the battle of Pea 
Ridge, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Baker Creek, Black 
River, Iiika, and was through the siege of Vicks- 
burg. He had been promoted to colonel, but dur- 
ing the siege he commanded a brigade. He was 
captured, paroled, and came home, after which he 
did not return to the army. He was married in Mis- 
souri, in 1827, to Miss Elizabeth Tackett, who bore 
him ten children, three now living: William P. 
(died at the age of thirty-five years), James Lewis 
(has been farming in California for fifty years), 
Andrew Jackson (died at the age of eleven years), 
John Alvin (died in Texas when forty years of age), 
George W. (a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 



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224 



HISTOKY OF AEKANSAS. 



it 



Church South), Caleb Marion (killed on his way 
home after the war), Narcissus P. (died in 1884), 
Sarah E. (died at eleven years of age), one died 
in infancy, and Albert Q. (the youngest, a sviccess- 
ful farmer on the old homestead). Mr. Davis has 
been a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South foi- forty years, class leader for thirty years, 
and has always been a liberal contributor to church 
and Sunday-school. He was county judge for 
six years, first in 1847, serving two years, again in 
1860, for two years, and still again in 1866, for 
two more years. He has been an extensive stock- 
raiser, a prosperous farmer, and ran a cotton-mill 
and gin for years. He had a horse-mill at first, 
and served the whole country. In 1874 he se- 
cured a special post route to Gum Log, once a week, 
and was the first postmaster at that place. They 
now have mail three times a week, and Mr. Davis 
has been postmaster all the time. He is one of the 
oldest and most eminently respected citizens of the 
county. Although considerably over three-score 
years and ten, the allotted age of man, time has 
dealt very leniently with him, and he is in compar- 
atively good health, bidding fair to live many years 
longer. 

Samuel B. Dickey, farmer. Potts Station, Ark. 
The subject of this sketch is one of the honored 
pioneers of Pope County. He has been located here 
for thirty-four years, and has not only become well- 
known, but the respect and esteem shown him is 
as wide as his acquaintance. His finely improved 
farm of 240 acres is adorned with a commodious 
residence, and everything about the place indicates 
to the beholder a prosperous owner. Mr. Dickey 
was born in Lincoln County, N. C, in 1810, and is 
the son of Alexander and Margaret (Blackwood) 
Dickey, natives of Ireland and North Carolina, re- 
spectively. They both received their final sum- 
mons in the last named State. Samuel B. Dickey 
was married in his native State to Miss Mary 
Oates, daughter of John Gates, and the fruits of 
this union were six children: Margaret Ann, Eliza- 
beth J., John G. , Alexander B., Nancy and Will- 
iam, all of whom died in North Carolina except 
William. Mr. Dickey removed with his family to 
Pope County, Ark. , in 1856, and here his daughter 



Katie was born. She married William Ferguson 
and died in 1887 leaving her husband and three 
children. Mr. Dickey is now one of the oldest and 
most respected citizens of the county. His chil- 
dren are all deceased, but he has one grandson liv- 
ing with him. This child is named John C. Falls, 
and is the son of their daughter, Elizabeth J. 
Honored and esteemed by all, this worthy couple 
will pass the sunset of their days in Pope County, 
where so many years of their lives have been 
passed. 

Thomas H. Elgin has been a resident of Pope 
County, Ark., since the year 1878, having come 
hither from Quincy, 111. He first settled at Potts 
Station, and was engaged as a commercial traveler 
until 1882, when he took up his abode at Russell- 
ville, and opened a marble shop. From that time 
until the present he has had a constantly increas- 
ing trade which extends the entire length of the 
Little Rock Railroad, and his annual sales amount 
to about $10,000. His work has a wide reputation, 
and the demand is constantly increasing, a fact 
which speaks for itself as to the merit of the 
work done in his shop. His latest work of merit 
is the monument erected at Galla Rock for Col. 
Taylor, which is fifteen feet in height, and is of 
the finest Italian marble. A fine monument was 
also erected in memory of D. C. Williams and wife 
of Van Buren, this monument being of Rutland 
marble, and compares favorably with any work in 
the cemetery. Mr. Elgin also uses in his business 
the Georgia marble, Rutland Blue and White. He 
is now under contract to furnish stone trimmings 
for the Peoples' Exchange Bank of this county. 
He was born in Palmyra, Mo., November 18, 1840, 
and his early opportunities for acquiring an edu- 
cation were rather limited, being obtained in the 
common schools. He was taking a collegiate course 
when the war broke out, but left school to enlist 
in the State Guards under Price, but later was in 
the commissary department of detached service. 
He next became a member of Company E, Marma- 
duke's division of cavalry, and before the close of 
the war was promoted to first lieutenant, taking 
part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, luka, 
Grand Gulf, Vicksburg and many others of less 



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POPE COUNTY. 



225 



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importarice. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, 
but was paroled immediately. Although he re- 
ceived several flesh wounds, he was never serious- 
ly injured, and was always soon able to resume his 
duties. At the close of the war he returned to 
Quincy, 111., where his father resided, and after- 
ward began traveling in the interests of a marble 
firm, and has been connected with that work ever 
since. He is a member of the Christian Church of 
Russellville, and socially belongs to the Russell- 
ville Lodge No. 76 of the A. F. & A. M. and Rus- 
sellville Lodge No. 47 of the K. of P., in each of 
which he holds prominent oifices. In politics he 
is a Democrat, and as a business man has not his 
superior in this section of the country, for besides 
being perfectly honorable in every particular he is 
wide-awake and enterprising, and at all times 
strives to meet the wants of his patrons. He is 
unmarried. 

J. B. Evants is the senior member of the gen- 
eral mercantile firm of Evants & Co., of Russell- 
ville, Ark. , and was born in Pope County, March 
17, 1839, to William Evants and wife, who moved 
to this coiinty from Middle Tennessee, in 1830, the 
father's death occurring here in January, 1884, at 
the age of seventy-one years. Of a family of ten 
children born to him and his wife, three sons and 
five datighters are still living, all but one son and 
one daughter, who live in Texas, being residents 
of this county. J. B. Evants was given the ad- 
vantages of the common schools for a short period 
each year, the rest of the time being devoted to 
farm labor. He began earning his own living at 
the age of seventeen years, and in 1857 started 
across the plains to California, where he was en- 
gaged in mining and stock-raising for ten years. 
In 1867 he returned to Russellville, Ark., and pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres, on which he settled 
and began to improve. After attending to its cul- 
tivation for one year he opened a store at Dover, 
but at the end of one year's residence was married 
there and moved with his family to Califoinia and 
engaged in the raising of sheep. He started for 
Nevada with 3,000 head of sheep, but while in one 
of the passes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains he 
was overtaken by a snowstorm and every sheep 



perished. He immediately returned to Arkansas, 
and here followed merchandising until State 
troubles in 1872, when his whole stock of goods 
was taken from him, leaving him involved to the 
extent of .f2,000. He then turned to the soil for 
a way out of his difBculties, and during the ten 
years that he devoted to farming he paid off all his 
indebtedness, and at the end of that time (in 1884) 
resumed merchandising, and has since received an 
abundant share of fortune' s favors. He now does an 
annual business of $20,000, and is the owner of 500 
acres of land in this county, 400 of which are under 
cultivation. In addition to this he has a good home 
in the west part of Russellville, and a number of 
tenement houses and store buildings which he 
rents. He has $1,000 stock in the cotton factory 
of this place, besides being interested in some other 
prosperous investments. In January, 186U, he 
was married to Miss Louisa, a daughter of John 
Petty, of Dover, and by her he has two sons and 
two daughters. The eldest, Franklin Q., is at- 
tending school in Tennessee, but the other mem- 
bers of the family are attending school in Russell- 
ville. The family are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and Mr. Evants belongs to the K. of P., 
and in his political views is a Democrat. Although 
he has met with many business reverses he has 
never despaired, but has devoted all his energies 
to bending circumstances to his will, and the 
handsome fortune of which he is now the possessor 
is the result of unswerving fidelity to every detail 
of his work. 

Loyd D. Ford, merchant and planter, Atkins, 
Ark. This prominent business man and planter 
first saw the light of day in Tennessee, May 21, 
1832, and of the ten children born to his parents 
he was the youngest in order of birth. The father, 
Thomas Ford, was born in 1787, in Maryland, and 
was married in Tennessee to Miss Margaret Chap 
man, a native of Tennessee, her birth occurring in 
1792. In 1834 they moved to Kentucky, and the 
father followed farming and blacksmithing until 
1844, when he moved to Arkansas, settling in Poin- 
sett County, where he had eight children living. 
He was killed in 1854 by a fall from a horse. The 
mother died in Kentucky in March, 1843. Loyd 



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HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



D. Ford resided with his brother until twenty- 
six years of age, and was then married to Miss 
Catherine McClode, a native of Pope County. He 
then entered a farm of eighty acres in the western 
part of Pope County and there resided for five 
years when his wife died, leaving two children, both 
of whom are also deceased. In 18f)2 he enlisted 
in Hill's battalion and served in Arkansas. He 
was in very poor health, and on this account was in 
service only about a year. He was married the 
second time in July, 18(53, to Mrs. Elizabeth Grif- 
fin, daughter of Charles Carrell, and a native of 
Tennessee. In 1865 Mr. Ford bought a farm of 
200 acres on Point Remove Creek, and to this has 
since added until at the present time he is the 
owner of 360 acres in one tract and has 120 acres 
under cultivation. The remainder is in timber. He 
also owns eighty-one acres in the bottom lands, has 
sixty-five acres of this under cultivation, and is the 
owner of land in Faulkner and Conway Counties. 
He resided on his farm until 1876 and then moved 
to Atkins, where he erected a residence and has 
since made his home. In 1884 he engaged in gen 
eral merchandising with J. A. Bost, with whom he 
continued for fifteen mouths. Mr. Ford's time is 
now mostly oecn])ied in renting and overseeing his 
land, but he has retired from active business. 
When Mr. Ford first came to Pope County he was 
sick and did not own a dollar. All he has made is 
the result of his own enterprise and industry. In 
1876 he, with Mr. Bost, built the first steam mill 
and cotton-gin in Atkins, which was well patro- 
nized, and this they conducted for nine years. To 
the second marriage of Mr. Ford were born ten 
children, seven of whom died in infancy. Those 
living are: Lizzie Ford (wife of Hugh C. Bledsoe, 
a druggist of Atkins), Kittie Brown and Loyd D. 
Jr. Mary Arkansas, a daughter of his first wife, 
died at the age of nine years. Besides his own 
children Mr. Ford has reared several orphan chil- 
dren. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and 
family are members of the Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian Church. He has been a strong advocate of 
schools and is a public-spirited citizen. He is a 
Mason, a member of Galla Rock Lodge 172, chap- 
ter at Atkins, and is a charter member. He is also 



a member of the K. of H. Mr. Ford owns an in- 
terest in two brick buildings and other town j)rop- 
erty in Atkins. 

J. T. Fowler is one of the prominent members 
of the Pope County bar, and is a living example 
of the fact that the profession of law has attracted 
the best talent of the country. He is the junior 
member of the well-known legal firm of Bradley 
& Fowler, and as he has resided in this county from 
his birth, which occurred June 17, 1852, the peo- 
ple of this section have had every opportunity to 
judge of his character and qualifications, and have 
for him the highest regard and respect. His 
father, Pinkney Fowler, was born in South Caro- 
lina, and during the Rebellion was a soldier for the 
Confederate cause and lost his life at the battle of 
Elk Horn, Mo. J. T. Fowler resided on a farm 
until seventeen years of age and obtained a fair 
education, only, in the common schools. In 1874 
he began making his own way in the world as a 
clerk in the establishment of Russell & Bro. , of 
Russellville, remaining with them during the 
winters and teaching school during the summers for 
two years. He then embarked in merchandising 
in partnership with J. L. Shinn, which connection 
lasted harmoniously for five years, Mr. Shinn be- 
ing, during this time, a silent partner. At the 
end of three years Mr. Fowler was enabled to 
buy out Mr. Shinn' s interest in the business, pay- 
ing $5,000 for his share, which he earned during 
the three years, as his capital'at the commencement 
of his business amounted to only $300. They car- 
ried a general mercantile stock, and here Mr. Fow- 
ler continued until 1886, when he sold out his 
business and moved to Garden's Bottom, Ark., 
where he followed the same calling for four years, 
and became the owner of 1,000 acres of fine bot- 
tom land. In 1890 he disposed of his stock of 
goods at this place and returned to Russellville, 
also disposing of his landed estate for 133,000, it 
being the largest land and property sale ever made 
in this section of the State. During the last five 
years of his mercantile life he gave considerable 
attention to the study of law, and upon his return 
to Russellville he began practicing, and this has 
been his chief calling up to the present time. He 



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POPE COUNTY. 



227 



devotes the same iiQliring energy to this pursuit 
that made him so successful in mercantile life, and 
is proving himself to be a talented and thoroughly 
competent attorney. He is the owner of real estate 
in Pope County to the amount of USO acres, besides 
his lav? office — a fine brick business building, cen- 
trally located in the town of Russellville. His res " 
idenee is in the pleasantest part of town, and is 
commodious, substantial and pleasant. Besides 
this, he has four good tenement houses and a store 
building, which he rents. He has dealt extensively 
in horses and mules, and has $10,000 in stock in 
the Citizens' Savings Bank at Russellville. His 
property is now valued at about 160,000, the entire 
amount having been accumulated through his own 
exertions. He is very careful in all business trans- 
actions, has always been an untiring worker, and 
these in connection with strictly honorable jirinci- 
pies have placed him in his present most hon- 
orable position. He had one brother and two 
sisters. The brother is in the stock business in 
California, one sister is married, and lives in Se- 
dalia. Mo., and the other resides in Russellville. 
Mr. Fowler was married in 1880, the maiden 
name of his wife being Sallie Carden, a daughter 
of Maj. Carden, of this county. Mr. Fowler has 
shown his approval of secret organizations by be- 
coming a member of the I. O. O. F., and as an up- 
right, honorable, and public-sj)irited citizen, has 
not his superior in this section of the State. He 
is liberal in his contributions to enterprises which 
he deems worthy, and is ever found ready to lend 
a helping hand to the poor and distressed. 

J. F. Fronaberger, farmer, Atkins, Ark. This 
name is not unfamiliar to the citizens of Pope 
County, for he who bears it has been a resident of 
the same for many years, and is one of the most 
esteemed and respected citizens. He was born in 
Lincoln County, N. C, in 1826, and was the son 
of John and Anna (Blackwood) Fronaberger, both 
natives of North Carolina. The parents removed 
to Arkansas in 1851, settled in Pope County, and 
there reared seven children: J. F. , P. J., Jane, 
J. L., Mary, Barbara and Margaret. J. L. and 
Jane are living in Missouri, the former in Taney 
County engaged in farming, and the latter in Scott 



County, a widow. The others are living in Arkan- 
sas. Barbara married George Cupp, a farmer, 
and resides in Polk County; Mary resides in Pope 
County, and is the wife of Robert Bearlield, a 
farmer, and Margaret resides in Pope County and 
is the wife of J. T. Claunch. J. F. Frona- 
berger came to Arkansas in 1850, followed farm- 
ing in this State for two years, and then crossed 
the plains to the gold regions of California, 
where he remained for eighteen years engaged in 
mining. Although he made thousands of dollars, 
on account of the high price of everything, he 
saved only $2,000 to return to his home in Arkan- 
sas. He has paid as high as 75 cents per pound 
for fiour, and other things in proportion. He re- 
turned to Arkansas, and in 1874 was married to 
Miss Sarah Scott, daughter of William Scott, of 
Pope County. To them have been born live chil- 
dren, three now living, John, Joseph and Anna. 
Jacob died in infancy, and the fourth child also 
died while young. Mr. Fronaberger is now the 
owner of 320 acres of land, and has sixty-five 
acres under cultivation. He raises some cotton, 
but mostly corn and wheat and devotes some time 
to stock-raising, principally cattle and hogs. Mr. 
Fronaberger is one of the most prosperous farmers 
in Galla Rock Township. In politics he is a 
stanch Republican. He and Mrs. Fronaberger are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
are active workers in the same. 

Allen S. Garrison is a proper representative of 
the energetic and successful business men of Pope 
County, Ark., which element has done, and is do- 
ing, so much for the advancement of the material 
interests of this section. He was born in Yell 
County, Ark., November 17, 1852, to William H. 
and Mary A. (Turner) Garrison, who were born, 
reared and married in Tennessee, the last named 
event taking place in 1847. Eleven children, eight 
of whom are living, were born to this union: Fran- 
cis J., Allen S., Susan A., Samuel J., Rachel T., 
William G. , Columbus R. , Abraham P. , Sarah J. 
(deceased), Masonri (deceased), and Thomas J. (de- 
ceased). In 1848 the father moved to Arkansas, 
and settled in Pope County, but the following year 
purchased and settled on land in Yell County. 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



The father learned the trade of a machinist in his 
youth, but afterward studied medicine, and prac- 
ticed some twelve years, the latter part of his life, 
dying in Logan County in 1884, an earnest mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was 
a Mason, and during the Rebellion, he served on 
the river for "Uncle Sam." His widow still re- 
sides in Logan County, Ark., and is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church also. Allen S. 
Garrison was married June 9, 1878, to Miss Cy- 
rinthia Rook, a native of Mississippi, born June 
19, 1857, a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Wil- 
son) Rook, the latter also being Mississippians. 
To Mr. Garrison and his wife six children have 
been born : Arthur T. , Nancy E. , Sherman, Ger- 
trude, Daisy (deceased), and Susan F. (deceased). 
Mr. Garrison has been in the saw-milling business 
for some twenty-one years, and is a member of 
the mill and lumber firm of Forrest, Turner &Co., 
and is the owner of three mills, one on Illinois 
Creek, one at Mill Creek and the other near Mount 
Hope Church. In 1883 Mr. Garrison engaged in 
merchandising, at Mill Creek Station, as manager 
for the store of Forrest, Turner & Co. The ca- 
pacity of the mills are some 20,000 feet per day, 
and besides this the firm owns some 800 acres of 
land, with 250 under cultivation, and the rest good 
timberland. Mr. Garrison is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially, belongs 
to Russell ville Lodge, of the A. F. & A. M., and 
Russellville Lodge No. 47, of the K. of P. While 
a resident of Logan County, Ark., he was magis- 
trate of Delaware Township during 1876-77. 

Daniel B. Granger, attorney, Russellville, Ark. 
Mr. Granger, a prominent attorney at law at Rus- 
sellville, Ark., is among those who contribute to 
the strength of the Arkansas bar. He is a native 
of Allegany County, N. Y., was born on January 
28, 1830, and is the sixth in order of birth of a 
family of ten childi'en born to Girden and Nancy 
(Flanigan) Granger, natives of New Y^ork and 
Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a 
mechanic and erected a great many buildings, be- 
sides engaging in various other enterprises. He 
was justice of the peace for many years and made 
his home in New York, until his death in 1876, 



when nearly seventy- six years old. The mother 
died in 1884 at the age of eighty-three years. 
She was for many years a member of the Free 
Will Baptist denomination, but later, united with 
the Methodist Church at Wiscoy, N. Y. , where 
she died. The paternal grandfather, Peter Gran- 
ger, was born in Vermont, and was a carpenter 
and builder by trade. The maternal grandfather, 
James Flanigan, was a native of Ireland, and 
born near Londonderry. He was an educated 
gentleman, and came to America in early life, lo- 
cating at Norfolk, Va. Later he moved to Har- 
per's Ferry, Ya., then to Yorktown, Penn. , and af- 
terward to Allegany County, N. Y., where he died 
at the age of seventy- eight years. Daniel B. 
Granger was reared to his father's trade, attended 
the common schools of New Y^ork, and also pur- 
sued his studies and readings at the home fireside 
under his father's direction. In 1855 he went to 
Fairmont, Va. (now West Virginia), and there be- 
gan reading law under Hon. E. B. Hall. In 
December, 1856, he returned to Allegany County, 
N. Y., and embarked in mechanical pursuits and 
photographic business until the latter part of 18()0, 
when he went to La Grange, Mo. In the summer 
of 1861 he was a member of the La Grange 
(Union) Home Guards, and in the fall of 18I'>1 he 
entered the employ of S. N. Marshall, suttler of 
the Third Missouri (United States) Cavalry Volun 
teers, commanded by Col. John M. Glover, and 
remained with this command until 1862. He then 
entered the Thirty-sixth Missouri (United States) 
Infantry Volunteers, (then being raised by Col. 
H. C. Wormoth at Rolla, Mo.) as first lieutenant 
of Company A., and served in this capacity, prin- 
cipally engaged in recruiting service, until the 
latter part of October, 1862, when the regiment 
was consolidated at St. Louis, Mo., with the 
Thirty second Missouri Infantry Volunteers com- 
manded by Col. Manter, at which time Mr. 
Granger was on detached duty in charge of fnr- 
lotighed men and recruits and the barracks at 
Rolla, Mo. When the consolidation of the Thirty- 
sixth and Thirty second regiments of Missouri 
Infantry took place the position of first lieutenant 
of Company A was filled by the muster in of 



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POPE COUNTY. 



229 



another person, and Mr. Granger declining to 
"promote backward," by accepting a similar 
position in Company K of the consolidated regi- 
ment, he then returned to the employ of Mr. Mar- 
shall in the suttler business and continued in this 
until the spring of 1863. He then left the army 
at Pilot Knob, Mo., and went to Carthage, 111., 
where he engaged in merchandising. Subse- 
quently in June, 1865, he went to Little Eock, 
Ark., and on June 15 of that year engaged in the 
collecting business, and began practicing law, hav- 
incf continued his law readings until that time. 
He was licensed to practice in the Supreme Court 
of Arkansas November 3, 1865, and the next spring 
in the United States Circuit Court at Little Rock, 
Ark. He remained in Little Rock until May, 
1873, and then removed to Russellville, Pope 
County, Ark., where he has since been in the 
active practice of his profession. During this time 
he has been an earnest adherent to the principles 
of Democracy, but has never been a candidate for 
office. He has been elected by the bar, and served 
as special circuit judge on several occasions, and 
is at present city attorney for Russellville, having 
served in that position since June 1, 1887. He 
was married on the 10th, 1866, to Miss Alice C. 
Wills, of Palmyra, Mo., the daughter of Claiborn 
C. and Amelia Wills. To this union were born 
four children — two sons and two daughters — viz. : 
Lizzie Belle, Edward Jennings (died in infancy), 
Amelia Alice, and Harrison Wills (who died at the 
age of sixteen months). Mr. Granger and his 
wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church 
at Russellville. Mr. Granger during his residence 
in Arkansas has been a frequent contributor to the 
local press, and in 1874 edited the National Trib 
une published at Russellville, in the interest of 
what was known as the "Baxter" movement in 
the celebrated ''Brooks and Baxter war," and was 
a strong advocate of the adoption of the present 
constitution of Arkansas. He is a member of Rus- 
sellville Lodge No. 47, of the order of K. of P., 
and was the tirst chancellor commander of that 
lodge. He is now special deputy grand chancellor 
for that lodge and a member of the Grand Lodge 
of the State. He owns both farm and town prop- 



erty. In 1878 he erected his residence, and in 
1886 he had this remodeled and improved. 

Capt. J. M. Harkey, a prominent citizen of 
Russellville and Senator for the Fourth Senatorial 
District, was born in North Carolina on June 11, 
1832, and was the eighth of eighteen children born 
to David and S. Elizabeth (Shinn) Harkey, both 
natives of North Carolina. David Harkey, famil- 
iarly known as "Old Uncle Davy " Harkey, was 
born in Montgomery County on June 29, 1797, and 
died at Palmer, Tex., on June 10, 1884. He 
moved from North Carolina in December, 1839, 
and settled within a mile and a half of the present 
flourishing town of Russellville, Ark. , then a wild 
prairie waste, with only one or two families living 
within its present corporate limits. He married 
Miss S. E. Shinn, who preceded him to the grave 
in 1859, and by whom he had eighteen children — 
seven sons and eleven daughters — seventeen of 
whom, by a kind Providence, he was permitted to 
rear to manhood and womanhood. At the time of his 
death, which occurred when he was about eighty- 
seven years of age, he had 121 grandchildren, 
ninety-nine of whom are now living, and eighty- 
three great-grandchildren, sixty-eight of whom are 
living. He was a worthy and exemplary member 
of the Lutheran Church for many years, or until 
about his eightieth year, when, in consequence of 
there being no church sufficiently near him in his 
new home, with no probability then for one in the 
near future, and regarding it as an indispensable 
duty devolving upon him to attach himself to some 
organized religious body, he connected himself 
with the Christian Church, of which he was a de- 
vout and worthy member until the time of his 
death. Many of the old citizens of Pope County 
well remember "Old Uncle Davy" Harkey, his 
noble, generous nature and disposition, his social, 
friendly relations with all, and his kindly welcome 
to those who visited his hospitable home. He had 
one son, Silas Monroe, who volunteered for the 
Mexican War and who was taken sick and died at 
San Antonio, Tex. , on his way to Buena Vista. 
He had two sons, Dr. George W. Harkey and Capt. 
James M. Harkey (our subject), who are now liv- 
ing at Russellville. The former is a physician of 



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230 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



some prominence, though not pursuing his profes- 
sion as a business, and is a local preacher in the 
Christian Church, and the latter we will learn more 
of farther on. " Uncle Davy ' ' has five daughters 
living in Pope County, namely: Mrs. John M. 
Bradley, Mrs. J. E. Shinn, Mrs. A. Eeed, Mrs. G. 
A. Eeed and Miss Vina Harkey. He has three 
sons and four daughters living in Texas: John, 
Jacob and Henry Harkey, and Mrs. W. H. Mc- 
Keever, Mrs. William Davis, Mrs. Joel Epps and 
Mrs. H. S. Maddux. Capt. James M. Harkey was 
reared to the duties of the farm and had limited 
educational advantages. He planted fourteen sea- 
sons for his father. At the age of twenty-two 
years he began farming for himself, and was mar- 
ried in 1855 to Miss Elizabeth P. Walker, a native 
of Pope County. In 1859 he engaged in the drug 
business at Dover, and was thus engaged at the 
outbreak of the war. In 1862 he enlisted in the 
army, biit was petitioned to return by the citizens, 
as a druggist. In the spring of 1803 he again en- 
tered the army, assisted in raising a regiment, and 
was elected second lieutenant of Company B, Caf- 
fee's regiment. He participated in the battles of 
Arkansas and Missouri, and in the fall of 1864 he 
was promoted to the rank of captain, serving in 
outpost duty in Southern Arkansas until the ter- 
mination of hostilities. He at once resumed farm- 
ing, in which he continued until 1868, and then 
came to Eussellville where with his brother, G. W. 
Harkey, he started a drug store in that town. For 
many years this firm thrived and prospered, as 
Harkey Bros., and had a good jobbing trade, put- 
ting up many of their remedies as Harkey' s Ague 
Pills, Chill Tonic, Liver Medicine, Pile Eemedy, 
Eye Tonic, Diarrhea Cordial, Granger Liniment 
Vegetable Liver Pills and Cough Syrup, all pro- 
prietory medicine and belonging to the firm, which 
they still prepare and sell wholesale throughout 
Western Arkansas. During that time, the firm 
erected two brick buildings, but on March 20, 
1890, they sold out the business and the store- 
house, but continue the manufacture of the above 
named remedies. Cai^t. Harkey bought a farm of 
220 acres near town, has 100 acres under cultiva- 
tion, and has a very pleasant home, owning also 



other lands elsewhere. He is a raiser of blooded 
horses, and has a stallion ' ' Coldeck, ' ' one of the 
best horses of this section, and seven brood mares. 
He has a good stock farm. He is one of the promi- 
nent men of the county, is a prosperous merchant 
and a good citizen. He was nominated by the 
Democratic party as State Senator for Pope and 
Johnson Counties, and was elected on Septeml)er 
1, 1890, by a majority of 1,368 votes. He was 
chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of 
Pope County for many years, and has done much 
by his honesty and integrity to strengthen that 
party locally. The family are members of the 
Christian Church. Capt. Harkey has been a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity since his twenty -first 
year and has been district deputy grand master for 
many years. He was also most puesant grand master 
of the Grand Council of the State of Arkansas, and 
served two years as worthy grand patron of the 
Grand Chapter Eastern Star of the State, and is now 
district deputy grand patron of the Twelfth Dis- 
trict. To his marriage were born five children, 
one of whom is deceased : Alice P. , Mary Scathie, 
Charley D. (who was scalded to death at the age 
of three years), Reuben M. and Floy Lee. Alice 
P. Harkey is thirty years old, is married and has 
four children; Mary Scathie Harkey is twenty- two 
years old, married, and has one child; Reuben M. 
Harkey is nineteen years old, and is now attending 
medical college; Bloy L. Harkey sixteen years old, 
is now in Glasgow, Ky., at school. Capt. Harkey 
was twice taken prisoner during the war. The 
first time he was soon exchanged; the second time 
he was led out with a rope around his neck to be 
hanged. While his ca^itors were tying a rope to 
the limb of a tree he gave the sign of distress as a 
Mason, and was rescued by a second lieutenant of 
Federal troops, who was a Mason and a friend. Mr. 
Harkey says: " He said he was raised in Indiana, 
but I have forgotten his name and post-oflice 
address; I would be very glad to meet him in some 
Masonic lodge or Grand Lodge. I would most 
assuredly tell him that the latch string of my 
door hangs on the outside, and I would be glad if 
he would pull it and walk in at any time and sup 
with me and I with him. If I meet him no more 



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POPE COUNTY. 



231 



ill this world I hope to meet hiiD where parting 
will be kaown no more." 

Starling G. Harris. It is a fact well recognized 
among all intelligent people that a thorough edu- 
cation and advanced acquaintance with books of 
learning are of great material benefit to man, no 
matter in what channel of life his path may lie. 
The career of Mr. Harris is a striking illustration 
of this truth, for although his early educational 
opportunities were not of the best, yet he has at 
all times been a thoughtful reader, and has made 
a practical use of the knowledge thus gained. Ho 
was born on March 16, 1842, in the State of 
Georgia, and in the month of March, 1875, became 
a resident of Pope County, Ark., settling on land 
that is now known as Colony Mountain. He was 
reared to a farm life in his native State, and in 
1862 began doinjr for himself. In June of that 
year he enlisted in the Confederate Army, becom- 
ing a member of Company A, Thirty-eighth Georgia 
Regiment, afterward taking part in the engage- 
ments at Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, 
the Wilderness (where he was wounded, and on this 
account was transferred to the State Troops, being 
commissioned second lieutenant of Dyer's battal- 
ion). He remained in the service until the close of 
the war, then returned to his home in De Kalb 
County, Ga., and there was engaged in milling for 
about one year. At the expiration of this time he 
went to Blount County, Ala., and after farming 
there for about three years moved to Birmingham, 
in which place he was engaged in the timber busi- 
ness for some three years. Since then he has resided 
on his present farm. His first purchase was fifty 
acres of land, to which he has added from time to 
time, until he now has 310 acres of good farming 
land which he has nicely improved with good resi- 
dence, barns and other necessary buildings, a fine 
young orchard, which is already producing enough 
fruit for family use, and substantial fences. Nine- 
ty-five acres are under cultivation, and in 1885 he 
erected thereon a good gristmill and cotton-gin, 
which he has operated successfully. He is now 
erecting a building in which he intends to open 
a general mercantile business, and expects to 
have everything in working order by October 15. 



He was married on November 11, 1867, to Eliza 
Jane Bagwell, with whom he lived for eighteen 
years, when she departed this life October 18, 1885, 
leaving besides her husband five sons and three 
daughters to mourn their loss. May 12, 1886, 
Mr. Harris remarried, his wife being Mrs. Martha 
F. Mason, a daughter of James M. and Mary Tate 
of this county, the latter being now a resident of 
Johnson County, Ark. The names of the children 
by his first wife are as follows: Charley V., Lavo- 
nia v., Ettie L., Oscar G., Gordon P., Sallie A., 
Albert J. and John C. Lavonia is the wife of Ri- 
ley Leavell, and resides in Johnson County, and 
Charley V. is clerking for the firm of F. C. Jones 
& Co., of Bellville, Yell County, Ark. Mr. Harris 
and his family are members of the Baptist Church, 
and he belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and is a 
Democrat. His parents were John and Sarah 
(Brown) Harris. 

William Stanhope Harris, farmer and stock- 
dealer, Russellville, Ark. Farming has been Mr. 
Harris' principle occupation thus far through life, 
and the energetic and wide-awake manner in which 
he has taken advantage of all methods and ideas 
tending to the enhanced value of his property has 
had a great deal to do with his success. He is a 
native-born resident of Pope County, his birth 
occurring on August 21, 1852, and is the son of 
Adolphus and Margaret R. (Hoffman) Harris, na- 
tives of North Corolina. To the parents were born 
four living children, who are named in order of 
birth as follows: William S., Sarah A. B. (wife of G. 
T. Brown, who is residing at Potts Station), L. D. 
(residing in Cannon County, Tex.), and Josej)hine 
(wife of A. M. Shinen, deceased). The parents 
emigrated from North Carolina to Pope County, 
Ark., in 1851, purchased eighty acres of unim- 
proved land, and the father carried on agricultural 
pursuits in connection with cabinet-making. He 
is deceased. The mother is now residing with the 
subject of this sketch. William S. Harris started out 
to fight life's battles for himself at the age of twen- 
ty-one years, and as he had been trained from early 
boyhood to the duties of the farm, it was quite 
natural, perhaps, that he should select agricult- 
ural pursuits as his chosen calling. He also held 



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232 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



the oiScG of constable of Wilson Township, Yell 
County, during the years of 1886 ami 1887, re- 
maining in that county from 1877 to 1888. He 
then came to Pope County, Ark., and began stock- 
raising and stock dealing in which occupation, to- 
gether with farming, he continues at the present 
time. He is the owner of fifty-five acres of land 
in Wilson Township, Yell County, and has forty 
of this improved. He raises principally cotton and 
about one and one third bales to the acre. He is 
thrifty and enterprising, and a man of excellent 
judgment. 

P. J. Harvill. Among the many sturdy ' ' sons 
of the soil" of Pope County, Ark., who have at- 
tained a good competency in their calling by the 
sweat of their brow and who command an enviable 
social position, is Mr. Harvill, who was born in 
this county October 15, 1847, to M. W. and Eliza- 
beth (Luton) Harvill, both of whom were born in 
Tennessee, the former in 1812. He was a farmer 
and was married in this county, his union resiilting 
in the birth of five children — two sons and three 
daughters — of whom the subject of this sketch is 
the eldest, and the only child now living. Those 
dead are Polly A., Sarah E., Nancy and one un- 
named. The mother of these children was called 
from the scene of her earthly labors in 1856, and 
two years later Mr. Harvill married Mrs. Jane 
Ross, and of the following named children born to 
them, five are now living: William R., G. J., Eliz- 
abeth (wife of G. T. Brooks), Edgar and Tennessee. 
M.W., John, Louis and a child unnamed are deceas- 
ed. At the time of her death, in 1882, Mrs. Harvill 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and in 1889 Mr. Harvill married a third 
time, his wife being Mrs. Mary Gilmore, a member, 
as was her husband, of the Primitive Baptist 
Church. On March 17, 1890, he was called from 
life. He had come to this State from Tennessee 
in 1836, and until his demise was a resident of 
Pope County, and helped carry the surveyor's chain 
over the whole of the southern part of this State. 
His son, P. J. Harvill, was married in Pope County 
March 5, 1871, to Miss Cynthia S. Brooks. She 
was born in this county, October 10,1853, a daugh- 
ter of J. H. and Harriet (Yarberry) Brooks, who 



were Tennesseeans, and came to Arkansas with 
their parents, their marriage taking place in Pojie 
County and five of their nine children survive them : 
James C. O., Cynthia S. (wife of Mr. Harvill), G. 
T., Henry F. and T. A. Martha L., Laura, Wil- 
lie E. and Efifie T. are deceased. The father died 
in 1871 and the mother in 1876, the latter having 
been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Harvill nine children 
have been born: George H. (born January 10, 
1872), Eler E. (born August 9, 1874, and died Oc- 
tober 9,1874), Ollie (born December 18, 1875), Nora 
(born July 80, 1878), Sarah (born November 11, 
1880), S. M. (born March 21, 1883), Ider P. (born 
October 7, 1885 and died July 19, 1886), Floyd E. 
(born May 28, 1887), and Hattie F. (born March 18, 
1890). In 1863 Mr. Harvill enlisted in the Federal 
Army in the Third Arkansas Cavalry, Company 
A, and served until 1865, being at one time wound- 
ed in the right arm by a pistol shot. Since the 
war he has devoted his attention to farming and is 
now the owner of 200 acres of land with eighty un- 
der cultivation. In 1882 he erected thereon a nice 
frame residence and besides this his farm is other- 
wise improved with good barns and an excellent 
young orchard of about two acres. He has served 
as justice of the peace six years, and for the last 
seventeen years has been a school director in his 
district. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, in which he is steward and trustee, 
and he is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Rus- 
sellville Lodge No. 274. 

A. K. Henry. The social, political and busi- 
ness history of this section is filled with the deeds 
and doings of self-made men, and no man in Pope 
County is more deserving the appellation than Mr. 
Henry, for he marked out his own career in youth, 
and has steadily followed it up to the present, his 
prosperity being attributable to his earnest and 
persistent endeavor, and to the fact that he has 
always consistently tried to follow the teachings of 
the Golden Rule. Although a resident of this 
parish he was born in York District, S C. October 
20, 1812, to Charles W. and Margaret (Carr) Henry, 
both of whom were also born in the Palmetto 
State. The father was a farmer and a blacksmith 



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POPE COUNTY. 



233 



by occupation, and his father was a follower of the 
former occupation and was of Scotch descent. The 
wife of the latter was a Virginian. The grand- 
parents on the mother's side were of Irish descent. 
The mother was born in 1790, and the father in 
1787, their union taking place in York District, S. 
C, in 1811, and resulted in the birth of live chil- 
dren, two of whom are now living, the subject of 
this sketch being the eldest. The other member 
is A. M., who was born October 3, 1816. G. W., 
Elizabeth B. and Catherine are deceased. The 
father of these children passed from life iu his na- 
tive State in 1848, being a member of the Old 
School Presbyterian Church, and his wife died in 
1888, having been a member of the same church 
since 1806. The immediate subject of this biog- 
raphy was married in Union District, S. C, May 
28, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth S. Parker, who was 
born in South Carolina January 6, 1810, a daugh- 
ter of Silas R. and Martha (Akins) Parker, also 
South Carolinians, aud to whom seven sons and two 
daughter were born, Elizabeth (wife of Mr. Henry), 
and W. P. being the only ones now living. The 
following are deceased: Isaac, Allison S., Walter 
L., S. R. , William R., Eleasa and Sarah A. Mr. 
Parker died about 1867, and his wife in 1858, both 
earnest members of the Presbyterian Church. To 
Mr. Henry and his wife ten children have been 
born: Silas H. , Martha A. (wife of C. G. Oates), 
Margaret (deceased), Sarah E. (deceased), Cathe- 
rine C. (wife of William O. Ferguson), Nancy E. 
(deceased), Mary A. (deceased), Margaret E. (wife of 
William Henry), Sarah (widow of A. R. Ferguson), 
and Charles W. Mr. Henry enlisted iu the Con- 
federate Cavalry in 1863 and served until the close 
of the war, taking part in a number of engage- 
ments. He emigrated from South Carolina to Ar- 
kansas in 1856, and settled on the farm of 240 
acres, of which he is now the owner, 100 acres be- 
ing under cultivation. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Old School Presliy terian Church. 

Silas A. Henry, farmer. Potts Station, Ark. 
There are many successful agriculturists repre- 
sented within the pages of this volume, but none 
more deserving of mention than Silas A. Henry, 
who is one of the pioneers of this State. He was 



born in York County, S. C, in June, 1841, and 
was the eldest of ten children, six of whom are now 
living and residing near Russellville, Pope County, 
Ark. Silas A. received his education in Arkansas. 
In July, 1861, he enlisted iu the Confederate 
Army, Company B, Second Arkansas Regiment 
Infantry, Capt. Parker's company, and under Col. 
Mcintosh. In the spring of 1862 he was sent 
east of the Mississippi River in the Army of 
Tennessee under Gen. Bragg, and was in the 
battles of Chickamauga, Wilson Creek, Pea Ridge, 
Richmond, Murfreesboro, Jackson, and was then 
with Johnston and Hood in the Georgia campaign. 
He went with the latter general to Tennessee, was 
in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and then 
went with Gen. Johnston to North Carolina, and 
fought the battle of Bentonville. He surrendered at 
Greensboro, N. C, as second lieutenant of his com- 
pany, which had at the beginning 100 men, but at 
the close only fourteen were left, he being the only 
commissioned officer left in the company. He 
arrived home on July 5, 1865, and since then 
has been engaged in cultivating the soil. He 
makes a complete success of this occupation, as a 
glance over his place will indicate to the beholder, 
and of the 120 acres he now owns, 70 acres 
are under cultivation. Miss Nancy M. Bigham, 
daUD-hter of Dr. Robert Bigham, became his wife 
in 1869, and the fruits of this union have been 
nine children, eight now living: Irene E. , Robert 
B., Andrew K., C. Walter, Jennings M., John Mc, 
Joseph G., Dixon B. and Lily Mc. John Mc. 
died at the age of two years. Irene married W. 
R. McArthur, son of Joseph McArthur of Pope 
County, Ark., and the remainder of the children 
are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry are members of the Associate Reformed Pres- 
byterian Church, and he is a strong adherent to 
the Democratic principles. His parents, A. K. 
and Elizabeth (Parker) Henry, were natives of 
SoTith Carolina. They removed to Arkansas with 
a family of five children in 1857, bought land in 
Pope County, and there they reside at the present 
time. The paternal grandfather, C. W. Henry, died 
in South Carolina at an early day, and his wife 
came to this State and county with her son, A. M. 



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At 



234 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Henry, about 1875. She died in 188S, at the age of 
ninety-eight years. The maternal grandparents 
came to Arkansas from South Carolina in 1859, set- 
tled in Pope County, the place where Capt. Parker 
now resides, and there they received their final 
summons, the grandmother in 1860, and the grand- 
father in 1800. 

J. D. Hogan is one of the wide-awake, enter- 
prising and substantial men of the county. He 
was born in Kershaw county, S. C, September 13, 
1838, to S. S. and Margaret J. (Cronkfield) Hogan, 
who were born and reared in the Palmetto State, 
and there spent their lives, being earnest members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the time of 
their deaths. J. D. Hogan was reared in his 
native State, his education, which was rather lim- 
ited, being also received there, but in 1859 he 
commenced doing for himself and determined to 
better his education. Accordingly, when he had 
obtained sufficient means he entered school in Co- 
lumbia, liut was taken sick in October, 1860, with 
typhoid fever, and upon thoroughly recovering did 
not again enter school, but helped to swell the 
ranks of the Confederate Army, becoming a mem- 
ber of Butler's command in the spring of 1861. 
Farming has been his principal occupation in life, 
at which he has been quite successful, and he is 
now the owner of 280 acres of land, a considerable 
portion of which is under cultivation and well im- 
proved. He was married March 15, 1S66, to Cyn- 
thia M. Clou<l, and the following are their children: 
Minnie T., Hattie E., Alice O., F. B., Sallie S., 
Mattie J., Walton \V. , Lionel D., Nannie Lois, 
May Alberta, and James D. All are living with 
the exception of May Alberta and James D. Mr. 
Hogan is a stanch Democrat, and for ten years 
held the office of trial justice. He and his 
wife have been members of the Methodist Episco 
pal Church South ever since childhood, and their 
eldest four children are also members. He has 
been a resident of this county since December 24, 
1888, and here expects to spend the rest of his 
days. His wife is a daughter of Franklin D. and 
Sarah (Hogan) Cloud. 

Reese B. Hogins, circuit and county clerk of 
Pope County, Ark., was born in Dover of this 



county on April 15, 1847, and was the youngest 
of eight children born to A. D. and Louisa 
(Bowen) Hogins both native Tennesseeans. He 
received his education at home, and in Septem- 
ber, 1863, he enlisted in Company A, Fifth Arkan- 
sas Cavalry of the Confederate Army, and was in 
the battles of Pine BlufP, Marks' Mill, Poison 
Springs, Prairie de Ann, and was with Gen. Price 
in his Missouri campaign. He was wounded at 
the battle of Pilot Knob, taken prisoner and con- 
fined at St. Louis and Alton until February 17, 
when he was exchanged at Richmond. He regained 
his command in time to surrender at Marshall, 
Tex. After this he came home and followed farm- 
ing until 1874, and was then deputy sherifP, for two 
years. In 1876 he was elected sheriff, and served 
six years in succession, after which he farmed for 
the same length of time. In 1888 he was elected 
county and circuit clerk, which position he tills at 
the present time to the satisfaction of all. He is 
the owner of 100 acres of land near Dover, with 
eighty acres under cultivation, and has 420 acres in 
Yell County with 100 acres under cultivation. His 
marriage occurred on - November 21, 1867, to 
Miss Josephine White, a native of this county 
and the daughter of Robert White, who came to 
Pope County as early as 1840. Mr. White was a 
merchant for many years, both at Norristown and 
Dover. He died in 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Hogins 
are the parents of six children: Mary R. (wife of 
A. J. White of Dover), John F., Augustus S., 
William R., Emma and Hallie. Mr. Hogins is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, Dover Lodge 
No. 17 and Russell ville Chapter No. 76. He is a 
member of the K. of P., Russell ville Lodge No. 
47, in which he is chancellor commander, and is also 
a member of the K. of H. No. 1353, in which he 
is F. R. The family are members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church South, and are held in high 
estimation in the community. Mr. Hogins has 
taken an active interest in political matters for 
years and is a wide-awake, enterprising citizen. 

W. R. Hudlon, farmer and ginnor, Moreland, 
Ark. Mr. Hudlon is another of the many repre 
sentative citizens of Pope County, who owe their 
nativity to Tennessee, his birth occurring in 1829, 



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POPE COUNTY. 



235 



and is the son of George W. and Lucy (Hurst) 
Hiidlon, both natives of the Old Dominion. The 
seven children born to their marriage are named 
in the order of their births as follows: Nancy C. 
(wife of N. Hubbord), W. E., Elizabeth (wife of 
David Revis), George W., Sarah E. (wife of 
Henry Plemons), Fanny (wife of James Silvertooth), 
and Joseph (deceased). W. R. Hudlon received 
a limited education in his native State, but this he 
has remedied to a great extent by observation and 
study, being now a well-posted man on all impor- 
tant topics of the day. He began working for him- 
self in 1850, and in that year he was wedded to 
Miss Elizabeth Goble, daughter of John and Eehan- 
na (Maynard) Goble. To them were born ten chil- 
dren, sis now living: George, John, Joseph, Francis, 
Allen, James and Mary M. Mr. Hudlon came to 
Arkansas in 1857, purchased 120 acres of land, 
cleared twenty acres, and erected a house and other 
buildings. He then sold this land and bought 300 
acres, partly improved, which he further improved 
by clearing about fifty acres, and on this he has a 
good house and substantial outbuildings. Subse- 
quently he sold 100 acres of this. In 1880 he 
erected a gin, which he operated until 18S8, when 
he purchased a large gin at Cross Plains, the ca- 
pacity of which is ten bales per day. He also looks 
after his tine farm of 200 acres, eighty acres under 
cultivation, on which he raises cotton and corn. 
He lost his wife in 1873. She was an estimable 
lady and a devout member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. In 1S73 Mr. Hudlon married Mrs. 
Mary Ferror, a native of Georgia, and the daugh- 
ter of Samuel J. Harris. The result of this union 
have been ten children, seven of whom are living: 
Ulysses L., Minnie M., Sally D., Arthur S., Charley, 
Riley D. and Homer. Mr. Hudlon enlisted in the 
Federal service. Company C, Fourth Arkansas Cav- 
alry, but was rejected on account of condition of 
health. He and wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he is a steward, and 
he was postmaster at Moreland for eighteen years. 
He was also justice of the peace of Moreland Town- 
ship for eight years. 

B. F. Jobe, editor of the Russellville Demo- 
crat, Russellville, Ark. Under the efficient man- 



agement of Mr. Jobe, the Russellville Democrat has 
come to be regarded as one of the representative 
country journals, and. the paper is found to be a 
welcome visitor in the numerous homes in which it 
enters. Mr. Jobe was born at Ringgold, Ga. , on 
July 7, 1849, and removed with his parents to Ar- 
kansas in 1857. On July 10, 1870, he entered 
the office of the Des Arc (Arkansas) Citizen and 
began work as an apprentice under the tutorshif) 
of Allen C. Matthews. In February, 1872, he took 
charge of the mechanical department of the Rus- 
sellville National Tribune, edited by J. H. Batten- 
field, a position he occupied until 1874. When 
the Russellville Printing Association was organized 
in 1875, he was elected manager and continued in 
charge of the business department until 1887, 
when in addition to his other duties he assumed 
the editorial management of the Democrat, which 
position he still holds. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and has been secretary of Rus- 
sellville Lodge No. 274 for seventeen years. He 
is at present recorder of the city council, a posi- 
tion he has held for eight years, and is now serving 
his fourth term as protector of Ashby Lodge No. 
335, K. & L. of H. He is second vice president 
of the Arkansas State Press Association. On Sep- 
tember 3, 1873, he was married to Miss S. F. 
Bonds, and to them have been born the following 
children: Cora Edna (born July 10, 1874) and 
Floy B. (born October 10, 1870). The family are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. Jobe' 8 parents first located in Columbia 
County, Ark., in 1857, remained there one year 
and then moved to Des Arc, Prairie County, where 
the father followed merchandising until 1801. 
He then moved to Pope County, settling three 
miles from Atkins, but remained there only until 
1863, when he moved to Searcy, White County, 
and there his death occurred in 1888. The mother 
resides in Russellville. Mr. Jobe is one of Russell- 
ville' s most valued citizens, polite, courteous and 
pleasant to all, and has a host of warm friends. 

P. M. Johnson is one of the honored "sons of 
the soil," and as he was reared to this occupation 
by his father, he has made it his chief occupation 
through life. He was ushered into life in Smith 






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236 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



County, Tenn., in 1835, and in that State bis par- 
ents, D. M. and E. G. (Lee) Johnson, were also 
born, the former being a native of Overton 
County. The maternal grandfather of the sub- 
ject of this sketch was a Virginian, but was one 
of the early pioneers of Tennessee, and in that 
State reared his family. P. M. Johnson at- 
tained manhood in Pope County, Ark., and 
notwithstanding the fact that his early oppor- 
tunities were of the most meager description, 
he was naturally intelligent, and upon attaining 
manhood was well fitted to make his own way in 
the world. In 1854 he went to California, but 
returned to Poi^e County, Ark., four years later. 
After remaining here until 1859, he returned to the 
"Eldorado of the West" and was also in Nevada 
for some time, but in 186() went to Montana Ter- 
ritory, where he continued to make his home for 
six years. At the end of that time he was satisfied 
to return to Pope County, Ark., to make his home. 
He was married, the year following his return, to 
Miss Susan M. Langford, and unto them the fol- 
lowing children were born: E. C, Emma, A. S., 
E. P., M. A., M. v., L.W., E. M. and B. M. E. 
C, E. P. and Emma are deceased. Mr. Johnson 
has always been a very enthusiastic Democrat, and 
all his relatives agree with him in their political 
views. He has always been a public-spirited citi- 
zen, has always been the soul of honor, and is a 
patron of education and all worthy enterprises. 

George W. Johnstone. Nowhere in Pope 
County, Ark., is there to be found a man of 
more energy, determined will or force of char- 
acter than Mr. Johnstone possesses, and no agri- 
culturist is deserving of greater success in the 
conduct and management of a farm than he. He 
was born in the State of New York, April 12, 
lS-t4, to Samuel D. and Mary J. (Merchant) John- 
stone, both of whom were born in England, the 
former's birth occurring in 1801, and the latter's 
in 1807. They were married in North Carolina, in 
1830, and to them two sons and two daughters 
were born: Ruth A. (wife of Thomas Keiten), 
James H. , Martha (deceased), and George \V. 
The father emigrated with hia family to Louisiana 
at an early day, and from there to Arkansas in 



1838, entering 160 acres of land in Pulaski 
County, greatly increasing this amount in later 
years. He died on June 10, 1873, and his wife 
in 1846, a member of the Episcopal Church. 
On March 31, 1869, George W. Johnstone was 
united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Mary V. 
Gargiss. by whom he became the father of one 
child, a daughter, Mary J., wife of Robert Laster, 
of the Cherokee Nation. The mother died March 
27, 1870, an earnest member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. Mr. Johnstone's wife, 
to whom he was married October 6, 1878, was Mrs. 
Mary J. Clark, a native of Perry County, Ark., 
born March 1, 1849, a daughter of Reuben and 
Mary (Hancock) Neele. She was the widow of 
James Clark, whom she married in 1864, and by 
whom she became the mother of six children, two 
now living: Abie M. and AVilliam H. James, 
Anna, Sarah and Charles E. are deceased. Mr. 
Clark died on September 11, 1877. Mrs. John- 
stone's parents were born in Pennsylvania, and 
she is the only child born to their union. Her 
father died in 1849 and her mother in 1852. To 
her union with Mr. Johnstone, four children have 
been born: Maggie L., George A. (deceased), Nan- 
nie L. O. and Albert A. On March 14, 1864, 
Mr. Johnstone enlisted in the Federal Army, 
in the Third Regiment United States regular serv- 
ice, and was on duty for two years, at the end of 
which time he was discharged and returned home 
and engaged in farming. He afterward Ijeeame 
surveyor for the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad 
Company for eleven years. He is the owner of 266 
acres of land, 100 acres being under cultivation and 
excellently improved, the principal crops of which 
are corn, cotton and wheat. He is a member of 
Russellville Lodge No. 272, of the A. F. & A. M., 
also belongs to the relief association of that order 
and is a member of the G. A. R. His wife is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church Soiith. 
Josiah Clark and wife, parents of James Clark, 
Mrs. Johnstone's first husband, moved from Penn- 
sylvania to Pope County, Ark., at an early day, and 
in that county James Clark was born and died. 
By occupation he was a steamboat captain and 
pilot on the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers. 



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POPE COUNTY. 



237 



J. E. Joyner, attorney, Atkins, Ark. J. E. 
Joyner is one of Pope County's leading and emi- 
nent lawyers. He owes bis nativity to tlie Palmetto 
State, born in 1848, and was the eighth of nine 
children born to his parents. In 1852 he came 
with his parents to Arkansas, and in 1S70 entered 
the University of Mississippi, taking the A. B. 
course, and graduating in 1873. After this he 
taught school in Pulaski County, and then for one 
year was principal of the Dardanelle Institute. 
About this time he began reading law, and after 
two years entered the office of Clark & Williams at 
Little Rock, with whom he remained until 1878. 
He was then admitted to the bar by the Supreme 
Court of Arkansas, and afterward came to Atkins, 
where he has since practiced his profession. He 
is a fluent and forcible speaker, sound in his views 
and has won an enviable reputation among his 
legal brethren in Arkansas. By his marriage, 
which occurred in 1881, to Miss Julia Reynolds, have 
been born five children, one deceased: Fay, Eddie, 
May. Lucy (died in infancy) and Maud. The 
father of Mrs. Joyner, William Reynolds, is an old 
settler of this county. In 1881 Mr. Joyner pur- 
chased a farm of ninety-six acres in the bottom 
lands of Arkansas River, and has added to this 
until he is now the owner of 350 acres, all bottom 
land with 240 acres under cultivation. The bal- 
ance is well timbered. He also is the owner of 
174 acres in the uplands, with forty acres in culti- 
vation. He built a good house in Atkins in 1881, 
and also has a good office. He is active in town 
affairs, and has served as alderman. He is a mem- 
of the Masonic fraternity, the K. of P. and the K. 
of H. He is a self-made man, and all his property 
is the result of hard work and enterprise on his 
part. Mrs. Joyner is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. Mr. Joyner' s parents, 
Joel and Rebecca (Gassaway) Joyner, were natives 
of North Carolina and South Carolina, respectively. 
The father was a merchant and farmer and came 
to Arkansas in 1852, settling in Pulaski County, 
where he remained but a short time. He then 
moved to Brownsville, Prairie County, and was one 
of the early merchants of the same, remaining there 
for four years. He then moved to his farm in 



Pulaski County, and there remained until his 
death in 1883. The mother died in 1868. Both 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. 

J. R. Kenney, M. D. This popular and com- 
petent physician has been a resident of Dover 
since March, 1872, and during this time has won a 
reputation for ability and efficiency that is ex- 
celled by none. He was born in Lauderdale 
County, Ala., September 2, 1837, to John Kenney, 
a mechanic of that county, and although he was 
only given the advantages of the common schools, 
he was faithful, studious and painstaking, and be- 
came a thoroughly good student. As his father 
was a tanner he learned that trade in his youth, 
and after he had attained his majority he began 
doing for himself, but made his home with his 
father for three years thereafter. In 1863 he en- 
tered the Confederate Army, being in Baker's com- 
pany of Foi-rest's battalion, and while he was in 
no extensive engagement, he was in numerous 
small battles and skirmishes. On account of ill 
health he was sent to the hospital shortly after he 
entered the army, where he remained for a few 
weeks, and was discharged on account of disability. 
After his return home he began the study of medi- 
cine, which he continued under the instruction of 
Dr. B. F. Crittenden, of Center Star, Ala. , and in 
the fall of 1865 he took a course of lectures in the 
University of Nashville, Tenn., and the following 
spring commenced practicing at Lexington, Ala., 
where he remained for two years. He then opened 
a tanning business in Charles County, Tenn. , which 
he conducted in addition to his medical practice 
for about two years, at the end of which time he 
sold out his business, and went to Wayland Springs, 
Lawrence County, Tenn., at which place he re- 
mained until March 1, 1872, when he became a 
resident of Dover, Ark. He has been very suc- 
cessful here in the practice of the healing art, and 
since 1883 has been the owner of 277 acres of land, 
lying on the west side of the Illinois Bayou, which 
he has improved from time to time, until he now 
has about 160 acres in an excellent state of culti- 
vation, and also has 120 acres on Big Piney Creek, 
about ten miles northwest of Dover of which forty 



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238 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



are improved, and 120 acres, forty being under 
cultivation, about four miles east of town. These 
farms are conducted by tenants. He is a joint 
owner with J. A. Pitts, of Dover, in a grist-mill 
and cotton-gin, under the firm name of Pitts & Co., 
the plant being worth about $2,000, the work of 
the cotton-gin amounting to about 425 bales annu- 
ally, besides the work of the grist-mill. The Doc- 
tor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and in politics is a Democrat. Starting in 
life as he did, he has been wonderfully successful, 
not only in his practice, but as a business man 
also, and is one of the leaders in both callings in 
this section of the country. He has remained un- 
married. 

Dr. C. L. Kirkscey is the oldest physician and 
surgeon of Dover, Ark., and has been a resident 
of this county since 1874, coming from Helena, 
Ala. He was born on December 2, 1838, at 
Alamucha, Lauderdale County, Miss. His fa- 
ther, John M. C. Kirkscey was a farmer and stock- 
dealer residing near De Sotoville and Butler, Ala., 
and on his farm the subject of this sketch was 
reared to the age of fifteen years, at which time he 
entered school at Gaston and Providence, Ala. 
Up to this time his advantages for acquiring an 
education were very limited, but his father noW re- 
solved to give him every advantage, and after re- 
maining in that institution one year he entered the 
high school at Eutaw, Ala., remaining in this in- 
stitution one year also. He next became a student 
in the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, which 
was not only a literary but a military college, and 
here he remained two and one-half years, being a 
painstaking and zealous student. At the end of 
this time he entered the Confederate Army as third 
lieutenant and was first sent to Demopolis, Ala., to 
take charge of a drill camp at that place, and here 
he entered actual service in Company B, Eleventh 
Alabama Regiment his uncle S. F. A. Hail being 
lieutenant-colonel of this regiment. He was in 
the battles of Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Gaines' 
Mill, and White Oak Swamp, being wounded and 
taken prisoner in the latter engagement. After 
being sent to his home he was assigned to duty 
in the Commissary Department, where he re- 



mained until the close of the war, when he returned 
home to find himself without a dollar with which 
to commence the battle of life. He then followed 
school teaching for one year at a salary of 190 
per month, at the close of which time he was pre- 
vailed upon to enter the ministry, and was a mem- 
ber of the Alabama conference for two years, in 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South; his first 
year on Randolph Circuit with three churches, 
second at Cahaba. He then returned to college, 
where he graduated as an M. D. at the Atlanta 
Medical College in 1874, after which he returned 
to Helena, Ala., and engaged in practicing, but 
remained only a short time, emigrating a few 
months later with his family to Arkansas, and set- 
tling at Dover, where he is still living. He pur- 
chased a farm near the town, also some town prop- 
erty, and as at that time there were few physicians 
in the country, his practice was necessarily large 
and has continued so up to the present time. Dur- 
ing his career here he has devoted more or less at- 
tention to farming, being the owner of land during 
the entire time, and on his farm he has kept his 
sons usefully employed. In 1883 he entered into 
a copartnership with D. P. Ruff in the practice of 
medicine and surgery, and the sale of drugs and 
groceries, employing a man to look after the store, 
but this venture proved unprofitable and they sold 
their stock of goods but continued to be associated 
in their medical practice. Dr. Kirkscey is the 
owner of 160 acres of land, 110 of which are im- 
proved, and he is now erecting a good house there- 
on. He cultivates both cotton and corn, and this 
year has devoted thirty-five acres to cotton which 
promises an average yield, sixty-five acres are in 
corn and will yield an average crop, and in con- 
nection with his farming he raises a few horses 
and mules. His marriage, which occurred October 
3, 1866, was to Miss Mary P. Grace, a daughter of 
G. B Grace of Choctaw, Ala., by whom he has 
four sons: Foster G. (born May 25, 18(58, educa- 
ted in the medical department of the Arkansas 
Industral University, is now practicing his pro- 
fession at Athens-, Tex., and was married on 
December 24, 1888, to Miss Addie Dupree of 
Athens), Madison L., (born December 2, 1869, and 



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POPE COUNTY. 



239 



is now teaching school in Johnson County, Ark.), 
Robert J. (born February 20, 1872), and Wood- 
ville J., (born on January 20, 1874). The Doc- 
tor with his family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, with which church he 
united in 1856. He has been a local preacher in 
that church for the past twenty-two years, and has 
done much to aid the cause of Christianity. So- 
cially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and 
the K. of P. and in his political views a Democrat, 
although he has never been what is called an act- 
ive politician, preferring to give his time and at- 
tention to the practice of his calling. He is a lib- 
eral supporter of schools, churches, etc., and has al- 
ways been a man of energy and determination of 
character. He has been a member of the State 
Medical Society since the year 1880, and has served 
on the committee on surgery or medicine every 
year until the present. 

John P. Langford is a man well known to the 
people of this community, for he has resided here 
since 1828, and has been interested in every effort 
made for the progress and development of this 
section. He was born in Jackson County, Ala., 
December 14, 1819, to Benjamin and Patsey Lang- 
ford, who were born in South Carolina, in 1782 
and 1780, respectively, moving from their native 
State to Tennessee after their marriage, and from 
there to Alabama, in 1819, and coming to Pope 
County, Ark., in 1828. This region was then still 
inhabited by the Indiana, and the country was al- 
most a complete wilderness, but Mr. Langford set 
to work immediately to clear a piece of land, and 
with the energy and perseverance which character- 
ized the lives of so many of the brave and hardy 
pioneers 

" He cut, be logged, be cleared his lot. 
And into many a dismal spot, 
He let the light of day." 

On a pioneer farm, in Pope County, the subject 
of this sketch was reared to manhood, but owing 
to the newness of the country and the scarcity of 
good schools, his early advantages were very poor. 
He began making his own way in the world in 
1840, and as he had been reared to farm life by 
his father, he determined to follow in the latter' s 



footsteps, and to the successful pursuit of this call- 
ing has devoted his life. He was first married in 
February, 1843, to Eliza J. McCain, a daughter of 
W. G. and Mary McCain, and to them the follow- 
ing family of children was born: Benjamin F., 
William M. and George A. deceased, and Mary 
A. living. The mother of these children was 
called from the scene of her earthly labors in 1864, 
and in May, 1860, Mr. Langford was united in 
marriage to Miss Ann E. Waller, her parents be- 
ing Isaac H. and L. V. Waller. Mr. Langford 
has always been a Democrat, and his sons have 
followed him in this respect. He has held the 
office of justice of the peace in this county for four 
years, and for many years he has been a strict 
member of the Metliodist Episcopal Church South, 
his wife being a worthy member of the Presby- 
terian Chi;rch. He has been postmaster of Scotts- 
ville, Ark. , for some time, has proved an able offi- 
cial, and as a citizen, is worthy and honored. His 
father was probably the first justice of the peace 
in Pope County. 

Ephraim Lemley, farmer, Appleton, Ark. Mr. 
Lemley was born in Fairfield District, S. C, in 
1800, and is now ninety years of age. He is one 
of the oldest men, if not the oldest, residing in 
Pope County, and is one of its most esteemed and 
honored pioneers. He was left an orphan at an early 
day, and on that account his educational advan- 
tages were not of the best, but he has ever evinced 
a deep interest in all educational matters. He 
entered the War of 1812 as substitute, served dur 
ing the years 1814 and 1815, and was in the battle 
of Talladega. He was in an East Tennessee com- 
pany, commanded by Capt. John Howk. Mr. 
Lemley came to Morrillton, Ark., in 1838, settled 
in Griffen Township, and there he has remained 
ever since. When he first came here there were 
but few settlers, and he cut £he first road from At- 
kins to Point Remove. He and John Gray cut 
the first road from Atkins to Scottsville, the only 
road prior to that time being Indian trails. Lewis- 
burg, consisting of one or two stores and a couple 
of houses, was the nearest town, and that was 
twenty-five miles distant. The present site of 
Russellville was then an unbroken wilderness, and 



"71- 



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240 



HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 



the settlers were obliged to go from thirty to 
thirty five miles to mill. Hawkins Gregory, Duck 
Griffin, Mose McCarty and John Gray were some 
of the settlers at that time. There was no church, 
but ground was appropriated on the farm of Mr. 
Lemley, and sermons were occasionally preached. 
Game was plentiful, bears, wolves and panthers 
abounded, and hogs had to be confined in log pens 
to prevent them from being carried off by wild 
animals. There were no schools except where the 
settlers, living close together, would hire some man 
to give instruction for a short time during the 
year, but. as may be supposed, most of the children 
were reared without any education. When a house 
was to be built the whole community would turn 
out to be at the log rolling, and remain until all 
was finished. At that time court was held at 
Morrillton, and afterward at Dover, but no jail was 
necessary, for if an undesired neighbor made his 
appearance among them he was warned to leave, 
and this he generally did. Of the early settlers who 
lived in the neighborhood at that time all are dead 
and gone but our subject, who is now ninety years 
of age. He was married about 1818, and became 
the father of six children. After the death of his 
first wife he married again, and the fruits of this 
union were fifteen childi-en; eleven of his children 
are now living. Mr. Lemley took up eighty acres 
of land in 1840, but afterward took up 460, of 
which he has given his children 200 acres in Griffin 
township, it being the same upon which he settled 
when first coming to the county. He has 1'20 acres 
under cultivation. A Baptist Church was estab- 
lished in 1844 or 1845, and a school, previous to 
this, in 1840. John Lankwood was the first 
preacher, and each of the neighbors contributed 
toward the expense of the school. Mr. Lemley' s 
father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother 
of the Old Dominion. It can be said with truth of 
Mr. Lemley that 

"He ebunncd not labor when 'twas due, 
He wrouglit willi right good will; 
And for the lionie he won tor them. 
His cliildren bless him still. " 

William A. Martin, farmer, Potts Station, Ark. 
Mr. Martin, one of the substantial and progressive 



agriculturists of Pope County, Ark., first saw the 
light of day in Wayne Coiinty, Tenn. . in the year 
1843. His parents, Samuel N. and Rebecca (Law- 
son) Martin, were both natives of that State. The 
father removed from his native State to Pope 
County, Ark, in 1858, with his family, and is still 
living on the same place he purchased three miles 
from Russellville, when first coming to the State. 
The maternal grandparents of our subject lived 
and died in Tennessee. William A. Martin was 
principally reared in Arkansas, and in 1863 he en- 
listed in the Union Army under Col. M. L. Steven- 
son, Company D, Second Arkansas Infantry, and 
for the most part was on duty between Little 
Rock and Fort Smith. He was discharged at 
Clarksville in 1805, and returned home and en- 
gaged in tilling the soil. In November, 1808, he 
was mamed to Miss Rebecca C. Harkey, daughter 
of Isaac Harkey of Pope County, and to them 
have been born ten children, viz.: Martha J., 
Samuel I., Charles E., Lily May, Anna Bell, Clar- 
ence Garfield, Mary Cora, Hattie Frances, Jacob 
Alva and Homer Harrison, all single and living 
with their parents. Mr. Martin now owns 166 
acres of land, has sixty-five acres under cultivation, 
and raises principally grain, cotton and some 
stock. He has been living on his present property 
since 1870, and although there were but six acres 
cleared at that time, he has since cleared up about 
sixty acres and has built a comfortable and tasty 
residence. He is making an effort to eive his 
children good education. In politics he affiliates 
with the Republican party. Mrs. Martin is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is 
an active worker in the same. 

F. D. E. Montgomery. The estate which this 
gentleman is so successfully engaged in tilling com- 
prises 300 acres, all of which is the result of his 
own honest and persistent endeavors, for on com- 
mencing the battle of life for himself at the age of 
fifteen years he possessed not a dollar. He was 
born in Monroe County, Ark., in 1838, his par- 
ents, John C, who was sheriff and county clerk 
nine years of Monroe County, Ark. , and Matilda 
Montgomery being natives in Tennessee and Mis- 
sissippi, respectively. The mother died at the 



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POPE COUNTY. 



241 



age of forty-two years and her Lasband when two 
years older. F. D. E. Montgomery moved to Con- 
way County, Ark., in 1844 or 1845 and there re- 
mained until 1855, since which time he has been a 
resident of Pope Covinty. His early schooling was 
of a very meager description for he began earning 
his own living when a mere youth, and although 
he has given much of his attention to farming, he 
has also been interested in merchandising, and his 
stock of goods now amounts to about $1,500. In 
both these enterprises he has met with well-de- 
served success, for he has been faithful to every 
detail of work and has, at all times, been perfectly 
upright with the public in his business transactions. 
In 1861 he was married to Miss Mary Jane Cheyna, 
a daughter of S. W. and E. Cheyna, natives of 
Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, and to 
them the following children have been born: Will- 
iam F. (deceased), Mary E., Stephen C. (deceased), 
Dora K. , John A. (deceased), Maud D., Leolen 
(deceased), Lattie B. , Mervin, Leta and Ivy. In 
1861 Mr. Montgomery enlisted in the Confederate 
Army, and in 1804 was discharged. He has al- 
ways been a stanch Democrat, and is a member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has 
been a constant and earnest worker in the Sunday- 
school the most of his life and has reared his family 
in the fear of the Lord. He has been superintend- 
ent of the Sunday-school for the past twenty-five 
years and has otherwise taken a deep interest in 
church work. He is a man whom all honor, and 
he has been a peaceful, law-abiding, and strictly 
honorable citizen; he fully merits the esteem of all. 
Dr. William H. Montgomery, physician, More 
land, Ark. Dr. Montgomery, one of the many 
eminent practitioners in Pope County, who h^ 
ministered to the wants of the sick and afflicted of 
the county for many years, is the son of Thomas 
and Jane E. (Montgomery) Montgomery, the fa- 
ther born in Georgia about 1818, and the mother 
in North Carolina about 1822. The parents were 
married in Kentucky in 1842, and to them were 
born four children: William H. (born in 1847), 
Jane W. (born in October, 1850), Agnes (deceased, 
was born in 1854), and Florazella T. (wife of Z. 
B. Hedrick, was born in 1856, and is now de- 



ceased). Thomas Montgomery, the father of these 
children, followed farming all his life, and was a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. He died 
when comparatively a young man in 1858. The 
mother, who was a member of the same church, died 
in July, 1890. She removed from the Blue Grass 
State with Dr. Montgomery, and settled in St. 
Charles County. There they resided until 1877, 
when they removed to Boone County, Ark. Dr. 
Montgomery was educated in Louisville, Ky. , until 
about fifteen years of age, and received his early 
education under diflSculties, being obliged to work 
his way. In 1807 he began studying medicine 
under Dr. Whitlock, of La Fayette, Ky., but studied 
principally with Solomon Johnson, whom he claims 
as his preceptor. He opened a drug store in Har- 
rison, Boone County, in connection with Dr. Euth, 
and afterward purchased that Doctor's interest, 
subsequently removing the stock to Jasper, Ark. 
He there began the practice of medicine. Although 
the Doctor has never attended college or taken a 
course of lectures he is a member of the State 
Eclectic Medical Association, also the National 
Association, both of which have conferred upon 
him honorary degrees and diplomas. Dr. Montgom- 
ery stands very high in the estimation of the med- 
ical brethren, and the success which has attended 
his efforts almost without exception proclaims him 
a man of more than ordinary notice. He has an 
extensive practice, and is frequently called in con- 
sultation in all parts of this county, where his 
opinion and decision carries great weight. Dr. 
Montgomery was married to Miss Mary E. Mark- 
ham, a native of Barren County, Tenn. , in 1807, by 
"Old Preacher Woodward," as he was called, a 
man well known all over that section. To this 
union were born seven children, as follows: Su- 
sannah T. (born in 1879, now the wife of Alex 
Bay, of Pope County), Lavina W. (born in 1870, 
and the wife of A. C. Freeman, also residing in 
Pope County), Nancy Miami (born in 1872), L. D. 
(born in 1874), Ellen May (born in 1877, and died 
August, 1890), William J. (born in 1879), and 
Myrtle C. (born in 1883). Dr. W. H. Montgom- 
ery came to Pope County in 1884, purchased a farm 
of eighty acres, upon which he erected a house. 









4 



but his practice extending rapidly down the val- 
ley he purchased forty acres in Valley Town- 
ship, whither he removed in 18S9. His princi- 
pal crops are corn, cotton and hay. His Valley 
Township land will yield three-fourths of a bale of 
cotton or thirty-five bushels of corn to the acre, 
while his Cross Plains farm will yield one-half bale 
of cotton or twenty bushels of corn to the acre. 
The same systematic condition of afPairs about his 
home is apparent in his course as a man. Thor- 
ough in all that he does, he allows no worthy move- 
ment to drag for want -of support if in his power 
to help it. Dr. Montgomery and wife, as well as 
all the children, are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He is a Mason, and assisted 
in organizing and building up Cross Plains Lodge 
No. 434, having held principal offices in the lodge, 
and being chaplain at the present time. He was 
also a member of Eastern Star Lodge at Cross 
Plains, when it was first organized. He was elect- 
ed school director of Jasper, Ark. , a position he 
has held about eight years, and he takes decided 
interest in all educational matters. He was ap- 
pointed postmaster at Jasper, Ark., and held this 
position two years, and resigned only on account of 
increasing practice. In the latter part of 1863 he 
enlisted in the Federal Army, and served about 
two years. He was in the battle of Knoxville, At- 
lanta, and in the First Salt works fight in Virginia, 
besides numerous skirmishes. He was captured at 
Knoxville and retained until 1864, when he was 
exchanged. He then returned to his company at 
Big Shanty, Ga. For meritorious conduct he re- 
ceived a furlough, and while home was captured by 
guerrillas, who took him to Tenneessee, where he 
was retained until 1865. He was wounded in the 
hip at Sandtown Ferry, Ga. , and never received 
his discbarge. 

William G. Nordin. It was on December 7, 
1830, in West Tennessee, that the subject of 
this sketch was ushered into life, and there he 
resided on a farm, receiving a limited education, 
until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time 
he began doing for himself. After renting a por- 
tion of his father's farm for one year he was mar- 
ried and immediately located on a farm which he j 



had rented for four years, at the end of which time 
he came to Arkansas, and settled on a farm in the 
township where he is now living, which was then 
unimproved. After remaining on this land one year 
he made a purchase of some land near where the 
village of London now stands, on which he made 
his home until the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
when he enlisted in Company B, First Arkansas ■ 
Cavalry, serving throughout the war and partici- 
pating in the battles of Pea Eidge (where he was 
wounded) Corinth, Champion's Hill (where he was 
again wounded), and many engagements of less im- 
portance. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg 
but was soon after paroled and returned to his 
home where he remained nearly a year, after which 
he rejoined his command. After the war was over 
he farmed on rented land for two years, after which 
he purchased the farm on which he is now residing, 
which at that time consisted of 200 acres. He has 
made other purchases from time to time and became 
the owner of about one section of land, liut this he 
divided among his sons and now has 280 acres left. 
His property is finely improved, and the cultivated 
portion is devoted to the raising of cotton and 
corn. His marriage, which took place January 9, 
1853, was to Miss Mary Ellen Cate, a daughter of 
Robert and Susan Cate, of Maury County, Tenn., 
who came to this county in 1859. Mr. Nordin and 
his wife have eight children: Susan A., N. B., S. 
E., J. R., W. L., G. W., M. A., and M. L.— four 
sons and fonr daughters. All are married except 
the youngest two daughters, and all reside near 
their father. The family attend the Christian 
Church, and Mr. Nordin is a member of the A. F. 
& A. M. , and is a Democrat in politics. He is a 
liberal supporter of worthy enterprises and is a 
high-minded, whole-souled gentleman. 

Capt. P. W. Parker, farmer. Potts Station, 
Ark. What is usually termed genius has little to 
do with the success of man in general. Keen per- 
ception, sound judgment and a determined will, 
supported by persevering and continuous effort, 
are essential elements to success in any calling. 
Col. Parker, who is one of the substantial tillers of 
the soil in Pope County, is a fair example of what 
can be accomplished in the voyage of life when a 



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POPE COUNTY. 



243 



determined hand is at the helm. He was born in 
Union Couuty, S. C, in January, 1825, and his 
parents, Silas R. and Martha (Aikin) Parker, were 
natives also of the Palmetto State. The Parkers 
are of English descent. Silas R. Parker removed 
with his family from South Carolina to Pope 
County, Ark, in 1858, and bought land there. To 
his marriage were born five sons and two daugh- 
ters. The eldest son, Allison Parker, came to 
Arkansas two years prior to his father, and Eliza- 
beth, the eldest daughter, came to this State three 
years before her father. She was married in South 
Carolina to Andrew K. Henry, and she and Capt. 
P. W. Parker are the only members of the family 
now living. The mother died in 1860, and the fa- 
ther died either in 1867 or 1868. Capt. P. W. 
Parker was married in 1862, to Miss Martha D. 
McArthur and they became the parents of seven 
children. The eldest died in infancy, the next, 
Lora Lee (deceased), Lulu E., William R. , Louis 
D., Ninna C. (deceased), and Effie B. Capt. Par- 
ker, as he is usually called, is the owner of 162 
acres of land in Pope County, and has eighty acres 
under cultivation. In June, 1861, he enlisted in 
the Confederate Army, Company B. Second Ar- 
kansas Cavalry, under Col. Mcintosh, and on the 
organization of the company he was elected captain, 
serving as such until the organization of the regi- 
ment at Corinth. Being then over age he resigned 
and came home. In 1862 he organized the old 
men's company under Gen. Hindman, and then 
went into the regular service in Sherman's battal- 
ion as private, serving in that company until cessa- 
tion of hostilities. His company was disbanded on 
Red River in Arkansas, but on account of the un- 
settled state of affairs he did not return to his home 
until August, 1865. When he did return home he 
found his farm in a very dilapidated condition, but 
this he soon remedied, and since then has been 
successfully engaged in tilling the soil. Capt. 
Parker held the commission as captain of Light 
Horse Company at Russellville, Ark., under Gov. 
Rector prior to the Rebellion. He was also ap- 
pointed by Gov. Hughes to serve on the State 
board of equalization in 1886. Politically he is a 
Democrat. He and his estimable wife are mem- 



bers of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian 
Church, and are esteemed and respected by all. 

Capt. William M. Peeler, treasurer of Pope Co. , 
was originally from the Palmetto State, where he 
was born in IS-tO, the eldest of five children of 
A. J. and Unity Peeler, both natives also of South 
Carolina. The father followed farming all his life 
and died in 1885. The mother died in 1S52. Both 
were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
William M. Peeler became familiar with the arduous 
duties of the farm when a child, and, like the aver- 
age country boy, received his education in the 
common schools. Miss S. A. Patrick, a native also 
of South Carolina became his wife in 1859, and 
the same year he started out for himself as a 
tiller of the soil. In the fall -of that year he 
came to Arkansas, located in Pope County and in 
1861 went to Yell county, where he lionght a farm. 
In FeViruary, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, 
Whitfield's Legion, and was in the battle of Elk 
Horn. He was taken sick soon after this engage- 
ment and his command being ordered to cross the 
Mississippi River, he was unable to accompany it. 
After a time in the hospital and a short fur- 
lough, he joined Company H, Twenty-second 
Arkansas Regiment, was promoted to the rank 
of sergeant, and from that, step by step, un- 
til he received the commission of captain of the 
same company. He was in command of his com- 
pany at Helena, also in the battle around Lit- 
tle Rock, and then went to the southern part of 
the State. After this he was in the Louisiana 
campaign, was in the quartermaster's department, 
and later his command returned to Arkansas, where 
it was engaged in all the battles of Central Arkan- 
sas. Ho joined the command on October 1, 1864, 
and surrendered at Marshall, Tex., at the close of 
hostilities. He came back to Pope County on June 
13, 1865. and on the following day was working in 
the harvest field. He farmed on rented land for four 
years and then boiight a farm of 400 acres in Yell 
County, near Danville, where he resided for five 
years. Returning then to Pope County he pur- 
chased a farm of 140 acres, two and one-half miles 
east of Russellville, and now has eighty-five acres 
under cultivation. He moved to Riissellville about 






r 



244 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



1880, and was book-keeper for J. M. Harkey & Bro., 
for about nine years. Since residing in Arkansas, 
tbe Captain has been quite active in political af- 
fairs, and was elected assessor in 1876, which po- 
sition he tilled until 1880. In 1888 he was elected 
treasurer, and re-elected in 1890, thus illustrating 
his popularity. He has been one of the leading 
citizens of Russellville and takes a deep and active 
interest in all laudable enterprises. He owns a 
pleasant residence and other town property. He 
was treasurer of the city for some time. Mrs. 
Peeler, who was a member of the Missionary Bap- 
tist Church, died in 1884, and in 1886 the Captain 
married Miss Lavina R. Gray, a native of Tennes- 
see. They had one child, who died, but the Capt- 
ain has reared three orphan children. The fam- 
ily are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
Mr. Peeler is a high Mason, belonging to the Blue 
Lodge No. 274, Chapter 76, and Palestine Com- 
mandery No. 7, K. T., all at Russellville. Capt. 
Peeler has been master of the Blue Lodge, treas- 
urer of the Chapter, and is now banner bearer of 
the Commandery. He is also of the Order of East- 
ern Star Masons, of which he is secretary. He is 
a member of the K. of P. No. 47, Russellville, of 
which he is a past chancellor and represented the 
lodge in the Grand Lodge at Pine Bluff in 1889. 
He represented the Commandery in the Masonic 
Grand Conclave at Pine Bluff in 1888. 

James P. Plott, farmer. Holly Bend, Ark. Mr. 
Plott owes his nativity to Tennessee, his birth oc- 
curring in Giles County in 1848, and is now fol- 
lowing a calling that has for ages received individ- 
ual efforts from many worthy individuals, and one 
that always furnishes sustenance to the ready 
worker. His parents, George and Margaret ( Wil- 
kerson) Plott, were born in Cabarrus County, N.C. 
They removed from that State to Tennessee, where 
they resided for several years and then, in 1872, 
they came to Pope County, Ark., settling in Holly 
Bend. There the father died in 1889, at the ripe 
old age of eighty-two years. His widow still sur- 
vives and is living with her son, William P., who 
besides our subject, is the only child she has living 
in Arkansas. William P. was married in 1888, to 
Miss Lulu Walraven, daughter of William Wal- 



raven, of Pope County. James P. Plott resides 
with his brother, William P., and still enjoys single 
blessedness. He is the owner of 315 acres of land, 
105 acres under cultivation, in the Holly Bend of 
Arkansas River, and this is one of the finest tracts 
of land on the river. Mr. Plott came to Arkansas 
when twenty-four years of age, and in 1873 he went 
to Western Texas, where he was engaged in stock 
business for three years. He also ran a saloon in 
Sipe Springs, Comanche County, of that State for 
two years. He then returned to Pope County, Ark. , 
where he is to-day one of the most successful and 
prosperous farmers. 

Joseph Potts, farmer, Potts Station, Ark. The 
father of our subject, Kirkbride Potts, was born in 
the Keystone State but in his youthful days re- 
moved to New Jersey, and from there to Missouri 
in 1820. After residing in the last named State 
for a few years he came to Arkansas and was mar- 
ried there in February, 1828, to Miss Permelia 
Logan, a native of Wayne County, Mo. Their 
union resulted in the birth of nine children — seven 
sons and two daughters. The mother of these died 
in August, 1878, and the father in November of 
the next year, when seventy- six years of age. 
Joseph Potts, one of the above-mentioned children, 
was born November 27, 1831, in Pope County, 
Ark., and here he obtained his growth and received 
his education. During the war he enlisted in the 
Confederate Army, Capt. Scott's company. Brook's 
battalion of cavalry, and his first engagement was 
at Elkhorn, Ark. After that he was sent east of 
the Mississippi River, and was wounded and capt- 
ured at the bloody battle of Corinth. He was 
sent to Vicksburg and exchanged in 1863. After 
this he was sent to the hospital at Clinton, Miss., 
where he remained three weeks and was then sent 
to Grenada to join his command. He was in the 
battle at Baker's Creek, and he and his whole com- 
mand were captured the next day at Black River. 
They were put on boats, sent up the Mississippi 
River, and when about twenty miles above Mem[)his, 
during tbe night, he and his brother, Richard, and 
another man, jumped overboard and swam ashore. 
Thus Mr. Potts made his escape and made his way 
to Pope County, Ark., where he remained until 



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POPE COUNTY. 



245 



September, 1863, or until Dardanelle was captured 
by the Federal troops. He then joined the Con- 
federate Army in Perry County, Ark., and was in 
the Mark's Mill engagement under Gens. Fagan, 
Shelby and Marmaduke against Gen. Steele of the 
United States Army. His command was disbanded 
at Arkadelphia, and after surrendering at Little 
Rock, he returned home in June, 1865. He began 
farming and in this occupation he continued until 
1872, since which time he has been station agent 
and postmaster at Potts Station. He still owns 
his farm of 200 acres and of this he has 125 acres 
under cultivation. He is now fifty-eight years of 
age and is single in life. He is a Democrat in pol- 
itics and has always been a liberal contributor to 
schools, chuiches and, in fact, to all enterprises 
for the good of his country. 

James Potts, assistant cashier of the Citizen's 
Savings Bank at Russellville, Ark., was born at 
Galla Creek, now Potts Station, in this county in 
1847, and was the tenth in a family of eleven chil- 
dren, born to the union of Kirkbride and Permelia 
A. (Logan) Potts, the father a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and the mother of Missouri. The elder Potts 
was a descendant of one of the old and highly- 
esteemed familiesof Pennsylvania where many are 
still living. The father was reared in New Jersey, 
went to Illinois when seventeen years of age, from 
there to Missouri, and in 1828 to Arkansas, where 
he settled in Pope County on the same IGO acres 
he made his home for fifty years. He was a very 
active citizen and at one time was a Government 
agent in the transfer of Indians from Arkansas to 
the Nation. He established the post office of Galla 
Creek, and was postmaster from that time until his 
death. The post-office is now changed to Potts 
Station. He made three trips to California, the 
first for gold in 1849, and twice drove stock to 
California from this State. He kept a hotel and 
stage stand, cleared about 200 acres of a good 
farm, and besides was the owner of other land at 
the time of his death which occurred in 1878. He 
had limited educational advantages, attending 
school only three months, but he was a close ob- 
server and student, and thus became a well- 
informed man. He was one of the best known 



men in the State. The mother died in 1877. 
Two of their children died in infancy before the 
birth of our subject, and two sons were killed in 
the Confederate Army. After this, for fifty years, 
there were no deaths in the family. James Potts 
became familiar with the duties of farm life at an 
early age, received a primary education in the com- 
mon schools, and finished the same by attending 
Hamilton College in Kentucky. He began life as 
a surveyor, serving in that capacity in Pope County 
for nine years, and in 1882 was elected county 
clerk, which position he filled in a creditable man- 
ner for six years. In 1890 he engaged in the 
banking business and is a thoroughly capable and 
experienced banker. He was married in 1877 to 
Miss Ada Bradley, a native of this county and the 
daughter of John M. Bradley, a pioneer of North 
Carolina. To this union were born six interesting 
children: Loraine, Le Vanche, Sallie, Jim, Grace 
and Mary. 

Dr. J. H. Potts, physician, Atkins, Ark. Dr. 
Potts, whose face is familiar in the homes of the 
sick and afflicted of Pope County, was born at 
Galla Creek, in 1849, and is the youngest living 
child born to Kirkbride and Permelia A. (Logan) 
Potts. [For further particulars of parents see 
sketch of James Potts.] He entered the medical 
department of the University of Louisville, Ky. , 
in 1873, and graduated fi'om the same two years 
later. He at once located in Atkins, where he was 
among the first physicians. He was married in 
1879, to Miss Lucy Williamson, of Missouri, and 
the fruits of this union have been three children: 
Joe, Clara and an infant, named Tennie. Dr. Potts 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Galla Rock 
Lodge No. 172, Atkins Chapter No. 77, and is 
secretary of the last. He is a j)ractical and very 
successful agriculturist, is very public spirited, and 
is ever ready to advance any good cause. In his 
profession he has been very successful, and has 
built up a paying practice, which is steadily on the 
increase. He is pleasant and agreeable in his 
manners, and is a gentleman one desires to meet. 
He is the owner of an excellent farm of 280 acres, 
and has 140 acres of this under cultivation. He 
also has a comfortable home in Atkins. 



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240 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



W. H. Poynter has passed the uneventful life 
of a farmer, and has continued steadily to "pur- 
sue the even tenor of his way'" until he is now 
ranked among the leading men of his calling in 
Pope County. He possesses advanced and pro- 
gressive views regarding agricultural aifairs, and 
has always been very desirous of keeping out of 
the beaten jjath in which his forefathers trod. He 
was born in this county, September 8, 1847, and 
in the town of Dover, in and about his father's 
hotel, he was reared to manhood. He enlisted in 
the Confederate service in 1863, joining Company 
A, Hill's regiment, Cabel's brigade, and was in 
several hard battles, among which were Poison 
Springs, Mark's Mill, Prairie de Ann and others. 
At the close of the war he returned to his home in 
Dover, and as his father had died during the Re- 
bellion, he began working at the carpenter's trade, 
in order to support his younger brothers and sis- 
ters, which business ho followed until 1876. In 
1872 he purchased thirty-three acres of land, lying 
one mile from Dover, which he improved, by clear- 
ing it of timber and reducing it to a state of culti- 
vation, and this start formed the nucleus to what 
is now a sub.stantial fortune. As his means in- 
creased he continued to purchase land in the 
county, and at one time was the owner of at least 
1,200 acres. He now owns 600 acres, principally 
in the valley, of which 325 are in a good state of 
cultivation, and is valued at $10,000. He has the 
finest residence in the township, consisting of a 
handsome, two- story frame building, and contain- 
ing ten rooms. He also has large and commodious 
barns and other buildings, and his principal crops 
are corn and cotton, of which he has a large and 
promising crop. His marriage to Miss Dosie 
Tucker occurred January 27, 1869, she being a 
daughter of Russell Tucker, of Dover. Their 
union has resulted in the birth of the following 
children: Sallie C. (who has been attending the 
Searcy Female College, and has already obtained 
a good scientific education; she is an accomplished 
musician, and during her vacation is giving in- 
struction on the piano to quite a large class), Delia 
is next in order of birth, then comes Anna, Sid- 
ney, Nora and Guy. One child, Maudie May, 



died when about four months old. The family 
worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
Mr. Poynter is a Democrat in politics. 

J. A. Rachel is another example of what energy, 
industry and perseverance, when intelligently ap- 
plied, will accomplish in connection with agricult- 
ure. He was born in Virginia on May 10, 1834, to 
Alexander and Mary (Wren) Rachel, the latter a 
distant relative of Christopher Wren. The parents 
were also Virginians, and the father was born 
about 1787, and was there afterward married. To 
them eight children were born, of whom J. A. was 
the fifth child, and five of the family are now liv- 
ing: E. A., E. G., Martha J., Elizabeth and J. A. 
Those deceased are William A., Sarah and Lucy. 
The father of these children was a participant in 
the War of 1812, and about 1837 moved from Vir- 
ginia to North Carolina, where he made his home 
unto his death in 1882. He was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife, who 
died in 1854. J. A. Rachel emigrated to Arkan 
sas in 1854, and settled in Pope county, where he 
was married November 7, 1867, to Miss Martha A. 
Shinn, whose birth occurred in this county Decem- 
ber 2, 1843. She is a daughter of John and Ma 
linda (Harkey) Shinn, and has borne her husband 
the following children: Dora M. , Nora E., Walter, 
Edward, Cora M. , William E. (deceased), and two 
that died unnamed. In 1862 Mr. Rachel joined 
the Confederate Army, enlisting in Company H, 
Hill's regiment, Cabel's brigade, and served until 
the war closed, when he returned home, and began 
working at the blacksmith and wagon-making busi- 
ness, having previously learned the trade at Jack- 
son's Hill, N. C. , in 1852. By industry and good 
management Mr. Rachel has become the "owner of 
485 acres of land, his home place consisting of 245 
acres, with seventy-five acres under cultivation, 
forty acres of the other tract being under the plow. 
He has an orchard of about 100 apple trees on his 
home place, and about GOO trees on his other farm, 
besides a good many peach trees and a fair sized 
vineyard. On the farm on which he is residing is 
a twenty-two-inch vein of coal, but it has never 
been developed. Mr. Rachel has served three 
years as deputy sheriff of the county, and socially 



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247 



be is a member of Dover Lodge No. 17, of tbe A. 
F. & A. M. His wife is a member of tbe Christian 
Cburcb. 

Jobn A. Rankin is accounted a prosperous 
farmer, and like tbe majority of tbe native-born 
residents of this county be is progressive in bis vieves 
and of an energetic temperament. He was born 
on, March 5, 1844, to W. W. and F. (Davidson) 
Rankin, tbe former a native of Tennessee, and tbe 
latter of Virginia. They were married in tbe latter 
State, and became the parents of four sons and 
three daughters, of whom the following are living: 
Jobn R. , William H. (see biography), J. H. , Sarah, 
Mary E. (wife of J. C. Keogle), and Martha and 
Alex, (deceased). Mr. Rankin removed to Arkan- 
sas about 1830, and in Pope County, Ark., fol- 
lowed farming until his death, which occurred in 
1874. He was a member of the Old School Pres- 
byterian Church, was sherifp of the county when 
he first settled here, and was a soldier in the Mex- 
ican War. His wife died in 1881, a member of 
tbe same church as himself. John R. Rankin was 
brought up to a knowledge of farm life by his 
father, and this has been bis chief calling up to 
the present time. He has a line tract of farming 
land comprising 342 acres, of which 215 are in a 
good state of cultivation, and on this be erected in 
1884 a large frame residence, and this handsome 
home, with its beautiful surroundings, makes a de- 
sirable pliice of abode. In 1872 Miss Exaline Al- 
bright, a Tennesseean, born in 1852, became his 
wife, which marriage has resulted in the birth of 
seven children: Macey, Mary J., Lawrence, Lener, 
Mattie, Nora and Pearl. In 1802 Mr. Rankin en- 
listed in Company C, Arkansas Cavalry, serving as 
a private soldier in the Confederate Army until 
1865. He is a member of tbe Cumberland Presby 
teriaa Church, and his wife is a member of tbe Old 
School Presbyterian Church. 

VV. H. Rankin, a prominent planter and a 
member of the firm of Rankin & Rodgers, livery- 
men at Russellville, was born three and a half 
miles west of Russellville, in 1840, and was the 
sixth of seven children born to tbe marriage of W. 
W. and F. (Davidson) Rankin, the father a native 
of Tennessee and tbe mother of Virginia. The 



grandparents on both sides were from Ireland, and 
the j)aternal grandfather was a pioneer of Tennes- 
see. W. W. Rankin was a successful agriculturist, 
and was one of the earliest pioneers of Arkansas, 
having emigrated to that State in 1832. He 
located in Pope County, entered land near tbe 
mouth of Illinois Bayou, and carried on agricult- 
ural pursuits until about 1850. Two years later 
be went to California, followed mining for three 
years and was quite successful. In 1855 he re- 
turned to Arkansas, and the following year re- 
turned to tbe Golden State with a herd of cattle. 
The same year he came back to Arkansas, and in 
1857 made another trip to California, with cattle. 
Few people realize the hardships of these trips 
across the plains. Returning to Pope County, Mr. 
Rankin bought another farm near Russellville and 
there made his home until his death. At the out- 
break of tbe war be enlisted in Capt. Scott's com- 
pany, and was in the battle of Pea Ridge or Elk 
Horn, where his horse was shot fi'om under him, 
and falling, crippled him. He then came home, but 
after a time joined again, but was soon discharged 
on account of disability. He died on January 
13, 1874, and the mother died on March 17, 1880. 
During tbe entire time of this worthy pioneer's 
life in Arkansas he was active in all worthy en- 
terprises, and was a worthy Democrat, doing much 
for that party. He was elected the second sheriff 
of the county. He and wife were members of the 
Old School Presbyterian Church. On the mother's 
side two brothers came to Pope County, Ark. : Sam 
and Bob Davidson. The latter settled at and 
bought tbe Dwight Missionary Station, four miles 
west of town. There be was postmaster until 1852, 
and for a time that v/as tbe only post-office in the 
county. He died on the plains in 1852, while on 
his way to California. W. H. Rankin was reared 
in Pope County and had but limited educational 
advantages, growing up during the war, when 
schools were obliterated in that county. He began 
for himself when twenty-one years of age as a 
farmer on rented land, and followed this until 
1874, when he bought a farm of 80 acres, bot- 
tom land, to which he has added and now owns 
240 acres, with 53 acres in tbe uplands and 220 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



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acres under cultivation. This is one of the best 
farms in this section and all about the place 
indicates that the owner is a man of judgment 
and progressive spirit. In 1884 he moved to 
Kussellville, where he has since erected a com- 
fortable and commodious house. In 1887 he 
bought out the livery stable of the town, and has 
since been running the same. He is the owner of 
of twenty-five head of horses, and has suitable 
vehicles, etc., for the use of the public. He keeps 
a good barn and is doing an excellent business. 
By his marriage, which occurred in 1870, to Miss 
Maggie Oates, daughter of Franklin Oates, an old 
settler of this region, there were born seven in- 
teresting children: Lillie, Nannie, Fannie, Ruth, 
Elbert Hill, Frank and Thomas. Mr. Rankin 
and family are members of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church. Mr. Rankin has shown his ap- 
preciation of secret organizations by becoming a 
member of the K. of P., No. 44, and the K. of H. 
Thomas P. Reed, pioneer planter, is well and 
favorably known to the majority of the residents 
of this locality, for he has been a resident of this 
section since 1857, and has been prominently 
identified with the farming interests hereabouts. 
He was born in North Carolina on August 7, 1823 
to Coonrod and Martha (Love) Reed, the former a 
native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia. 
They were married in the former State, the father 
following the occupation of farming there, and 
their union was blessed in the birth of four sons 
and four daughters, of which family three are now 
living: H. C, Thomas P. and Nancy (widow of 
W. A. Cayle). John, Elizabeth, James, Mary and 
Martha are deceased. The father of this family 
passed to his long home in 1833, and he and his 
wife, who died in 1855, were members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. Thomas P. Reed was mar- 
ried in North Carolina in 1844 to Miss Matilda 
Love, a native of the Old North State, but in 
1801 he was called upon to mourn the death of 
his wife, she having borne him four children: 
Sandy, Martha (wife of B. Berryman), Susan (wife 
of William Harvill), and M.ilas (at home). In 
1862 Mr. Reed enlisted in the Confederate Army, 
becoming a member of Company F, and was in 



the cavalry until the close of the war. He was 
married again in 1862, his second wife being Mrs. 
Mary I. Winfield, widow of E. B. Winfield, by 
whom she became the mother of one son, George. 
Two children have been born to her union with 
Mr. Reed: Lenna (wife of W. R. Bowen), and 
Albert W. Mr. Reed is the owner of 135 acres 
of land, forty of which are under cultivation. He 
held the ofiice of justice of the peace of this town- 
ship for several terms, and he and his wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
His farm is now well improved, and his principal 
crops are cotton and corn. 

William J. Reynolds, assistant cashier of the 
People' s Exchange Bank at Russellville, was born 
in Pope County, Ark., in 1846, and was the sec- 
ond of ten children born to William and Josinor 
(Matthews) Reynolds, both natives of Tennessee. 
The parents came to Arkansas in 1839, and are 
still residents of this State, living at Atkins. Will- 
iam J. Reynolds was educated in the common 
schools of this county, and when twenty-one years 
of age, started out to fight his way in life as a mer- 
chant, engaging in business with his father at Do- 
ver. They continued in business at that place until 
1871, under the title William Reynolds & Son, 
and then moved to Atkins, where they continued 
for three years. Our subject then became assistant 
station agent and operator at Russellville, contin- 
ued in that capacity for five years, and then was at 
Clarksville one year, filling the same position. 
After this he returned to Pope County, and in the 
fall of 1880 was elected circuit and county clerk, 
which office he held for one term (two years). He 
was then station agent until 1885, and was then 
appointed postmaster at Russellville, continuing 
in that position until May, 1889. In March of the 
following year, on the organization of the above 
mentioned bank, he was elected to his present posi- 
tion. Mr. Reynolds was married on the eighteenth 
of April, 1871, to Miss Sarah 11. Lewis, a native 
of Tennessee, and the daughter of Dr. J. O. 
Lewis, who came to Pope County in 1859, dying 
here the following year. Mr. Reynolds is a mem- 
ber of the various degrees of Masonry, Blue Lodge 
No. 274, Chapter No. 76 and Palestine Com- 



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249 



mandery No. 7, all of Russellville. He has beeu 
secretary of the chajster for niae years, and re- 
corder of the commandery for five years. He 
owns a neat cottage in Eussellville which he erect- 
ed in 1889, and is one of the representative citi- 
zens. He has been a member of the Board of 
Aldermen of many years. 

Ben K. Rodgers, Jr., is the junior member of 
the firm of J. B. Evans & Co., dealers in general 
merchandise at Russellville, Ark. This firm is 
well known and highly honored throughout this 
section, for the members composing it are men of 
principle, who endeavor at all times to follow the 
teachings of the Golden Rule. Mr. Rodgers was 
born in West Point. White County, Ark, November 
3, 1868. and with his parents emigrated to this coun- 
ty when twelve years of age, the former being a 
successful dealer in general merchandise. It may 
truly be said that the subject of this sketch was 
reared to mercantile life, for, as soon as old enough 
he was put to work in the store, and on this ac- 
count did not receive much schooling. At the age of 
thirteen years he left home by consent of his parents, 
and from that time up to the present has been doing 
for himself. He entered a store in Little Rock, as 
cash boy, which position he filled for thirteen 
months, at the end of which time he came to Rus- 
sellville and obtained a position as clerk in the 
grocery store of P. L. Bottoms & Son, where he 
remained one year, then entered the general mer- 
cantile establishment of Humphrey & Evarts, in 
which he was a clerk for four years. Since that 
time he has been a junior member of the firm. 
Upon Mr. Humphrey selling his interest in the 
store, the other members of the firm purchased 
this interest, and now do an annual business of 
$'20,000. They are also extensive cotton dealers, 
shipping annually about 800 bales. In addition 
to this, Mr. Rodgers is associated with Mr. Rankin 
in the livery business, under the firm name of 
Rankin & Rodgers, theirs being the only establish- 
ment of the kind within a number of miles. They 
keep an excellent class of horses and vehicles, and 
their annual business amounts to between $4,000 
and $5,000. Mr. Rodgers was married on August 
15, 1889, to Miss Minnie Rye of Fort Smith, Ark., 



a daughter of J. C. Rye, one of the prominent 
grocers at that place. Mr. Rodgers has never 
joined any church, but his wife is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church of this place. He 
is a Democrat, and socially belongs to Lodge No. 
535, of the K. & L. of H. of this place, in which he 
holds the office of treasurer. He is one of the 
self made men of the count}', and is a very promi- 
nent and enterprising young business man. He 
has the respect of all who know Lim, and has 
established a reputation for square dealing which 
has become widespread. He is liberal in his sup- 
port of worthy enterprises. 

R. F. Roys is the junior member of the well- 
known and highly honored hardware firm of Love 
& Roys Hardware Company, of Russellville. Ark. 
He was born in Kinmundy, Marion County, 111., 
January 29, 1867, and when a small lad came with 
his parents to this State. His father, N. B. Roys, 
was a hardware merchant and reared his son to a 
thorough knowledge of this business, although he 
gave him very meager educational advantages. At 
the age of twelve years he was obliged to leave 
school and take charge of the business left by his 
father, who had died, and he, at that early age, not 
only assumed charge of the business but also the 
care of the family fell upon his boyish shoulders, and 
manfully did he endeavor to heartily discharge every 
duty that fell upon him. He continued to conduct 
the business in his mother's name until about four 
years since, when the business was closed out, the 
following year being devoted to bringing afPairs to 
a satisfactory termination, and in closing out the 
milling and lumber business which he had taken 
up in connection with hardware some three years 
before. During the following year he was travel- 
ing salesman for Bridge & IBeach Manufacturing 
Company of St. Louis, Mo. , but during that time 
was intent on finding a location where he might 
once more resume the hardware business, this time 
for himself, and finally settled at Russellville, pur- 
chasing out the firm to whom he had sold his for- 
mer stock, and at the same time formed a partner- 
ship with Mr. Love. In the spring of 1890 they 
formed a joint stock company, and are now doing 
business under the firm name mentioned above. 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Their annual sales amount to some $40,000, and 
they are accounted among the most successful 
firms of the city. Mr. Roys is a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and also belongs 
to the K. of P. of this place. He is liberal in his 
support of churches, .schools and all worthy public 
enterprises, and he and his wife, whom he married 
in -October, ISSU, are noted for their hospitality 
and liberality. She was a Miss Slocum, of Wis- 
consin, who was one of the teachers in the .schools 
of this place. Mr. Roy's mother and his younger 
sister live with him, and his home, which is a pleas- 
ant and comfortable one, is in the west part of the 
city. His most worthy wife was born in the State 
of New York, January 11, 1870, a daughter of B. 
F. Slocum. 

Dr. D. P. Rutf, Jr., is a prominent member of 
the medical firm of Kirkscey & Ruff, of Dover, 
Ark., and was born in Searcy County of this State, 
in 1S5'2, being a son of D. P. Ruff, Sr., a physi- 
cian and farmer. On the farm belonging to the 
la'ttei', the subject of this sketch resided until he 
was seventeen years of age, and although his op- 
portunities for early education were rather limited, 
he, by close application and industry, obtained 
sufficient education for teaching in the public 
schools of his native county, and used the salary 
thus obtained to gain a better education, being an 
attendant of the Academy at Rellefonte, Boone 
County, Aik. After leaving there he taught an- 
other term of school, after which he- entered the 
store of Ellenburg & McDowell, dealers in general 
merchandise at Marshall, Ark., in which business he 
was engaged for about two years. During this time 
his leisure moments were devoted to the study 
of medicine under the instruction of Dr. Wilson, 
and after leaving the store he devoted his entire 
time to this science for one year. He then went 
to Richland, Ark., where he formed a co-partner- 
ship with Dr. B. F. Stephens, and at that place 
his practice was begun. After this partnership 
had lasted about eight months Dr. RufF entered 
Vauderbilt Univerfeity of Nashville, Tenn. , and after 
attending a course of lectures in the medical de- 
partment he returned to Richland and again began 
practicing. Eight months later he became a stu- 



dent in the University of Tennessee, at Nashville, 
and from this institution he was graduated in 
1878. The following five years were spent at 
Richland, biit since that time he has been one of 
the able and talented physicians of Dover, having 
already formed a partnership with Dr. Kirkscey as 
mentioned above. He is in the full sense of the 
word a self-made man, for he has never had help 
given him that he has not fully repaid. He has a 
good reputation as a physician and surgeon, and 
has made his medical practice a success. By his 
endeavors he has accumulated quite a fine property, 
and besides his fine residence has thirty-two acres 
adjoining in the eastern part of the town, other 
town property, and a small tract of land lying about 
four miles from Dover in Liberty Township. He 
devotes some attention to the raising of horses 
and cattle. He was married on November 7, 
1878, to Miss Minnie Truett, of Richland, Ark., 
she being a daughter of H. M. and Elizabeth 
Truett, and by her he has two sons: Samuel Wirt 
(born May 9, 1881), and David Henry (born March 
18, 1886). The Doctor has always been a Dem- 
ocrat, and is a member of the Masonic order of 
Dover. He takes an interest in school work, hold- 
ing the position of director in the town schools, 
and is liberal in his support of churches as well as 
all other enterprises of a public nature. He is a 
member of the State Medical Association. From 
1858 to 1861, when he was from six to ten years of 
age, he was afSicted with a diseased condition of 
the ear to such an extent that he was not able to at- 
tend school, and the war then coming on kept him 
from school for the following four years, which ac- 
counts for his educational disadvantages in early 
life. On entering school in 1865 he was unable to 
read, but this state of things did not last long, for he 
was ambitious and was possessed with a strong desire 
to become an intelligent man, and made the most 
of his opportunities. He is one of five sons and 
two daughters born to Dr. D. P. and Keziah 
(Smith) RufF. 

William S. Rushing, a son of BurreH Rushing, 
is one of the most successful farmers of Martin 
Township, Pope County, Ark. , and was here born 
March 2, 1858. He attended the common schools in 



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POPE COUNTY. 



'251 



his youth, and at the age of twenty- one years began 
doing for himself, his time being devoted to tilling 
the soil on rented land in the neighborhood. At that 
time he had a small pair of mules, given him by his 
father, and 5 cents in money, this being his only 
capital with which to begin the journey of life. 
The following fall he bought a piece of land 
consisting of 200 acres, and on this paid what 
he could from his summer's work, giving his notes 
for the balance of purchase money. He has pros- 
pered well, and is now the owner of the place, free 
from all incumbrance. He has seventy acres un- 
der cultivation, which are improved by good build- 
ings and an excellent apple and peach orchard. 
He has interested himself in the raising of cattle 
and hogs, and takes great interest in keeping up 
with the times in his mode of farming and the im 
provement of his place. He was married Novem- 
ber 29, 1S79, to Miss Isabel Latimer, daughter of 
Isom P. Latimer, of Howard County, Ark., by 
whom he has three children: William Odus, Jo- 
seph Claud and Nettie Maden. The family are 
members in good standing of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Chm'ch, in which he holds the office 
of elder, and politically he is a Democrat. He has 
always been a great reader, and aims to keep fully 
po.sted on the affairs of church and state, and is 
liberal in his support of churches, schools and oth- 
er public enterprises. His father, Burrell Rush- 
ing, was born October 25, 1815 in Middle Tennes- 
see, and in the spring of 1S35 came to Pope Coun- 
ty, Ark., where he bought and improved a large 
tract of land. He was married in Jauuarj', 1843, 
to Miss Mary Hays, a daughter of John Hays of 
this county, but she died in 1848, leaving two 
sons and one daughter. Mr. Rushing was remar- 
ried in 1850 to Amanda Maloy, by whom he has 
had six children, two being now deceased. Mr. 
Rushing served in the Indian War in Florida, in 
1836, for sis months. He is one of the thrifty 
farmers of ■ the county, and is the owner of 200 
acres of land, thirty acres of which he cultivates 
himself and devotes to corn and cotton. He has 
for many years been a deacon in the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, and politically he is a Dem- 
ocrat. 



Hon. Lawrence Russell, representative to the 
General Assembly, from Pope County, Ark., and 
one of the leading attorneys of Russellville, was 
born in that town in August, 1855, and was the 
youngest of eleven children born to Dr. Thomas 
and Mary Ann (Graham) Russell, the father a native 
of England and the mother of Pennsylvania. Dr. 
Thomas Russell, the founder of Russellville, was 
born in the parish of Gateshead, in the county of 
Durham, England, on June 13, ISOl, and was 
the son of John and Hannah Russell. After en- 
joying the advantages of some of the literary in- 
stitutions of England, in which he acquired con- 
siderable classical knowledge, he served an ap- 
prenticeship of five years under Dr. Thomas 
Mitchell, who was a member of the Royal College 
of Surgeons in London. In 1825 he entered Guy's 
and St. Thomas' Hospitals, London, and from 
those institutions he received numerous certificates 
for attendance upon lectures and for proficiency 
in the various departments. He succeeded in car- 
rying off the first two prizes, namely: The demon- 
strator's prize and the prize in midwifery. In 
1820 he graduated in the Royal College of Sur- 
geons, London, and thereby became a member of 
that body. After traveling extensively in the con- 
tinental countries of Europe, he came to America, 
in 1829, settled near Carlyle, 111., where his three 
brothers, James, Edward and John Russell, had 
preceded him, and was there married in 1832 to 
Miss Mary A. Graham. In search of a new home 
and a milder climate he came to Arkansas, and lo- 
cated in the Arkansas River Valley in 1835, one 
year prior to the admission of the State into the 
Union. He was eminently successful, both as a 
physician and surgeon, performing surgical opera- 
tions that baffled the skill of others. In 18G1, 
when the Civil War began, he had acquired con- 
siderable property, but the greater part of this was 
swept away during that memorable period. He 
continued an active practitioner until the spring of 
1860, when he was stricken with pneumonia, which 
caused his death on the 13th of April of that year. 
He was a man of strong will, remarkable memory 
and vigoroiis intellect. There now survive him 
four sons, all of whom reside in Russellville, ex- 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



cept Albert Russell, who is at Alamo, Lower Cali- 
fornia; James W. and Thomas J. Russell are en- 
gaged in merchandising, and our subject, who is 
one of the rising young lawyers of the State. The 
mother's people were from Pennsylvania, and em- 
igrated to Texas at an early date. Hon. Lawrence 
Russell received his literary education in his native 
town and at the State University at Fayetteville, 
where he graduated in 1S80 with the degree of 
A. B. In the sophmore year he took a silver medal 
for the second best prize for declamation, and in 
the junior year a gold medal, the only prize offered 
for oratory, for best original oration. Mr. Russell 
began the study of law in the fall of 1880, read in 
the law office of Carter & Wilson, and was licensed 
to practice in the fall of 1883. Since that time he 
has been engaged principally in the practice of his 
profession. He went to Texas in the winter of 1884- 
85, but returned to his native town in the spring of 
1885. He has been quite active in politics, assisted 
in the canvass of this county for the national and 
county ticket, in 1888, and in the summer of 1890 
was nominated by the Democratic^ j^arty for the 
office of representative, being elected September 
1, of that year. He is a member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church, is superintendent of 
the Sabbath- school, and has been a Sunday-school 
worker for a number of years. He was elected 
president of the North-west Arkansas Sunday- 
school Association in 1887, and served for two 
years, being re-elected in 1888. He is also a 
worker for the cause of education, and was elected 
a member of the school board in the spring of 
1889. Mr. Russell owns a farm and town prop- 
erty and the old homestead. He is a member 
of the K. of P., Russellville Lodge No. 47, and 
holds the office of vice chancellor. The Arkan- 
sas Democrat, a paper published at the capitol 
of the State, has this to say of Mr. Russell: " Mr. 
Lawrence Russell, the Democratic nominee for 
the Legislature from this (meaning Pope) County, 
was born and raised in Pope. His father. Dr. 
Russell, was one of the prominent men of that re- 
gion during the war. The family has always 
been true to Arkansas, and among the first in every 
enterprise for its development. Lawrence Rus- 



sell is a graduate of the Arkansas Industrial Uni- 
versity, a rising lawyer, a Christian gentleman and 
an orator of no mean repute." 

John J. Rye is a well-known planter and cot- 
ton-ginner of Pope County, Ark., and his present 
substantial position in life has been attained en- 
tirely through his own efforts. He first saw the 
light of day in this county in 1839, being born to 
Christian and P. C. Rye, who were Tennesseeans. 
The father was a planter by occupation, and he 
and his wife were married in their native State, 
their union resulting in the birth of ten children, 
seven of whom are living at the present time: W. 
T., Mary C. (wife of J. W. Russell), Levina, (wife 
of J. C. Bonds), John J., Harriet (wife of Alex 
Bringle), Samuel H. , Robert G., and the follow- 
ing children deceased: Eliza A., Stephen and Mag- 
gie Q. Mr. Rye emigrated from Tennessee to Ar- 
kansas, in 1845, and until a short time before his 
death, which occurred in California, of mountain 
fever, in 1853, he resided on the farm of 160 
acres which he at first purchased. He was deputy 
sheriff and sheriff of Pope County for some time. 
His wife, who was an earnest member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, died in 1882. John J. 
Rye was brought up to the life of a farmer, and 
has made this his chief calling through life. By 
the unstinted use of his faculties he has become 
the owner of 490 acres of laud, with 350 under cul- 
tivation, on which he erected a fine steam cotton- 
gin in 1889, in which he put new and improved 
machinery in 1890. He was married in 1803, to 
Miss Sarah A. Bonds, by whom he became the 
father of the following children: Charles, Peggy, 
Eliza, Joshua, Tristram, William E. and Cleveland. 
The mother of these children died in 1887, and the 
following year Mr. Rye was married to his present 
wife, her name being Mrs. Sue H. Porter, whose 
birth occurred in this county, in 1863. Mr. Rye 
was a soldier in the Rebellion, enlisting in 1861, 
in Company A, First Arkansas Cavalry, and took 
part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Shiloh, luka, 
Farmington, Corinth, Grand Gulf, Baker's Creek, 
Black River, Vicksbtirg, Mark's Mill, Saline, and a 
number of skirmishes. He was wounded by a can- 
non ball at Baker's Creek, and in the right side by 



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a piece of shell at Vicksburg. After the war was 
over he returned home, and engaged in ■ farming, 
to which calling he has since given his attention. 
He is a member of Rassellville Lodge of the A. F. 
& A. M., and Russellville Lodge No. 47 of the K. 
of P. He and his wife are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and are well known for 
their hospitality, liberality and kindness of heart, 
throughout this region. 

Samiiel H. Rye is one of the most successful 
and prominent farmers of the township in which 
he lives if not in the county. He was born near 
his present place of abode March 10, 1849, to 
Tristram and Peggy (Drummond) Rye, the former 
going to California in 1853, in which State he died 
in the spring of that year. He was a farmer, and 
on going to California left his wife, with ten chil- 
dren, to conduct the farm, and after rearing this 
family to honorable manhood and womanhood she 
died in 1880. When nineteen years of age Sam- 
uel H. Rye began doing for himself by rent- 
ing land on the farm he now owns, and in con- 
nection with two brothers purchased a fine piece of 
land, containing 320 acres, upon which he settled. 
After improving fifteen acres he sold his place and 
purchased a portion of his present farm, being now 
the owner of 560 acres, of which 350 acres are 
nnder fence and the greater portion in a good 
state of cultivation. His crops consist mostly of 
cotton and corn, but he also raises considerable 
wheat, oats, millet and potatoes with very good 
success. He is interested in stock-raising, and is 
trying to work into a better grade of stock, espe- 
cially hogs. He has a good frame residence, be- 
sides all other necessary farm buildings, and has 
also six good tenement houses on his place, with 
necessary buildings surrounding. His marriage, 
which took place in 1870, was to Miss Mattie M. 
Brown, a daughter of John and Laura Brown of 
this county, and by her Mr. Rye is the father of 
six children: R. E., Albert, Nannie, Ella, Stella 
and Harvey. Mr. Rye was made a Mason at the 
age of twenty-one years, and is now a member of 
Silex Lodge in this township, and is also lecturer 
of the local Farmers' Alliance. Politically he is a 
Democrat. At one time, in 1872-73, he paid 



$4,000 as security for an acquaintance who' was in 
the mercantile business, and in the year 1880 he 
met with the loss of his house and all his house- 
hold goods by fire. He had no insurance, and 
everything to the value of $2,000 was a total loss. 
Notwithstanding these misfortunes he has been 
successful, for he is an able financier and is indus- 
trious and economical. 

A. M. Sasbee is a merchant residing in Mill 
Creek Station, Ark., but he was born in the Lone 
Star State, June 18, 1838, to Elias and Tempey A. 
(Clark) Sasbee, who were born, reared and married 
in Georgia, becoming the parents of sis children, 
three of whom are now living: A. M., W. J. and 
Lafayette. John W. , J. M. and Sarah E. are de- 
ceased. The father of these children was a farmer, 
and in 1841 emigrated from his native State to 
Texas, and in this State was residing at the time 
of his death in 1852. His widow died in 1871, and 
both were members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. A. M. Sasbee was married on November 
30, 1867, to Miss Sarah E. Shinn, a native of this 
county, born January 20, 1849, a daughter of John 
E. and Malinda (Harkins) Shinn, and in time a 
family of ten children gathered about their board, 
their names being as follows: James M., Dora A., 
Mary L., John W., Charles W., Minnie M., 
Robert S. , Jesse H., Sadie and Joseph A. Think- 
ing to better his condition Mr. Sasbee removed 
from Texas to Arkansas in 1867, and in 1886 took 
up his abode in Pope County, and has since been 
engaged in merchandising in Mill Creek Station, 
but prior to coming here was engaged in farming. 
He is the owner of 1,940 acres of land, sixty acres 
of which are under the plow, and in a good state 
of cultivation. He carries a stock of general mer- 
chandise amounting to $2,500, and owing to his 
many sterling business principles has built up a 
good trade. He is a member of Dover Lodge No. 
17 of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of H., and Rus- 
sellville Lodge No. 47 of the K. of P. He and 
his wife are members of Missionary Baptist Church 
and he is a Democrat politically, and has been 
postmaster of Santos since 1886, being appointed 
under Cleveland. Although he has handed in his 
resignation twice it has never been accepted, for 



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254 



HISTOKY OF AEKANSAS. 



he is one of the leading men of this section, per- 
fectly capable, and always prompt and accurate in 
the discharge of his duties. 

Capt. John R. Homer Scott, a highly esteemed 
and respected citizen of Pope County, was born in 
St. Genevieve, Mo., October 16, 1813, but was taken 
to Arkansas in 1819, when but six years of age. 
He comes of one of the most distinguished families 
of this country, and is spoken of as a " gentleman 
of the old school." Among his early friends, and 
some of them his schoolmates, were C. F. M. No- 
land, who killed William F. Pope (Capt. Scott's 
college mate, and nephew of Gov. John Pope) in a 
due], Judge George C. Watkins (chief justice of 
the Supreme Court of Arkansas), James Scull, Rob- 
ert Cunningham, William E. Ashley, Thomas AV. 
Newton (representative in Congress for Arkansas), 
Gordon N. Peay, C. C. Danley. B. F. Danley 
(sheriff of Pulaski County, Ark. ), and Robert W. 
Johnson (United States senator). His father, Hon. 
Andrew Scott, who was appointed United States 
judge, of the Territory of Arkansas, was reared in 
St. Genevieve, and as judge went from there to 
Arkansas, at the organization of the Territory in 
1819. He was a brother of John Scott, who was 
brother-in-law of the Hon. George W. Jones, and 
father of G. S. C. Scott, and father also of Mrs. 
Ben H. Campbell and Mrs. J. Russell Jones, of 
Chicago, 111. His birth occurred on August 6, 
1789, in Hanover County, Va., and he went with 
his father, Andrew Scott, and his brother, John 
Scott, to St. Genevieve, Mo., in 1808. He was 
married in Potosi, Washington County, Mo., to 
Miss Eliza Jones, sister of Gen. George W. Jones, 
and daughter of John Rice Jones, who was one of 
the judges of the Superior Court of Missouri, and 
who was an eminent lawyer. Her father figured 
largely as such, and as a purchaser of the Spanish 
land grants, his name being frequently found in 
the reports of the United States General Land 
Office, at Washington City. Mrs. Scott died at 
Scotia farm, in Pope County, Ark., where she was 
buried on April 5, 1835. Judge Scott died at the 
home of Elijah Truitt, at Norristown, on March 
13, 1851, and was buried in Dover Cemetery, in 
Pope County. He had five sons and two daugh- 



ters, the eldest being our subject, Capt. John R. 
H., the next Augustus W. (now deceased, formerly 
of Dubuque, Iowa), George S. C. (of McGregor, 
Iowa), Walter (lived at Modesto, Cal., but now de- 
ceased), and Heni-y C. Scott (residing in Chicago). 
His daughters are Mrs. Eliza H. Campbell (deceased 
wife of Ben. H. Campbell, of Chicago, who was 
United States marshal under Gen. Grant for eight 
years, and father-in-law of Gen. O. E. Babcock), and 
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Jones (wife of Hon. J. Russell 
Jones, also of Chicago). Hon. J. Russell Jones 
was minister to Belgium under Gen. Grant, was 
United States marshal for the northern district of 
Illinois for eight years under President Lincoln, 
and was also collector of customs at Chicago when 
Gen. Grant's term expired. John R. H. Scott, 
Augustus W. Scott and Eliza Campbell were born in 
Missouri, the others in Arkansas, the youngest two, 
Elizabeth A. and Henry C, were born on Scotia 
farm, in Pope County, Ark. Judge Andrew Scott 
was well known to all the old settlers of Arkansas, 
having been one of the first public officers who 
came to the Territory of Arkansas, created by act 
of Congress March 2, 1819, to take effect July 4, 
1819, after his appointment by President Monroe 
in 1819, to the office of judge of the Superior Court 
of the Territory. He moved with his family from 
St. Genevieve, Mo., to this part of Arkansas, and 
on July 28, 1819, assisted in putting into opera- 
tion the organic law, and the first government of 
the territorial capital, which was temporarily estab- 
lished at the village known as Arkansas Post. In 
1821 Little Rock became the capital, and he re- 
paired to that place in that or the following year. 
April 11, 1827, he was made judge of the first 
district of the Circuit Coart of the Territory, and 
in the spring of 1828 he removed again, coming 
up the Arkansas river to the Scotia farm, which 
he purchased of McKay, a Cherokee Indian. This 
was shortly after the time that these Indians ceded 
to the United States by treaty that portion of Ar- 
kansas Territory, made by Maj. Lovely, and then 
called Lovely's purchase, and just l)efore their re- 
moval to Indian Territory farther west, and now oc- 
cupied by them. This farm was called Scotia farm, 
and at that place Judge Scott had a post-office, and 



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named it Scotia. His son, Capt. John K. H. 
Scott (our subject), now owns tliia place, and upon 
a corner of it is the L. R. & F. S. flag station, 
Georgetown. Judge Scott was made an assessor 
soon after the treaty with the Indians, his duty 
being to assess the improvements made by the In- 
dians upon the land ceded to the Government, and 
known as Lovely's purchase, in Pope County, then 
embracing the counties of Pope, Yell, Franklin, 
Scott, Johnson, Logan, Sebastian, Crawford and 
Washington. His proceedings for a time created 
great excitement among the white settlers on those 
lands, many of whom had purchased their claims 
from the Indians, the impression among them hav- 
ing been that the Government intended to force 
them to pay to it the assessor's estimate of the 
value of such improvements. He discharged this 
very important duty without any real trouble with 
the settlers, who were soon convinced that the Gov- 
ernment intended no such injustice. Very soon 
after he was elected county and probate judge, 
afterward a member of the Legislature, and then a 
delegate from Pope County to the Constitutional 
Convention of ]83fi, when Arkansas was admitted 
into the Union as a State. He also took the United 
States census for Pope County, in 1850, and filled 
other positions of honor and profit, both State and 
Federal. In 1820 or 1S21 Judge Scott fought a 
duel with Joseph Seldon, both being at that time 
on the territorial bench together as judges of the 
Superior Court, and Judge Seldon was killed at 
the first fire. Judge Scott was unhurt. The duel 
was fought on an island in the Mississippi River, 
near Helena, Ark. Hon. Nimrod Menifee (who 
was subsequently killed in a desperate rencounter 
with a man named Phillips, in Conway County, 
after giving his adversary a pistol wound from 
which he also died a year later), was the second 
and surgeon of Judge Scott. 

On Jane 18, 1828, at Little Rock, in an unfor- 
tunate rencounter with Gen. E. Hogan (who was the 
assailant, and a man weighing over 270 pounds, 
and of Herculean strength, while Judge Scott did 
not weigh much over 130 pounds). Judge Scott 
was felled to the floor by Gen. Hogan. Upon re- 
gaining his feet he drew a sword (which he usually 



carried, it being a present from Maj. William Ball) 
and with it he gave Gen. Hogan four wounds, kill- 
ing him almost instantly, but not before the Gen- 
eral had taken it from Judge Scott, and made a 
deadly thrust at him, piercing through the cravat 
around the latter's throat. Immediately surrender- 
ing to the United States marshal, Judge Scott had 
his case examined in the proper courts, which at 
once discharged him, the killing being regarded 
as justifiable. Judge Andrew Scott would have 
been a man of marked distinction at any time or in 
any locality in the United States, and was pecu 
liarly so in his day and in the Western country. 
His history constitutes an important part of that 
of his adopted State, and the vigor of his intellect 
his calm conservatism and the clearness exhibited 
in his judicial opinions published in the Supreme 
Court reports will give him prominence, especially 
with the bar and bench of the State forever. Capt. 
John R. Homer Scott is a well-known man through- 
out the State of Arkansas, and is a most honorable 
old gentleman. He is a man of ability and modest 
merit, declining at two general elections calls 
throngh the newspapers from a large number of 
citizens, to run for Congress in the Fourth Dis- 
trict. He has outlived nearly all his cotemporaries 
in this State, and yet he is a man of much vigor 
of mind and body. Among those cotemporaries in 
Arkansas who were his early friends and school- 
mates, and who were not only well-known in the 
State, but many of them throughout the country, 
a few names may be found in the first part of this 
sketch. Such was his moral integrity and social 
position, that though licensed, but not a practicing 
lawyer, he has several times been elected special 
judge of the circuit court, a distinction conferred 
upon him purely as a matter of honor. At the 
trial in Pope Circuit Court of the State vs. P. O. 
Cheaney for the seduction of Miss Head, when the 
gray-haired old men, with wives and daughters, 
heard the young lady, as a witness, tell the truth- 
ful story of her dishonor, their honest hearts burned 
with indignation, and quite a number of them 
called upon Capt. Scott to take a fee to assist the 
prosecution, so anxious were they that such a mon- 
strous crime, both legally and socially, should be 



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256 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



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punished, and female virtue and purity protected. 
Of course he declined to act as they desired, but 
who would not be proud of such evidence of respect 
and confidence coming from those who have known 
him as neighbor and friend for many years. 

The North Iowa Times says: "The St. Louis 
Republican of a recent date publishes an interest- 
ing paper that was recently read before the St. 
Louis Historical Society by Gen. Truman A. 
Rosier, of St. Genevieve, Mo., relating to a few 
former residents of the latter place, viz. : Ex- 
Senator George W. Jones, Ex Gov. Henry Dodge, 
Gen. A. C. Dodge, Ex- Senator Lewis F. Linn and 
Judge Andrew Scott. Dr. Linn was in the United 
States Senate representing Missouri from 1833 to 
1843. Henry Dodge, after serving as captain in 
the Black Hawk War and tilling several minor 
ofiSces, was elected to Congress from Wisconsin, 
was afterward governor of the State, and then 
United States Senator from 1851 to 1857. Augus- 
tus G. Dodge, his son, was born in St. Genevieve, 
Mo., in 1812, and after filling several offices of 
lower grade, moved to Iowa Territory, and after 
this became a State, was elected as United States 
senator, being cotemporary with his father, who, as 
before stated, represented in the same capacity 
the adjoining State of Wisconsin. Gen. Dodge 
was afterward sent as minister to Spain, and was 
the first of our ministers to address the court in 
the Spanish language, as he did in his valedictory 
to Queen Isabella. Besides the two Dodges, 
father and son. Dr. Linn, a half brother of Gen. 
Dodge and Hon. George W. Jones, above named, 
the little village of St. Genevieve had also the 
Hon. John Scott, a delegate to Congress from the 
Territory of Missouri, and afterward a member 
of the Lower House of Congress for the State of 
Missouri. Hon John Scott was the father of 
George Dodge Scott, now living in Dubnque, 
Iowa, and brother-in-law to Hon. George W. 
Jones, before mentioned. The late Hon. Lewis 
V. Bogy was also reared in St. Genevieve, and 
died some years ago while a senator in Congress 
from Missouri, his residence being at the time of 
his death in St. Louis. Hon. James H. Relf was 
once a resident of the same old French village, 



but afterward moved to Potosi, Washington 
County, where his death occiirred. He was a mem- 
ber of Congress fi-om Missouri, and a brother of 
Mrs. Dr. Linn. George W. Jones, the brother- 
in-law of Judge Andrew Scott, is still living in 
Iowa, and is a man of great distinction, having 
held with honor to himself and country many 
offices, both military and civil. He was born in 
Vincennes, Ind., in 1804, and removed to St. 
Genevieve in 1808 or 1809, being a drummer boy 
in the War of 1812, whilst a student of Transyl- 
vania University, Lexington, Ky. He acted as an 
officer in the body-guard of Gen. La Fayette in 
1824, when that famous General was on a visit to 
the United States. Having had the office of 
United States clerk tendered him without solicita- 
tion, by Judge Peck, he removed to, and was 
elected a delegate to Congress from the Territory 
of Michigan in 1835, being that year appointed 
pension agent by Gen. Cass. He married at St. 
Genevieve Miss Josephine Gregoire, a descendant 
of an old and highly respected French and Ger- 
man family who had moved to Upper Louisiana in 
very early times. He was second to Jonathan 
Cilley of Maine, who was killed in Washington 
City in 1838 in a duel with Graves of Kentucky. 
He was surveyor-general of Wisconsin and Iowa 
from 1839 to 1841, and clerk of the United States 
Court from 1841 to 1845, after which he was re- 
appointed surveyor-general by President Polk. 
When Iowa became a State in 1840 he was elevated 
from that office to that of United States senator, 
where he remained until 1859, when he was ap- 
pointed minister to Bogota, United States of 
Columbia. He returned home after the com- 
mencement of the Civil War, and was soon after 
arrested by order of Secretary Seward, on an un- 
warranted charge and confined in Fort La Fayette 
until Secretary Stanton relieved him in February, 
18G2."' 

Judge Andrew Scott, who is spoken of in the 
foregoing article, together with his wife, both of 
whom died and were buried in Pope County many 
years ago, have very recently been disinterred and 
removed to Russellville, where they have been re- 
interred by their son, our much-esteemed and 



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POPE COUNTY. 



257 



respected fellow-citizen, John E. Homer Scott, 
who also removed, at the same time and to the 
same place, his wife and daughter from the Dover 
Cemetery. He had all placed in solid stone vaults, 
cemented, and air and water tight. Over all of 
them he has erected the most beautiful and costly 
Italian marble monument to be found in the coun- 
try, with a very handsome statue of superior 
Italian marble, manufaetui'ed in Italy, ten feet and 
one inch high, and resting on the top of the monu- 
ment is a figure five feet and one inch high, repre- 
senting Hope, with an anchor and cord fully and 
elaborately chiseled and executed by a master 
hand, exhibiting the most superb sculptural polish 
of anchor, cord, drapery and life-like form and 
feature that can be placed upon marble. Rever- 
ence for our ancestors, living or dead, has in all 
ages been regarded as the greatest of all virtues; 
and this handsome momiment erected by Capt. 
Scott, chiefly in honor of his father, is a most 
worthy tribute by a noble son to the memory of 
his distinguished sire. Of the late Mrs. Scott, 
(wife of Capt. John Scott) who sleeps beneath the 
same monument, and a lady greatly admired for 
her many excellent qualities, a prominent minister 
of the gospel upon reading the inscription to her 
memory on the monument, said: "I knew her 
well; all that is there said in her praise is true, 
especially of her boundless charity. For years I 
have lived a near neighbor to her, with a wife 
gradually dying of consumption, and as often as 
the day came, the good Mrs. Scott came to see her, 
and never did she come with her charitable hand 
empty. All her words were kindness and sympa- 
thy.'' 

Capt. Scott's grandfather was Andrew Scott, a 
native of Scotland who came to New York and 
he and his brothers having lost their parents at 
sea, and being without friends or means in the new 
world were bound out as apprentices. He died in 
St. Genevieve, Mo. He was married, in Maryland 
to Miss Elizabeth Ferguson. Capt. Scott's pa- 
ternal uncles were John Scott (delegate in Con- 
gress from Missouri from 1816 to 1819), the prop 
of the family, in his father's old age and an emi- 
nent criminal lawyer in Missouri. He married 



Miss Parr first, and then married a sister of Hon. 
George W. Jones by whom he had two children: 
George D. Scott of Dubuque, Iowa, and Emily, 
now Mrs. Wilson, wife of Samuel F. Wilson, an 
attorney of San Francisco, Cal. The other uncle, 
George W. Scott, married Miss Nancy Dodge, 
daughter of Gen. Henry Dodge, and was United 
States marshal for the Territory of Arkansas under 
President Monroe. Capt. Scott's maternal uncles 
were George W. Jones (of Dubuque, Iowa, as above 
stated), Augustus Jones (lately living at La Grange, 
Tex. (now deceased), who was United States mar- 
shal of Missouri under President Jackson), John 
Rice Jones (who was the first postmaster gen- 
eral of the Texan republic), and Myers F. Jones 
(who was several times a member of the Missouri 
Legislature, but who removed to Texas in 1841, in 
which State he received his final summons). Capt. 
John Scott was a graduate from St. Joseph's Col- 
lege, Bardstown, Ky., in 1827. Among others of 
his classmates at this college were Robert W. 
Johnson (afterward United Stales Senator from 
Arkansas and William F. Pope (who was killed in 
a duel in Arkansas by C. F. M. Noland). Capt. 
Scott read law in the office of his father at Little 
Rock in 1828-29, and was admitted to the bar in 
1848, but has never practiced. In 1S28 he moved 
with his father to Pope County, Ark., and there he 
has resided ever since, with the exception of two 
years, 1834-35, after his marriage, which he 
spent in Johnson County. He carried on a farm 
for several years, and from 1847 to 1853 he was 
engaged in merchandising at Dover. During the 
war he lost fifteen negroes, and from 1807 to 1872 
he was again engaged in mercantile pursuits. 
He is the owner of two farms, one on the Arkansas 
River consisting of 500 acres and the other, con- 
sisting of 600 acres, near Dover. One-half of each 
is under cultivation. He owns lots and buildings 
at Eureka S[)riugs, and is worth, all together, not 
less than $40,000, all the result of his own indus- 
try and perseverance. One of his first expeditions 
to make money was to take a flatboat, loaded with 
cattle and corn, down to New Orleans. In 1853 
he crossed the plains to California with several 
hundred head of cattle, obtaining fabulous prices 



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258 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



for them, realizing 1100 per head. In 1838 Capt. 
Scott became a Master Mason in Franklin Lodge 
No. 9, Johnson County, but was a member of no 
other secret organization. He was a Whig iu poli- 
tics until the formation of the Democratic party 
and then became a Democrat from necessity. In 
1878 he was a member of the State Democratic 
Central Committee. He opposed secession until it 
became an accepted fact. Capt. Scott has held 
many positions of trust and honor, and it may truth- 
fully be said of him that the offices which he has had 
the honor to till, sought the man and not the man 
the office. From 1842 to 1850 he was clerk of the 
circuit, county and probate courts and ex-officio 
recorder of Pope County. In 1873 he was State 
Senator for Pope, Conway and Searcy Counties, 
and in 1874 he served as a member of the Constitu- 
tional Convention (of the State of Arkansas) from 
Pope County. He has served twice as a special 
judge of the circuit court at Dover. Many years 
previous to this (in 1830) he served as deputy 
United States marshal under his uncle, George W. 
Scott (United States marshal for the Territory of 
Arkansas), and in that capacity took the first cen- 
sus of Pope County. In 1830 Capt. Scott com- 
manded a volunteer company of United States 
Cavalry under Gen. E. P. Gaines, during the Flor- 
ida War, and hence his title of captain. In 1861 
he raised a company for State service, which was 
transferred to the Confederate service, and he com- 
manded a squadron of four companies, serving in 
the army until, in consequence of sickness, he 
was compelled to retire from the field. He par- 
ticipated in the battles of Elk Horn and Farming- 
ton.. He was married in Johnson County, Ark., on 
December 11, 1834, to Miss Nancy Evans Jami- 
son, a native of Potosi, Mo., born May 16, 1816, 
and the daughter of Judge George Jamison of 
Johnson County, Ark. Her father was a native 
of the Keystone State, of Scotch descent, and was 
a millwright by trade. Her mother, formerly 
Miss Mary D. Logan, was of a Kentucky family, 
originally from Pennsylvania. She was a cousin of 
James Logan, who was a member of the Legisla- 
ture from Missouri and Creek agent at Verdigris, 
Indian Territory. Mrs. Scott was a charming, 



pleasant lady to meet and was remarkably hand- 
some. She died on October 13, 1878, in full com- 
munion with the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. By his marriage Capt. Scott became the 
father of three children: Andrew H. Scott (who 
was born at Dover, Ark., on December 18, 1840, 
taking his literary degree at Exeter College, N. H. , 
and his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical 
College, Philadelphia. He is now one of the first 
physicians of Little Rock. He married ]\Iiss R. 
Kate Embry, daughter of Col. Ben T. Embry, 
who is a merchant and planter of Atkins, Ark. 
They have four children: Ben Embry, John R. 
Homer, Leonora and Andrew Horrace), Mary 
Eliza Scott (born at Dover on August 11, 1844, 
and died September 4, 1860, and whose birth is 
erroneously stated in the work of the Encyclopedia 
of the New West as being in 1834), and Leonora 
Augusta, (born at Dover on October 16, 1847, and 
educated at Little Rock and Fayetteville. She 
married H. Clabe Howell, a merchant, a member 
of the Legislature and a native of Kentucky. He 
died June 21, 1884, leaving these children: An- 
drew R. (a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, 
Pennsylvania, living at Little Rock), Emma Scott, 
Augustus H., Henry A., Kate E. and Mary. Mrs. 
Howell was married, the second time,on July 2, 1887, 
to George Eller Howell, a nephew of her former hus- 
band. One child, Elbert Homer, was the result of 
this union. Capt. Scott is not a member of any 
church, but is a believer in the Christian religion. 
Besides his own children, Capt. Scott has raised 
about nine orphan children. 

James R. Shinn. In all ages of the world, 
industry, perseverance and energy where intelli- 
gently applied, have achieved a result which could 
have been gained only by having one object in view 
and improving every opportunity to ultimately at- 
tain that object. Mr. Shinn's operations as a 
farmer have resulted satisfactorily, and he is now 
the owner of about 170 acres of good farming 
land with seventy under cultivation. He was 
born in Pope County, Ark., on April 3, 1842, 
a son of L. C. and Nellie (Tucker) Shinn, who 
were born in North Carolina in 1814 and 1818, re- 
spectively, in which State their marriage also oc- 



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POPE COUNTY. 



259 



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curred. To them the following cliildren were born : 
Elizabeth M. , Martha I., James R., Mary A., Silas 
M. , Eliza M., Sarah J. and Laura A. (deceased). 
L. C. Shinn was a farmer and stone mason and 
after his removal to Arkansas in 1841 he followed 
these callings. He entered here 160 acres of tim- 
berland, and soon cleared enough space to build a 
log cabin. He improved his property in other 
ways afterward and erected him a good frame 
residence in which he died on September 7, 
1885. He was justice of the peace of Clark Town- 
ship for three or four terms, and was a member of 
the Christian Church, of which his wife was also a 
member at the time of her death. James R. Shinn 
commenced life for himself as a farmer on rented 
laad, and his tirst crop was put in with one steer. 
In 1801 he enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Ar- 
kansas Regiment, C. S. A., and participated in the 
engagements at Elk Horn, Corinth, Grand Gulf and 
Baker' s Creek, being wounded in the last named 
engagement by a gunshot in the right breast. He 
was then paroled and returned home, where he 
was married, in 1805, to Miss Jemimah E. Smith, 
a North Carolinian by birth, born Augiist 14, 1846. 
Their union has been blessed in the birth of thir- 
teen children: Charles L. , Joyce L., Dosey F., 
(wife of James Sasbee), Amanda M. , James R. , 
Psyche, Lulu E , Jessie L., Elizabeth M. , Katie 
and George D. James W. and Thomas J. are 
deceased. Mr. Shinn has served several years as 
justice of the peace of Clark Township, is a lib- 
eral contributor to worthy enterprises, and he and 
his wife are earnest members of the Christian 
Church. His property is improved with fair build- 
ings and every thing about the place shows that a 
man of thrift and industry has charge of affairs. 
Hon. N. D. Shinn has long been connected 
with the farming interests of this section, and as 
an honest man and law abiding citizen, has no 
superior. He was born in the Old North State, 
August 27, 1819, to Silas M. and Elizabeth (Lit- 
tle) Shinn, also of that State. The father was 
surveyor of the county in which he lived, and was 
married in his native State, his union resulting in 
the birth of thirteen children, four now living: 
Thomas J., Silas M., N. D., and Eliza (wife of C. 



F. Reed). The following are the names of the 
children that are deceased: B. D. R., Jackson, 
L. C, James M., John O., Sarah, Peeny M. and a 
pair of twins, who died unnamed. After the fa- 
ther's death, which occurred in North Carolina, 
about 1821 or 1822, the mother moved westward, 
and in Pope County, Ark., passed from life, in 
1852, an earnest Christian, and a member in good 
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. N. D. 
Shinn was married in Montgomery County, N. C, 
in 1837, to Miss Hester Brooks, who was born 
there in 1822, a daughter of William and Tempey 
(Tucker) Brooks. Seven sons and two daughters 
have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shinn, 
the following of whom are living: James M. (re 
siding in Texas), Alphus M. (a farmer, of this 
county), Marion R., Henry L., Alexander B. and 
Jennie (wife of J. F. Munday, of Russellville). 
The following are those deceased: William E. , 
John F. (who was killed in the battle of Corinth, 
Miss.), and Pauline V. In 18:59 Mr. Shinn came 
to this State, from North Carolina, and settled on 
some Government land, which he improved, being 
now the owner of 1,200 acres, 5(!0 acres being river 
bottom land, with 350 acres under cultivation. His 
home place consists of 700 acres, and of this 150 
are under cultivation. This land is very valuable, 
for in addition to being a fine farming tract, it is 
all underlaid with coal. In 1877 he erected, on his 
land, a good frame residence, and his other build- 
ings are substantial and commodious. He has an 
excellent apple, peach and pear orchard near his 
residence, and on his river bottom farm is a tine, 
steam cotton-gin. He has always been a stanch 
Democrat, and the admirable services he has ren- 
dered his party were recognized at different times, 
and he has served in a number of different official 
capacities. He tirst held the responsible piosition 
of probate judge for six years, was justice of the 
peace of his township about the same length of 
time, and was elected to the State Legislature from 
Pope County in 1874, receiving 1,200 of the 2,223 
votes cast. He and his worthy wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he 
has attained to the Chapter in the Russellville 
Lodge, of the A. F. & A. M. 



Pu- 



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260 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



4 



Zaehariah Sinclair, farmer, Hector, Ark. Among 
those who deservedly rank among the progressive 
and substantial agriculturists of Pope Countj', is 
the above mentioned gentleman, who is the owner 
of an excellent farm in this county. His parents, 
James R. and Nancy C. (Noel) Sinclair, were na- 
tives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, 
and were married in the last named State. They 
removed to Arkansas in 1839, settled in Pope 
County, where, after living until 1855, they took 
up land. The twelve children born to this union 
are named as follows: Mary T. (wife of P. H. 
Brant), Zaehariah, Virginia (wife of G. A. Bishop, 
deceased), Sarah A. (in Searcy County), Franklin 
P. (in Center Township), James H. (in Hector, 
Ark), William (deceased), and four others who died 
in infanc}'. At the age of eighteen years, Zaehariah 
began working for himself as an agriculturist, and 
in 1862 he was married. The fruits of this union 
were two children: James A. (deceased), and Will- 
iam Francis. Mrs. Sinclair died in 1865, and in 
February, 1867, Mr. Sinclair was married to Miss 
Winnie E. Bishop, a native of Tennessee. About 
1870 Mr. Sinclair homesteaded the land on which 
he now resides, consisting of eighty acres, of which 
he has thirty acres under ciiltivation. He is also 
the owner of twenty acres in the bottom along Illi- 
nois Bayou,of which he has about fifteen acres under 
cultivation. His principal productions are cotton 
and corn. In connection with his farming industry 
Mr. Sinclair has been employed to some extent 
with his carpenter trade, also wagon-making, al- 
though he has never served an apprenticeship at 
either. To his last marriage were horn these chil- 
dren: Siney C. (wife of A. D. Poe), George W., 
John W., Margaret E., Martha E., Rhoda J., Ella 
M., Henry W. and Lulu J. Two are deceased. 

Harrison Smith, a prosperous merchant at 
London Station, Ark., was born in Tennessee Jan- 
uary 16, 1841, to John W. and Malinda (Neill) 
Smith, who were born in South Carolina and 
North Carolina in 1818 and 1821, respectively. 
They were married, in Tennessee, December 12, 
1839, and their union was blessed by the birth of 
nine children, six being now alive, of whom the 
subject of this sketch is the eldest. The other 



members are Wyatt (a farmer in Sebastian County, 
Ark. ), Narcissa (wife of John Maxwell, of Sebas- 
tian County, Ai'k.), Louisa (wife of Edward Gif- 
ford, of Polk County, Fla.), Lutitia (wife of J. C. 
Williams, of Catoosa County, Ga. ), Anna (wife of 
Dr. S. C. Burgess, of London, Ark.), and the 
following children who are deceased: Thomas M. , 
Penelton and George. The parents of these chil- 
dren were Baptists. The father is now residing in 
Tennessee. The mother died in November, 1883. 
The former was a soldier in the Confederate Army 
for a short time during the Rebellion, and was in 
the hospital service. H. Smith, the immediate 
subject of this sketch, began life for himself in 
1865 on rented land, and the same year was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary E. Lee, a native of South Caro- 
lina, born July 30, 1841, a daughter of Richard 
and Lettie (Smith) Lee. Mr. Smith enlisted in 
Company A, Forty-third Regiment of Ai'kansas 
Infantry, Confederate States Army, August 7, 
1861, and was on active duty until the close of the 
war, when he returned home, and, as above stated, 
began following the plow as a means of livelihood, 
an occupation which received his attention until 
1880. In 1872 he moved to Arkansas, and until 
1878 was a resident of Woodiiiff County. In 
1882 he moved to Dover, and after following the 
life of a merchant in that place for two years, has 
since followed the same occupation at London Sta- 
tion, where he carries a stock of general merchan- 
dise to the amount of $2,500. He is the owner of 
twenty-four acres of land, besides some town lots, 
and on one of the latter he has a comfortable 
frame residence. He also owns the store in which 
he does business. He and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and are 
among the substantial citizens of the county. 

L. M. Smith, proprietor of the Russellville 
steam grist-mill, planing-mill, cotton-gin and wool - 
carding mill, was born in Mississippi in 1836, and 
was the third in a family of seven children, born 
to John and Prudence (Marshall) Smith, the father 
a native of the Palmetto State and the mother of 
the Bay State. The father was a bricklayer and 
plasterer by trade, and came to Mississippi when 
about thirty-five years of age. There his death 



D V 



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POPE COUNTY. 



261 



occurred iu November, 1858. The mother died in 
Arkansas in 1882. L. M. Smith was reared in 
Mississippi until about ten years of age, and then, 
without permission of his parents, left home sud- 
denly and engaged with a party of railroad sur- 
veyors with whom he remained one year. ' He 
then entered the railroad shops at Huntsville and 
there learned his trade as engineer and machinist. 
After spending seven years in the shop he then 
went on the Memphis & Charleston Railroad as 
an engineer for fourteen years, was then on the 
Mobile & Ohio for one year and was then for a 
time on the Great Western. Later yet he was on 
the Memphis & Little Rock Railroad for five years. 
In 1877 he came to Pope County, settled at Rus- 
sellville and at once began the erection of his pres- 
ent business in partnership with Harker & Ter- 
rence, whom he soon bought out. He began with 
a grist-mill and became the owner of the first steam- 
mill in town, the same having three run of stones. 
He put in a wool carding machine in 1879, and now 
has a durable machine. He started the gin on a 
small scale in 1882, and now has, perhaps, the sec- 
ond best gin in the State. He has sailor elevators 
to move cotton, a Thomas' direct steam press, with 
a capacity of thirty bales of cotton per day. During 
a four months' season, and during 1889-90 he 
ginned 1,000 bales. In 1885 he added a planing- 
mill, and has since put in new and improved planers. 
In 1887 he put in an engine of sixty-horse power. 
The building occupies a couple of acres of land and 
is valued at about $15,000. In 1879 Mr. Smith 
erected his present residence, and is also the owner 
of five tenant houses. He owns a farm of 200 acres 
in two tracts, all good timber, and is a thorough, 
wide-awake and enterprising citizen. He was mar- 
ried in 1858, to Miss Sarah Harris of Alabama, and 
to this union were born six children — a son and five 
daughters — all living: Mary Frances, Georgia A. , 
Willie Lulu, Sarah K., all of whom are married, 
and Robert and Ida May. Mr. Smith is a member 
of the Christian and his wife and children are 
members of the Baptist Church. He showed his 
appreciation of secret organizations by becoming a 
member of the A. F. & A. M. and the K. of P. 
He is a member of all the orders of Masonry. 



R. H. Smith, machinist and foundryman, and 
a member of the firm of Smith & Little, was born 
in North Carolina, in 1838, and was the fifth of 
eleven children born to William and Catherine 
(Burkhead) Smith, both natives also of the Old 
Tar State. The father was a farmer, but also 
carried on the trades of blacksmith and wagon- 
maker. He came to Arkansas in 185-1, settled in 
Pope County and started a shop six miles north- 
west of Russellville. There he had a good trade, 
and made wagons for most of the county. He 
also bought 256 acres and to this he added from 
time to time until he became the owner of large 
tracts of land, much of it river bottom land. He 
cleared much of this land and here resided until 
his death, in 1887, at the age of eighty-two years. 
He had always enjoyed good health. The mother 
died about the same time. Our subject has three 
sisters and one brother residing in this county. 
He followed farming until the breaking out of the 
war, and then flung aside his implements of peace 
to take up the weapons of warfare. He enlisted 
in Company E, Fifteenth Arkansas Regiment, and 
was in the battle of Elk Horn, but soon went east of 
the Mississippi River, where he participated in the 
battles of Farmington, Corinth and Port Gibson, 
and was taken prisoner at the latter place. He 
was retained at Alton prison for six weeks, and 
was then exchanged at City Point, after which he 
came home. Later he enlisted again, was captured 
and confined at Little Rock, where he was at the 
time of the surrender. Returning home he en- 
gaged in farming, followed this for several years, 
and was very successful. He bought 350 acres 
and soon had 100 acres under cultivation. About 
1875 he began the mill business, at Mill Creek, 
and had a good outfit and an excellent trade. This 
he sold in 1884, and at once started his foundry 
and machine shop, manufacturing stoves. The 
firm also do a general repairing business, employ 
two men and sometimes more, and are the owners 
of the foundry which is a good building. Mr. 
Smith was married in the fall of 1859, to Miss 
Martha Shinn, who is the daughter of Littleton 
Shinn, a pioneer'of this locality. Of the following, 
named nine children born to this union six are 






^I, 



k. 



262 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



now living: Jesse Lee, Mary F., Sarah Ellen, 
Lenora (deceased), Oeata (deceased), Thomas (de- 
ceased), Mattie, Florence and Franklin. Mr. Smith 
has a farm of 150 acres and a residence in town. 
Aside from his foundry enterprise, he is also en- 
gaged in the grocery biisiness in partnership with 
R. C. Brown, and they are erecting a two-story 
brick building. Mr. Smith is a good business man 
and is successful and prosperous. 

James L. Tate. Not without justice Mr. Tate 
is conceded to be among the prominent and suc- 
cessful agriculturists of Pope County, Ark., for he 
is, and has been, meeting with substantial success 
in pursuing his calling. He was born in Johnson 
County, Ark., February 24, 1849, and although he 
received but little early education on account of 
the opening of the war, he has since become one 
of the well-informed and intelligent men of the 
county. He remained on his father's farm until 
he was nineteen years of age, after which he began 
renting land for himself, and in 1877 bought the 
land where he now lives, from the Railroad Com- 
pany. This he immediately settled on and com- 
menced improving, being now the owner of 167 
acres, tifty-tive of which are in a good .state of cul- 
tivation. This is mostly valley land and very pro- 
ductive, and as he has made every endeavor to 
bring his land into a tine state of cultivation, he 
has one of the finest places in the county for its 
size. It is all tinder good fence, and in addition 
to this he tills 350 acres adjoining, devoting it to 
the raising of cotton, corn, oats and wheat. His 
cotton yields from two-thirds to one bale of cotton 
to the acre, and corn averages about forty-five 
bushels. He raises large numbers of mules and 
other stock for his own use, which are admirably 
housed during the winter months, and he has an 
excellent frame residence. He has a young orchard 
of about 200 apple trees, besides peach, cherry and 
plum trees in abundance. He is up with the times 
in regard to cultivation, having the latest improved 
farming utent-ils, and in addition to his residence 
he has five houses for tenants, each with necessary 
outbuildings. On Decamber 28, 1868, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Emeliue Jones, a daughter of Thomas 
and Mary Salma (Hise) Jones, of Johnson County, 



but formerly from Northeastern Georgia. Mr. 
Tate and his wife have four children: Oscar S., 
Maiy Ann, Mattie M. and Dora Jane. Mr. Tate 
has felt the loss of an early education, and is try- 
ing to give his children every opportunity. He 
and his family worship in the Primitive Baptist 
Church, and he is a liberal supporter of churches, 
schools, etc. He and his wife are noted for their 
hospitality and are honored citizens of this county. 
Van Tomlinson is one of the largest land own- 
ers and most prominent farmers of Dover Township, 
Pope County, Ark. He was born in Pulaski County, ■ 
Ky., August 20, 1833, and when three years of age 
was brought to this countj' by his parents, Charles 
and Susan (Wood) Tomlinson, who were also born 
in Pulaski County. Ky. , and at the time of the birth 
of the subject of this sketch were residing in the 
town of Somerset, where the father was keeping a 
hotel and managing a dry goods store. He was 
sheriff of Pulaski County for a number of years, 
but upon coming to Arkansas he purchased and 
entered Government land, which he immediately 
began improving and cultivating. He died in 
1873, his wife having departed this life some four 
years previously, having borne him four sons and 
four daughters, the only member of which family 
now living being Van. He received the education 
and rearing of the average farmer's boy of that 
day, his advantages, of course, were very meager, 
and when he was fifteen years of age his father 
went to California in search of gold, and he was 
left to care for the family. This he continued to 
do until he was eighteen years of age, when he, 
too, went to the "Eldorado of the West," but re- 
mained only a few mouths, when he returned home. 
Previous to this, however, he had purchased eighty 
acres of land and was doing for himself, his father 
allowing him all he could make after the wants of 
the family were supplied. He improved his eighty- 
acre farm and sold it some fifteen years afterward, 
then purchasing 200 acres in the same neighbor- 
hood, which he has since finely improved and still 
owns. He is now the owner of 300 acres, on 
which is erected a good frame residence, besides 
houses for his tenants. All his buildings are excel- 
lent, and cotton and corn are his principal crops. 



•^« 



jV 



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fifty- five acres being devoted to the former, which 
promises a good crop. He is interested also, to 
some extent, in stock-raising. In June, 1865, he 
was married to Miss Margaret Hobbs, a daughter 
of James Hobbs, of this county, by whom he has 
four children: Charles, Mary A., Nora J. and 
Mattie May. The eldest son was married in Au- 
gust, 18S8, to Miss Jeilrie Henderson, who died in 
May, 1890. Mr. Tomlinson is a Democrat, and, 
although not a member of any church, he is very 
liberal in his support of all churches, benevolent 
enterprises, etc., and is especially interested in 
schools. He is very pushing and enterprising, and 
his example of earnest and sincere endeavor to suc- 
ceed in life is well worthy the imitation of the ris- 
ing generation. 

J. B. Turnbow, farmer and miller, Caglesville, 
Ark. Mr. Turnbow is a native of Arkansas, born 
in October, 185-"), and is the son of John and Cath 
arine (Noles) Turnbow, both natives of Tennessee, 
in which State they were married. The parents 
came to Arkansas about 1852. To th^ir marriage 
were born eleven children. J. B. Turnbow started 
out to fight life's battles for himself when twenty- 
one years of age, and engaged in farming on 
rented land. He was married in 1877 to Miss 
Oretha Hamilton, a native of Arkansas and the 
daughter of Hugh Hamilton and wife, formerly a 
Miss Vaughan. In 1883 Mr. Turnbow purchased 
160 acres of land and built a good frame addition to 
his house. Since then he has cleared about forty- 
live acres and is now erecting a good house. In 
1890 he purchased a third interest in a saw-mill, 
which he operates in association with Mr. Shrone 
and Mr. Hamilton. The capacity of the mill is 
from 8,000 to 10,000 feet of pine lumber per day. 
Mr. Turnbow still carries on his farm on which he 
raises principally corn, cotton and oats, his land 
averaging twenty-five bushels of corn or two-thirds 
of a bale of cotton to the acre. He also raises 
considerable stock, including mules, horses and 
hogs. He was the youngest of the following 
named children: Elizabeth. Caroline, Martha, 
Dona, Tennessee, Lou, Margaret, William, Andrew 
and Cross. His marriage resulted in the birth of 
six children: Martin Luther, James ^y alter, Lou 



v., Robert L., Bertha (deceased) and Ona. The 
father of our subject died in 1886, and was a mem- 
ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of 
which the mother was also a member. J. B. 
Turnbow was elected constable in September, 
1890, and possesses all the requisites necessary to 
fill that position in an able and efficient manner. 
He is a Mason, a member of Scottsville Lodsre, and 
he and wife are members of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church, of which Mr. Turnbow is deacon. 
William J. Voss, farmer, Hector, Ark. This 
enterprising citizen of Jackson Township, Pope 
County, Ark., was originally from Tennessee, his 
birth occurring in Lawrence County, September 2, 
1839, and is the son of Robert and Charlotte (Mitch- 
ell) Voss, natives also of the Big Bend State. 
They were the parents of fifteen children, who are 
named in the order of their births, as follows: 
Wiley, Allen, Caroline (deceased), Rebecca (wife 
of Jaines Beard), William J., Joseph (now in Tex- 
as), Sarah (wife of James Walters), Mary (deceased), 
John, Newton, Emeline, and four others deceased. 
William J. Voss received a very limited education, 
his whole schooling consisting of three months in 
a fi'ee school in Middle Tennessee, but he is a man 
of observation, and this, with his experience, has 
gained him a good business education. He was 
married, in 1857, to Miss Susan J. Pennington, a 
native of Tennessee, whose parents, Jacob and Ara- 
minta (Harrison) Pennington, were both natives 
of Tennessee. Four children were born to this 
union: Emeline (wife of Hugh Mansker), Frank P., 
Laquincy and William Robert, all living. Mr. Vo.ss 
and family left Tennessee and emigrated to Arkan- 
sas, in 1858, settling in Pope County, but after- 
ward removed to Yell County, thence to Searcy 
County, where his wife died, in 1868. In 1869 
Mr. Voss purchased 120 acres of land in the last 
named county, and improved seventy-five acres, 
but sold it all in 1881. He then purchased his 
present property, consisting of 160 acres, with 
eighty acres under cultivation. This he has further 
improved by putting up new and substantial build- 
ings, erecting two new houses on his farm, which 
has more than trebled in value under his manage- 
ment. Later he added forty acres more to his farm. 






^1 



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264 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



4 



In 1869 Mr. Voss was married to Miss Mary T. 
Williams, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter 
of John and Mary (Simms) Williams, the former a 
native of Tennessee, and the latter of Alabama. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Voss have been born ten children, 
nine of vrhom are living: James A. (deceased), 
Philander M., John Morris, Victoria Ellen, Nathan- 
iel S., Sally, Wiley A., Aranna May, Joseph L. 
and Benjamin Harrison. Mr. Voss was conscript- 
ed in the Confederate Army, but enlisted in the 
Federal Army, in Company D, Second Arkansas 
Cavalry, under Col. Phelps, and served from 1864 
to the close of the war. He was detached fi-om 
his regiment near the close of the war, and has 
never been discharged. After cessation of hostili- 
ties Mr. Voss resumed agricultural pursuits, and 
this he has continued up to the present time. He 
is engaged in stock-raising in connection with ag- 
ricultural pursuits, and is wide-awake and enter- 
prising. He keeps a good grade of stock, and in 
the management of everything connected with his 
farm he displays excellent judgment and thor- 
oughness. Mrs. Voss is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

Judge Jeremiah G. Wallace, judge of the Fifth 
Judicial District, is a native of Fulton County, 
Ky., born January 2, 1850, and was sixth in a 
family of seven children born to James and Mary 
E. (Goldsby) Wallace. The father was also a na- 
tive of the Blue-Grass State, and was an agricult- 
urist by occupation. He was married in Tennessee, 
and died in the year 1858, in Kentucky: The 
mother died in 1853. Both were members of the 
Baptist Church. The paternal grandfather, An- 
drew Wallace, was born on the Emerald Isle, and 
was immediately brought to America by his parents, 
who were Calvinists. They came to this country 
about 1792, settled in the Palmetto State, and here 
Andrew grew to manhood, and was married. At 
the age of twenty-three years he went to Kentucky, 
and later moved to West Tennessee, where he re- 
mained until 1S60. He then came to Arkansas, 
located in Pope County, and there his death oc- 
curred in 1873. He and wife were also members 
of the Baptist Church. The maternal grandfather, 
Edward Goldsby, was a native of North Carolina, 



and died in North Carolina. He was a soldier in 
the War of 1812. Judge Jeremiah G. Wal- 
lace was reared by his grandparents, with whom 
he came to Arkansas, and his educational facilities 
were not of the best, for he never attended school 
more than about nine months altogether. After the 
war he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 
about eighteen years of age, after which he taught 
school in Polk County for about three years, and 
also clerked for some time. He began the study 
of law while teaching, and was admitted to the bar 
in the fall of 1873. In the fall of 1875 he re- 
turned to Dover, opened an office for one year, and 
then went to Ann Arbor, entering the law depart- 
ment of the University of Michigan, from which 
he graduated in the spring of 1877. From there 
he returned to Dover, and in the spring of 1878 
he came to Russellville, where he has remained 
ever since. In 1882 he was elected prosecuting 
attorney, and re- elected to this position in 1884. 
He was candidate for circuit judge in 1889, and 
was elected to that position on September 1, 1890. 
Success is the best test of merit in this life, and 
Judge Wallace is in every way a successful man. 
He is a stanch and willing friend, a compliment 
that is equal to any that may be paid him in these 
days of selfish and sordid ambitions, and he is a 
self-made man, what he has won in the way of this 
world's goods and personal achievements being 
wholly due to his own good fighting qualities. He 
was married in the spring of 1878 to Miss Mirand 
Berry, a native of Leeds, England, and the daugh- 
ter of Joseph Berry, who came to America about 
1859. To the Judge and Mrs. Wallace were born 
six children: Mabel, Mary Elizabeth, Catherine, 
Lewis A., Grace and Robert. Mrs. Wallace is a 
member of the Episcopal Church. Judge Wal- 
lace is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of 
P. and the K. of H. He is the owner of a fine 
farm, seventy- five acres under cultivation and 600 
in timber, and has a residence in town. He is 
a close and attentive student to his profession, 
and his recent election to the office of circuit judge 
of the Fifth Judicial District shows the estimation 
in which he is held by the people of this and ad- 
joining counties. 






^ 



POPE COUNTY. 



265 



Dr. D. J. Warren, Atkins, Ark. The name of 
Warren is one of the most influential in Pope 
County, Ark., and Dr. Warren, among its most tal- 
ented physicians, has obtained a reputation plac- 
ing him in the front ranks of the medical fraternity. 
His parents, Charles and J. (Jones) Warren, were 
natives of Tennessee. The father was a stone- 
mason by trade, and died in April, 1832. The 
mother moved to Mississippi in 1845, and resided 
there until her death in 1852. Our subject's pa- 
ternal grandfather, Burris Warren, was a native 
of England and came to America-in colonial times. 
He was a soldier in the Revolution and in the bat- 
tle of Bunker Hill he received a slight wound, 
although he continued to fight for independence 
until the close of the war. He had but one broth- 
er and he was also in the Revolutionary War, but 
on the other side. After the war Grandfather War- 
ren lived in North Carolina for some time, married, 
and settled in Middle Tennessee, where he died 
about 1842. He was the father of about five chil- 
dren. Dr. D. J. Warren was born in Tennessee 
in 1828, but moved with his mother to Mississippi, 
where he resided until 1852. He then came to 
Arkansas, settled in Conway County, and there en- 
tered and bought land which he cultivated for a 
number of years. He was married twice, first in 
1855 to Miss Nancy Eubanks, a native of Arkan- 
sas, and daughter of James Eubanks, who em- 
migrated from Alabama to Arkansas at an early 
day. Mrs. Warren died December 7, 1858. Dr. 
Warren's second marriage occurred January 1, 
1861, to Miss Mary A. Bernard, a native of 
Pope County, and the daughter of Wilson Ber- 
nard. Mr. Bernard was born in the Buckeye 
State, but came to Arkansas at a very early day. 
He settled in the woods on the river bottom, culti- 
vated the soil, and during the war went to Texas, 
where his death occurred. The mother's maiden 
name was Appleton and she died in 1877. They 
were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
The father assisted in removing the Indians fi'om 
this section. He had seven children, and for 
a time he employed a teacher for them. One 
daughter in Texas, another in California, and our 
subject's wife are the only ones now living. Dur- 



ing the late unpleasantness between the North and 
South, or in the fall of 1861, Dr. Warren enlisted 
in Company C, Tenth Arkansas Regiment Infant- 
ry, and was in the siege of Port Hudson where he 
was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant. He was 
captured at that place, sent to the military prison at 
Johnson's Island, Ohio, and retained until the sur- 
render of Gen. Lee, a period of two years. The 
Federal Government gave transportation to Little 
Rock and he walked the balance of the way. Dr. 
Warren began the study of medicine in 1858, at- 
tended lectures in Cincinnati diiring 1859-60, and 
was assistant surgeon for fifteen months in the 
army before he was promoted to the rank of lieu- 
tenant. On his return to Pope County he at once 
began the practice of medicine. In 1873 he was 
one of the first to locate in Atkins and soon bought 
forty acres near town. In 1881 he bought six acres 
in town, and erected a residence on it. He is now 
the owner of 240 acres of land, and has 175 acres 
under cultivation, also an additional tract of eighty 
acres of good timber. The Doctor with four oth- 
ers, erected the school-house at Atkins, and he has 
done much to advance the cause of education. To 
Dr. Warren's second marriage were born five chil- 
dren, two living: Joicy (was born April 8, 1868, 
and died August 7, 1871), Rhoda (was born Decem- 
ber 9, 1869, and received her education at Arka- 
delphia and Blue Moirntain), Andrew T. (was born 
September 7, 1872), and Tabitha (was born March 
11, 1874). The family are members of the Bap- 
tist Church. Dr. Warren is a member of the Ma 
sonic fraternity. 

W. G. Weimer, proprietor of the Weimer Drug 
Company, and cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank 
at Russellville, owes his nativity to Johnson Coun- 
ty, this State, and was born in 1864. He was the 
youngest in a family of five children born to A. W. 
and Mary (Towell) Weimer, natives of Germany 
and Tennessee, respectively. The father came 
from Germany when a child, resided for some time 
in the' Keystone State, and then moved to Iowa 
about 1838. Later he came to Arkansas, where he 
was married. He was a physician and had an ex- 
tensive practice over about thirty miles. He was 
killed in the spring of 1865. The mother is still 



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266 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



living. W. Gr. Weimer was educated in the Van- 
derbilt University at Nashville, Tenn., and gradu- 
ated from the same in 1884. He at once began 
the drug business in Russellville, starting with a 
stock of several thousand dollars, all paid, and soon 
had a good trade. In 1887 he started the Weimer 
Savings Bank, the first along the railroad with the 
exception of those at Little Rock and Van Buren, 
and in 1890 he bought out Harkey Bros', drug 
business, moving to his new quarters shortly after- 
ward. He carries a stock of fresh drugs valued at 
$8,000, and does both a wholesale and a retail 
business. This establishment is very attractive 
and complete in every particular, and the pre- 
scription department is in the hands of exper- 
ienced pharmacists. On April 1, 1890, the Weimer 
Savings Bank was incorporated and became 
known as the Citizens Savings Bank, with W. 
G. Weimer as cashier. The bank occupies a por- 
tion of the drug store, was incorporated with a 
$50,000-capital, and is doing an extensive business. 
Mr. Weimer is now sole owner of the drug store. 
He also owns extensive farm property in Yell 
County, rich bottom lands, all tillable and con- 
sisting of 600 acres with 512 acres under cultiva- 
tion. This, one of the finest tracts of land in the 
State, was bought in January, 1890, at a cost of 
$21,400 and Mr. Weimer has placed several thou- 
sand dollars worth of improvements on it since then. 
On this farm he also runs a general store, carries a 
stock of goods valued at $3,000 and does an annual 
business of $12,000. He has a cotton-gin and mill 
and in Russellville he owns a business block. He 
has in all ways contributed to the growth of Rus- 
sellville, and is one of the best citizens. He is an 
A. F. & A. M. and K. of P. at Russellville, and 
also a Knight Templar. 

C. D. Weir, farmer, Moreland, Ark. Since his 
residence in this county, the reputation which Mr. 
Weir enjoys has been not only that of a substan- 
tial and progressive farmer, but of an intelligent 
and thoroughly-posted man on all public affairs. 
He is a native of Georgia, born in 1861, and moved 
with his mother to Arkansas in 1870, settling in 
Pope County, where the mot bar bought eighty 
acres of land. C. D. Weir was reared to manhood 



on the farm in Pope County, and is thoroughly 
familiar with all the details of farm life. He re- 
ceived a good, practical education in the common 
schools, and in 1878 selected as his companion in 
life Miss Sarah F. Crites, who was born in 1802, a 
native of Arkansas. This union was blessed by 
the birth of five children, viz. : Jesse L. (deceased), 
Lewis L., Levada L., Oscar and Homer, the last 
four living at home with their parents. After his 
marriage Mr. Weir continued his farming interest 
on rented land for six years, after which he pur- 
chased eighty acres and was engaged in improving 
this for some time. This he at last sold and in 
1890 be purchased the tract upon which he now 
reside?, consisting of 180 acres, 105 acres of which 
are under cultivation. Mrs. Weir was one of three 
children born to Jesse and Olive C. (Stennett) 
Crites, the children named in order of birth as fol- 
lows: Lee Anna (deceased), Sarah F. and Lucinda. 
Mr. and Mrs. Weir are members of the Missionary 
Baptist Church, and are held in high esteem by 
all. Mr. Weir' s farming operations are conducted 
in a manner indicative of a progressive, thorough 
agricultiarist, and his future prospects are indeed 
bright. 

James Wells, farmer, Holly Bend, Ark. Since 
his residence in this county Mr. W^ells has been 
very prominently identified with the material af- 
fairs of this community, indeed far more so than 
the average man. Particularly in the direction of 
agricultural affairs is this true. He was born in 
Lincoln Coiinty, N. C, in February, 1822, and is 
the son of Samuel and Agnes (Jenkins) Wells, na- 
tives also of North Carolina. They passed their 
entire lives in that State, and died there about 
1845. The paternal grandparents came from Vir- 
ginia at an early day, and the maternal grand- 
parents were from Ireland. James Wells left his 
native State in 1841, and emigrated to Arkansas, 
locating in Pope County, where he has since made his 
home. He is now residing in Holly Bend, where 
he is the owner of 500 acres of land with 400 acres 
under cultivation. He was married in 1845 to 
Miss Mary Logan, daughter of Robert E. Logan, 
of Pope County. Six children have been born to 
this vmion: Sarah, James B., Franklin, Richard 



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POPE COUNTY. 



267 



and the other two died in infancy. Mrs. Wells 
died in 1809 leaving him with four children. He 
then married Miss Margaret L. Faulkner, daugh- 
ter of Thomas Faulkner, and they have four chil- 
dren: Hugh, Mary, Elmer and Bruce. All the 
children to both marriages are single with the ex- 
ception of two, James B. and Richard. The for- 
mer married Miss Martha Anthony and Richard 
married Miss Elizabeth Oates. In 1863 Mr. Wells 
enlisted in the Confederate Army under Col. Stir- 
man, and was in State service until the close of 
the war. After this he returned home, and has 
been enarasfed in cultivating the soil ever since. 

John B. West is the junior member of the firm 
of T. M. Neal & Co., general merchants of Dover, 
Ark. These gentlemen have ably represented the 
mercantile interests of this portion of this county, 
and the stock of goods which they carry can not 
fail to satisfy the wants of their patrons. He was 
born near the town in which he is now residing, on 
May 11, 1857, to Major D. and Lucinda (Latimer) 
West, and with his parents made his home until 
1883, his opportunities for acquiring a knowledge 
of the world of books being extremely limited, 
for in any year he did not receive over three 
months' schooling, and often not that amount. 
However, he always had a natural inclination to- 
ward books, and even in his early boyhood he 
used his spare time to advantage and was often 
found poring over his books when others of his 
age were spending their time in play. By this 
means he received such education as has elevated 
him to the position he now occupies and has been 
the means of the success of his life work. After 
the death of bis father, in 1880, he remained on 
the old homestead and continued to care for the 
remainder of the family until the summer of 1883, 
when he rented out the homestead, and with his 
mother, moved to town, where he entered the em- 
ploy of T. M. Neal & Co., as book-keeper, in which 
capacity he served faithfully and well for six 
years. At the end of this time Mr. Neal, the gen- 
eral manager, opened an establishment in Morrill- 
ton. Ark., and Mr. West took his place in the store 
in Dover and became general manager for the firm. 
In January, 1890, he bought an interest in the 



business, and still retains his position as general 
manager, and to the admirable manner in which 
he has conducted affairs, the success of the estab- 
lishment is largely due. The stock of the firm con- 
sists of an excellent general line of goods, to- 
gether with a complete asisortment of farming 
implements, the annual sales of which are about 
$26,000. They also deal quite extensively in cot- 
ton, which is a leading industry in their vicinity, 
and although they started with a very small capi 
tal, industry, energy and square dealing have built 
them up their present trade, and they have abun- 
dantly prospered. They are now doing business on 
a capital of about 139,000 and are the heaviest 
dealers in the town of Dover. Mr. West was mar- 
ried on March 28, 1878, to Miss Maggie Phillips 
of Dover, by whom he has six children : Caroline, 
Mary Ruth, Jonnie B., David, Alexander H. and 
Sallie. Mr. West and his wife belong to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, in which he 
is recording steward, and he also belongs to Lodge 
No. 17, of the A. F. & A. M., at Dover. In this 
order he holds the position of treasurer. He is a 
Democrat, but has never been what might be 
termed a politician. In May, 1SS4, he was ap- 
pointed notary public and is now filling his second 
term. He still owns an interest in the old home 
stead, which he still looks after and controls, but 
aside from this his capital is invested in his busi 
ness. He is a thoroughly-liberal, public spirited 
and substantial citizen. 

Robert B. Whitesides (deceased) was another of 
the many representative citizens of Polk County, 
Ark., whose native soil was the Palmetto State, his 
birth occurring in York County in 1828, and was the 
son of Maj. Whitesides, a native of Ireland. The 
father was reared in his native country and re- 
mained there until about fifty years of age, when 
he emigrated to America. He settled in South 
Carolina, and there his death occurred many years 
ago. Robert B. Whitesides came to Pope County, 
Ark., in 1856, and there married the widow of 
William W. Williamson. She was the mother of 
two children by her first husband, William D. and 
Sallie N., and five children by Mr. Whitesides: 
Robert Lee, Edward B., Martha E., Lucy Ann 






\ « 



268 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



and Walter D. , all of whom are now living with 
their mother with the exception of Robert, who is 
in Texas. Mr. Whitesides was a farmer by occu- 
pation and followed this until his death which oc- 
curred on the farm where his widow resides, in 1886. 
He was for many years intimately associated with 
the county's interests, and in his death the county 
keenly felt the loss of one of its best citizens, a 
man who had taken jjart in its development and 
witnessed its growth for many years. He was 
the owner of 700 acres of land, 250 acres under 
cultivation, lying on the north side of Arkansas 
River, seven miles below Dardanelle. In 1863 Mr. 
Whitesides enlisted in the Confederate Army, and 
served unlil cessation of hostilities. Since the 
death of her husband Mrs. Whitesides rents her 
land mostly, but lives at home and cultivates a 
portion of it herself. She and one daughter are 
members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. 
She was the daughter of Darling Love of Pope 
County, but who was a native of North Carolina. 
The latter came to Po])e County fifty-two years 
ago, bought land here and reared a family of eight 
children, three of whom were killed in the Con- 
federate Army. Two brothers of Mrs. Whitesides, 
Ransom D. and Calvin M. Love, live nearRussell- 
ville, where the former is engaged in the hard- 
ware business, and the latter is a farmer and ! 
preacher. A sister, Madrid, married Squire R. O. ' 
Morton, and is now living near Potts' Station. 
The remainder of the children are deceased. 

Judge Robert B. Wilson has become distin- 
guished in the history of Pope County, Ark. , where 
he is known as a talented attorney. His mind is 
clear, concise, analytical and well poised, and be- 
ing of quick perception, what might cause others 
hours of study and research, he reaches at a bound, 
and the reasons for his convictions are always 
clear and well defined. He was born in Shelby 
County, Tenu., May 26, 1850, being the eldest 
living child of Benjamin F. Wilson and Mary W. 
Wilson (whose maiden name was Mary W. Will- 
iams), the former of whom is a native of Gooch- 
land County, Va. , the latter of Rutherford County, 
Tenn. The father was a worthy tiller of the soil, 
and in 1854 moved from Tennessee to Arkansas, 



and settled in Conway County, where he lived for 
two years. He then purchased a small farm in 
the southeast corner of Pope County on the Ar- 
kansas River, where by dint of industry and econ- 
omy he had laid the foundation of a small fortune 
by cultivating his land and raising stock, when the 
late Civil War overshadowed our country. He 
opposed secession from the Union, but when his 
State seceded, like a true Soiithern patriot, he es- 
poused the cause of his home and supported the 
Southern cause with his means and his person, 
surrendering with his regiment at the close of the 
war, and returned home to find his hard-earned 
accumulations all swept away, except his little 
farm, and it lying waste, from the ravages of the 
war. He began life again on the farm, which he 
reimproved and successfully cultivated until 1874, 
when he removed with his family to Springdale 
Washington County, Ark., where he now resides. 
Tlie family are strong believers in the doctrines of 
the Baptist Church, and are at all times liberal 
patrons of religion and education, Mr. Wilson and 
W. Bernard being the organizers and promoters of 
the first good school in their community in 1859 
and 1860, the building having been for the most 
part erected at their expense at Galla Creek, in 
what is now Lee Township, where a neighborhood 
school was maintained until closed by the war, and 
where after the war a good country school was 
kept in successful operation for several years. 
The immediate subject of this sketch inherits 
Scotch and Irish blood of his ancestors, his jiater- 
ual great-grandfather having come fi'om Scotland 
to this country and settled in Virginia, and his 
paternal grandmother as well as his maternal an- 
cestors being of Irish extraction. Judge Wilson 
was reared on a farm, and principally in Pope 
County, in the common schools of which, and by 
devoting to study his leisure hours at home, he 
acquired the rudiments of a common English edu- 
cation. After becoming twenty-one years of age 
the earnings of his first years were devoted to pay- 
ing his expenses in acquiring further education. 
He was attending St. John's College in Little 
Rock when the Brooks-Baxter gubernatorial con- 
test began, and was the only student occupying a 






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POPE COUNTY. 



269 



room in the college building (a large three-story 
brick). When Gov. Baxter was so unexpectedly 
ousted by Brooks and his allies, not knowing who 
were his friends, he went immediately to the col- 
lege, which was a military institution, and placed 
himself under the protection of the students, and 
occupied the room of the subject of this sketch, 
being guarded by the students until his friends 
could rally and come to his assistance. Young 
Wilson laid aside his books and took up arms in 
the cause of Baxter, joining a company that had 
come from Pope County. During the latter part 
of the session he attended the college he acted as 
janitor in order to obtain money to defray his ex- 
penses. He began the study of law in Russell- 
ville, Ark., in the month of April, 1875, and was 
admitted to the bar at Dover (the then county seat) 
in May, 1870, after which he entered upon the 
practice of his chosen profession. Having begun 
life as a school teacher, and his thorough knowl- 
edge of the details of the work being known, he in 
the fall of 1875 was by the district school trustees 
elected county superintendent of public instruc- 
tion, a position he filled for one term. At the 
time of his election nearly every school district in 
his county was greatly in debt, and the whole 
school interest of the county badly demoralized, 
caused by the mismanagement and extravagance 
during the reconstruction period, while the State 
was under carpet-bag rule. At the expiration of 
his term nearly every district was out of debt and 
the foundation laid for good permanent schools 
throughout the county. In March, 1878, he was 
appointed as county and probate judge to fill out 
an unexpired term, and in September following 
was elected for the ensuing term. During his in- 
cumbency as judge he reduced the indebtedness of 
the connty from about 133,000 to $14,000, and in 
numerous other ways made an enviable record. 
He was appointed register of the United States 
land office at Dardanelle, Ark., in the spring of 
1888, by President Cleveland (the term of his 
predecessor, who was a Republican, having ex- 
pired), of which he took charge May 1, and which 
position he held until August, 1889, when he was 
removed by President Harrison without any cause 



being assigned for such removal. And as he tilled 
the office in an efficient manner, and no charges 
were ever made against him, nor complaint of his 
official or personal conduct, the conclusion is inev- 
itable that he was removed for political reasons 
alone, although he had not served half his term. 
Upon his removal he returned to his home in Rus- 
sellville and to the practice of his profession, in 
which he has again built up a lucrative business, 
having the confidence of his clients and the re-spect 
of all. He was married November 21, 1877, to 
Miss A. Mary Howell, a daughter of Jesse C. 
Howell, an old pioneer of Arkansas, and to them 
three children have been born: H. Howell (Janu- 
ary 6, 1879), Mary (March 4, 1881), and Frank C. 
(May 31, 1886), all of whom are living. Judge 
Wilson owns a river-bottom farm of 400 acres, 200 
acres of which are in cultivation; one of 160 
acres, 30 of which are in cultivation, also 50 acres 
of good creek bottom three miles from Russellville, 
20 of which are in cultivation. The two last 
named tracts are underlaid with a valuable vein of 
coal. He also owns several small upland farms 
and tracts of land, one of which, whose area is 
forty acres lying five miles northeast of Russell- 
ville contains five flowing springs, some of which 
are strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur. 
He owns the residence in Russellville in which he 
resides, also several which he rents. He owns his 
law office and the lot on which it stands, which is 
an excellent location, also other business property 
and a large and well selected law library, in fact 
the largest in the county. He is a member of the 
order of the K. of P., and while he is agreeable 
and has a host of friends, he is not to say a society 
man, being rather of a reserved and retiring dispo- 
sition. He possesses excellent powers of elucida- 
tion, the most abstruse and complicated subjects 
being handled with ease and grace and made per- 
ceptible and plain to the most ordinary understand- 
ing. His success at the bar has been attained by 
a combination of native talent, culture, tact and hard 
study. His success in business is due to the close 
application, energy and habits of strict economy 
that characterize both him and his excellent lady. 
He is not a politician in the popular sense of the 



^^k 



term, nor a partisan, but has strong convictions of 
the correctness of the principles of his party, and 
at the same time is liberal and generous toward 
those holding difFerent opinions. While he has 
occupied official positions, he has not been an of- 
fice-seeker, the positions he has held having rather 
sought than been sought by him. Being public 
spirited in disposition he takes a pride in every 
move tending to the improvement and advance 
ment of his town and country, and is prominently 
connected with many of her public and benevolent 
enterprises. 

W. P. Wooten is the senior member of the firm 
of Wooten & Gates, dealers in general merchan- 
dise at Bussellville, Ark. The mercantile interests 
of this section are ably represented by these gen- 
tlemen who are honest, upright and enterprising 
men of business. Mr. Wooten was born in Pa- 
nola County, Miss., July 20, 1844 and in that 
State he was made familiar with the duties of farm 
life, his early advantages for acquiring an educa- 
tion being very limited. Previous to attaining his 
thirtieth year, after leaving the farm, he had been 
engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store for J. G. 
Ferguson & Co., at this place, but at the above 
mentioned age he opened a grocery establishment 
and for nine years was in business alone, his ef- 
forts for obtaining a livelihood meeting with fair 
success. At the expiration of this time he formed 
a partnership with William M. Gates, and they 
immediately embarked in general merchandising 
and have continued amicably together up to the 
present time. Their connection has been smiled 
upon by Dame Fortune, and they now do an annual 
business of about $05,000, which fact speaks in an 
eloquent manner as to their popularity and busi- 
ness ability. Mr. Wooten is interested in all en- 
terprises pertaining to the welfare of this section, 
and is a stockholder in the Peoples' Bank and the 
canning factory of Bussellville. He was married 
in 1871, the maiden name of his wife being Sally 
Price, who died about one year after their mar- 
riage leaving an infant, which died soon after. He 
was married a second time in 1873, Miss Lucy 
Brooks becoming his wife, but at the end of about 
two years, he unfortunately lost this wife also, 



she having borne him one child that survives her. 
The ceremony of his third marriage took jjlace in 
1875, Mrs. Ferguson of Bussellville becoming his 
wife. Their union has been blessed in the birth 
of two children: Lula Jessie and Junior. Mr. 
Wooten is a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church, is a Democrat, and socially belongs to the 
A. F. & A. M. , in which lodge he is treasurer. 

Dr. J. M. Yancey, Bussellville, Ark. Among 
the people of Pope County the name of Dr. Yan- 
cey is a familiar one, for he has practiced his pro- 
fession here for many years, and is one of the 
county's most successful practitioners. He was 
born in Tennessee in 1832, was reared and edu- 
cated in that State, and at the age of nineteen 
years he began the study of medicine under a 
preceptor. In 1853 and 1854 he attended the 
Southern Botanic Medical College at Macon, now 
at Atlanta, and known as the Eclectic Medical Col- 
lege of Georgia, and graduated from the same in 
the winter of 1854. He at once began practicing 
in Tennessee. In 1857 he was married to Miss N. 
M. Woodward, a native of Tennessee, and in 1858 
came to Arkansas, settling in Pope County, near 
Dover, where he bought a farm. He followed 
agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he entered 
the Confederate Army, Company I, of King's regi- 
ment, and was detailed to assist the surgeons. He 
served in that capacity and also had charge of suji- 
plies for the sick during the marches. He was in 
the Trans-Mississippi Department, mostly in Ar- 
kansas, and participated in the battle at Jackson 
Ferry, being in active service until cessation of 
hostilities. The regiment was discharged at Mar- 
shall, Tex., after which the Doctor returned to 
Pope County. He sold his farm, moved into 
Dover and commenced a practice which has since 
been uninterrupted. In 1871 he moved to a farm 
near Bussellville, and in 1886 moved to that town. 
The Doctor owns 300 acres of land in various 
tracts, has 175 acres under cultivation, and has 
taken a great deal of interest in grading his cattle 
and hogs. He owns two acres in Bussellville, has 
a good residence, and keeps several blooded cows, 
Jersey and Durham. Dr. Yancey lost his first 
wife during the war, while he was absent, who left 



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POPE COUNTY. 



271 



two children, one of whom have since died, and 
one, Margaret L., is the wife of Joseph Bradley, 
now living in Stonewall County, Tex. The Doc- 
tor's second marriage was to Mrs. Annie M. Hays, 
daughter of Mr. Lydick, and to this marriage 
were born four- children — three sons and one daugh- 
ter. Emma Estella survives, and is now teachinsr 
the Arkansas class in Liberty College, Glas- 
gow, Ky. She graduated at Hamilton Female 
College of Lexington, Ky., in June, 1889, and 
soon after took a course at the National Nor- 
mal School at Lebanon, Ohio. Her school life 



occupied a period of six years prior to her normal 
course, a year and a half of that time at Madison 
Female Institute, Richmond, Ky. The family are 
members of the Christian Church, in which Dr. 
Yancey is elder. He was the second of nine chil- 
dren born to David and Rachel Davis (Madaris) 
Yancey, the father a native of North Carolina and 
the mother of Tennessee. David Yancey was a 
farmer by occupation and went to Texas in 1863, 
where his death occurred about 1880. The mother 
is still living, and is a member of the Christian 
Church, of which her husband was also a member. 




^^ 



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272 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



f ilif it X¥ll. 



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Johnson County— Its Boundaries, Topography, Lands and Mineral and Agricultural Resources- 
A Remarkable Coal Region— Land Entries and Early Settlement— Educational Inter- 
ests—Ecclesiastical History— County Organization— Location of Seat of Justice and 
Erection of Public Buildings- Political Townships— List of County Officers— Sen- 
ators AND Members of the Lower Branch of the Arkansas Legislature Repre- 
senting This County— The Fifth Judicial Circuit and the Johnson County 
Bar — Notaries Public- Congressional Representation— Railway His- 
tory AND Prospects— Towns, Villages and Post-offices— Military His- 
tory—The Dld Militia Organization, the Mexican War and the 
Struggle of the States— The County Press, Its Editors and 
Publishers— The Johnson County Pomological Society. 



' I love everything that's old — old friends. 
Old times, old manners, old books, old wine."- 



■ Goldsmith. 




OHNSON COUNTY is bounded 
on the north by the counties of 
[i| [^li** Madison and Newton, on the 
|: west by Franklin, on the east by 
?i Pope, and on the south by the 
^ ^%° County of Logan. The coun- 
ty contains an area of 433,000 
acres of rolling land, the general 
surface of the country being hilly. 
Something over one-fifth of the 
lands are improved. Some lands 
are still owned by the United 
States, and the Little Rock & Fort 
Smith Railroad Company owns 
131,800 acres. A considerable 
portion of the county is irrigated 
by four large creeks : Horsehead, Spadra, and Big 
and Little Piney, which rise back in the mount- 
ains and flow across the county to the river. The 
crops chiefly raised are corn, cotton, oats, wheat, 



Irish and sweet potatoes and turnips. Peaches, 
apples, pears and plums yield abundantly. John- 
son County is exceedingly rich in minerals, the 
western half being thickly underlaid with coal, 
while iron ore, yielding seventy per cent of iron, 
has been discovered in not less than thirty points 
in the county. Mines of lead, kaolin, gypsum and 
other metals have been discovered at various quar- 
ters, and only require capital to develop. No coun- 
ty in the Arkansas River Valley contains a greater 
variety of timber than Johnson, the varieties em- 
braced being every species of oak, hickory, pecan, 
Cottonwood, ash, beach, elm, cheny, walnut and 
pine, of which there is an almost inexhaustible 
supply. 

As may be judged from the above brief sum- 
mary of Johnson County's native resources, none 
other of the counties of the State classed under the 
head of areas, affording multiple advantages are 
superior to it; and indeed, there are only five others 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



273 



of the remaining seventy-four counties in the State 
which in all respects conform to the ideal of a com- 
bined agricultural and manufacturing region, as is 
suggested by the elements and advantages of the 
immediate territory under notice. The county is 
a coal region of the State, if a classification is 
made according to the report and maps of Prof. 
Winslow, formerly of the Arkansas Geological 
Survey. It is decidedly a timber region, if a 
great aggregate of hardwoods and pine count for 
anything. It is a fruit region by reason of the 
mountain surface included in its boundaries, and 
by reason of the fact that upon occasions of com- 
petitive trial its orchard product has secured for the 
State its highest honor. It affords throiiErhout the 
territory overlying its coal measures an unlimited 
supply of shales and clays suited to the plastic arts. 
It is throughout its whole area (excepting 6(),000 
acres rugged mountain surface) adapted to profit- 
able mixed farm pursuit. And in consequence of 
its collective advantages (superior residence con- 
ditions, production of textile material, rearing of 
live-stock, coal, timber, plastic clays, fruit, grain 
and garden products) it is one of the counties that 
especially aid in the forecast of a manufacturing 
future for the State, as well as a future of adapt- 
able and therefore profitable agriculture. 

This is a country the loveliness of which, before 
railroad days, had been for many years on the lips 
of those who ascended the Arkansas from Little 
Kock to Fort Smith; and since the construction of 
the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad for a num- 
ber of miles along the road — from Spadra to Coal 
Hill — is afforded a continued view, the extent and 
beauty of which is sure to wake the traveler from 
his reverie — looked upon, never thereafter fading 
from memory. Including in its boundaries terri- 
tory belonging to the famous' Boston range of the 
Ozarks, and at the same time haviuEf frontage 
on the Arkansas River, the region under notice 
presents to the eye the combined attractions of a 
mountain, river valley, and piedmont country. 
The mountains afford the widest and loveliest pros- 
pects it is possible to conceive of our southern 
country; and in turn when viewed fiom the val- 
leys and foot-hills there is no region of this State, 



Missoiiri, or the Indian Territory, where the tower- 
ing ranges of the Ozarks loom up more majestically. 
The Boston and Mulberry mountains traverse the 
northern areas of the county to the Arkansas 
River. 

The value and extent of th^ merchantable tim- 
ber found here is brought out remarkably in tho 
fact that the shipments of lumber from the county 
has for years exceeded the total shipments of all 
kinds from all other points along the line of the 
Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad. An esti- 
mate of the merchantable forest was made in 
1887, according to which it was assumed that the 
total standing timber aggregated in round num- 
bers. 1,400,000,000 feet, board measure. This 
has been reduced by reason of an increased export 
and local demand, and by reason of timberlaud 
converted into farms and orchards, but it can be 
safely assumed that the aggregate at this time is 
not less than 1,200,000,000 feet, board measure. 
Of the whole, it was accepted in 1887, that the pre- 
dominant white oak and hickory forests footed up 
716,000,000 feet; post oak, red oak and white oak 
forest, 498,000,000 feet, and the pine 249,000,000 
feet, which ratio, no doubt, applies now as it did 
then. The locality of the white oak and hickory 
is that of the moantain surface of the country, 
notably the Boston range and its immediate rami- 
fications. The pine occurs in the eastern and south- 
eastern parts of the county. The locality of the 
post oak, red and white oak forest combined is 
that of the uplands and foot-hills. 

According to topographical character of the 
total area of the county, 433,000 acres in extent, 
it is accepted that 12,000 acres is river lowlands; 
47,000 acres, creek valley and prairie; 207,360 
acres, mountain plateau and mountain slopes; and 
176,640 acres, uplands and foot-hills. Of the whole, 
the proprietary control of 231,000 acres is vested in 
citizens of the county, 40,000 acres in the Little 
Rock & Fort Smith Railroad Company, about 120,- 
000 acres Government land, and about 40,000 acres 
forfeited State tax lands, lands with uncomjjleted 
title, and water surface. The price of improved 
river land is from .|30 to $50 per acre; improved 
creek land, $10 to $25; improved upland, $7.50 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



to $12.50, unimproved, $2.50 to $7.50; improved 
mouDtain land, except when set in orchard, $7.50 
to $12 50, unimproved, $1.25 to $5. On an aver- 
age the river lands produce 1,400 pounds cotton, 
or 40 bushels of corn to the acre. The average 
yield of creek valleys is, for cotton 1,000 pounds, 
corn 30 bushels, oats 30 bushels, and wheat 12 
bushels to the acre; average yield of uplands — cot- 
ton 800 pounds, corn 25 bushels, oats 30 bushels and 
wheat 12 bushels. This is exclusive of the mount- 
ain table lands, the average yield of which is as fol- 
lows: Corn 30 bushels, oats 40 bushels, wheat 15 
bushels, and potatoes 200 bushels per acre. The soil 
is not adapted to any of the cultivated grasses, ex- 
cept German millet, which yields 4,500 pounds to 
the acre. Little or no attention has as yet been paid 
to livestock industr}', though there exist no reasons 
why it could not be made profitable if proper at- 
tention were given to it. The county is well wa- 
tered by running streams. The uplands are sup- 
plied by springs and wells, and the water is gener- 
ally soft and excellent for domestic purposes. 
There are no mineral springs of much note. Low 
Gap, a spring of very cold chalybeate water, situat- 
ed in the northern part of the county, has some 
local reputation and affords a summer resort for 
both health and pleasure. 

Of the whole area of the country, the best fruit 
territory (something over 200,000 acres in extent) 
is that part which is classed as mountain plateau 
and mountain slopes. It is extraordinary in its 
excellence as a fruit region, and however unex- 
plained simply by reason of its soil and elevation 
(for there are like systems of elevation and soil in 
the State which do not compare with it), there is 
no qiiestion of there being not another part of the 
American continent which is seen to be so remark- 
ably adapted to fruit culture, as the system of this 
State and Missouri, known as the plateau of the 
Ozarks. The members of the mountain elevation 
of the county, in part occupied by bearing orchards, 
are known locally by the following names: Gillian 
Mountain, Low Gap Mountain, Woods Mountain, 
Red Lick Mountain, Satter White Mountain, Moon 
Hull Mountain, South Spur of Boston Mountain, 
and Batson township. It is ascertained that the 



number of bearing apple and peach trees in the 
mountain district is as follows: Apples about 70,- 
000 and peaches about 30,000. This is exclusive 
of bearing trees in the valley and piedmont region 
which in all likelihood would swell the respective 
totals fifty per cent, and it is probable that the 
grand total in a few years will be increased two 
hundredfold. Excepting the "Ben Davis" and 
" Shockley,"' which grow equally well in the mount- 
ains and in the piedmont territory, the following 
varieties of winter apples are chiefly grown for 
market: "Arkansas Beauty," "Rome Beauty," 
"Wine Sap," "Jonathan," " Limber Twig," "Ben 
Davis," " Winter Pearmain," "Shannon," "Ste- 
vens' Pippin," and "Ozone." 

This county is distinguished as affording the 
largest body of coal found in the northern division 
of the Arkansas coal basin, its distribution having 
an extent of nearly 170,000 acres, of which all ex- 
cept about 30,000 acres, is that part of the territory 
of the county lying in Townships 8, 9 and 10 
north, and in Ranges 21-25 west. Of the total 
area of the coal fields of the county only a fraction 
is controlled at this time liy coal operators— the ex- 
ception being an aggregation of several thousand 
acres of select coal lands controlled by options 
lodged in a company, the members of which are 
citizens of Clarksville. And in consequence of the 
absence of a particular demand for coal lands, the 
situation is found to be one which should have at- 
tractions for those who seek to "get. in on the 
ground floor" in the matter of such properties. It 
is not exactly thrown at those who wish to buy, but 
in general it is vahied at the amount it will bring 
in market as farm or timberland. The total coal 
shipments from the county per year, aggregate 
something like 150,000 tons. The principal ship- 
ping points are Coal Hill and Spadra, situated in 
the southwestern part of the county, on the Little 
Rock & Fort Smith Railroad. The number of coal 
miners and shippers is four, as follows: Stiewel & 
Co., Coal Hill and Eureka; Ouita Coal Company, 
Coal Hill; Black Diamond Comjiany, Felker's 
Switch; and L. S. Philpott, distant five to six miles 
from Coal Hill. In a reclassification of the coals of 
the State by the Arkansas Geological Survey, the 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



275 



coals of the county (excepting tbe last named below) 
are termed semi-bituminous, instead of semi-anthra- 
cite, as distinguished by David Dale Owen, chief 
of the original geological reconnoissance of this 
State. The following is their analysis, taken from 
Vol. Ill of the annual report of the Arkansas 
Geological Survey, on the geology of the coal 
regions of the State: Philpott shaft — ash, 3.09; 
sulphur, .1)93; water, .869; fixed carbon, 80.915; 
volatile hydro-carbon, 14.133; specific gravity, 
1.292. Felker'sslope— ash, 3.22; sulphur, 1.164; 
water, 1.128; fixed carbon, 81.277; volatile hydro- 
carbon, 13.211; specific gravity, 1.317. Mason's 
drift — ash, 5.803; sulphur, 1.155; water, 1.116; 
fixed carbon, 80.86; volatile hydro-carbon, 11.206; 
specific gravity, 1.339. Harkreader's Well — ash, 
6.313; sulphur, 2.867; water, 1.562; fixed carbon, 
78.91; volatile hydro-carbon, 10. 347; specific grav- 
ity, 1.318. Stiewel & Co.'s Coal Hill shaft- 
ash, 8.351; sulphur, 3.672; water, 1.017; fixed 
carbon, 76.119; volatile hydrocarbon, 10.841; 
specific gravity, 1.333. Allister slope, Ouita Coal 
Company — ash, 8.332; sulphur, 3.531; water, 1.178; 
fixed carbon, 76.494; volatile hydrocarbon, 10.475; 
specific gravity, 1.32. Stiewel & Co.'s Eureka 
shaft — ash, 1.242; sulphur, 2.745; water, 1.1; 
fixed carbon, 72.835; volatile hydro-carbon, 11.278; 
specific gravity, 1.345. Pickartz drift — ash, 3.561; 
sulphur, .862; water, .702; fixed carbon, 78.99; 
volatile hydro-carbon, 15.877; specific gravity, 
1.308. 

The coal basin, for which Coal Hill is the cen- 
ter and shipping point, is 10,000 acres in extent, 
and by actual test is known to afFord a coal having 
a thickness of three feet seven inches, to four feet 
four inches, with the greater part running over 
four feet. Consequently the thickness being con- 
sidered in connection with the extent of the terri- 
tory, and also the fact that it is the best smokeless 
steam coal mined in the United States, there is at 
once suggested for its coal industry a magni- 
tude which soon will not be surpassed by the best 
developments possible in other large coal fields of 
the State. The property of the Ouita Coal Com- 
pany, in the Coal Hill district, is 1,060 acres, of 
which 620 acres are owned in fee simple, and the 



remainder controlled on a lease of twenty-one 
years, only six years of which have expired. This 
is exclusive of 100 acres owned by the company 
under the title of the Montana Mine, situated on 
the line of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railway, 
between Spadra and Hartman, this county. It is 
also exclusive of the well-known Ouita Mines, 
owned by them in Pope County, the coal territory 
of which is 600 acres in area, or, say in all, a total 
of 1,760 acres coal property owned and controlled 
in the Arkansas Valley. The seat of the company' s 
plant in the Coal Hill district is known as the 
Allister Slope, distant from Coal Hill two and a 
half miles, and is connected with the main line by 
a branch road, operated by the Little Rock & Fort 
Smith Railroad. The coal at the head of the 
company's slope is 130 feet below the surface, and 
occurs in a vein having a thickness of four feet of 
merchantable coal. This thickness has been found 
to prevail throughout the entire basin of which its 
property is part, and, accordingly, as there is no 
better coal mined for steam and domestic uses, it 
is to be accepted that this company's industry, as 
that of the coal business of the district, will be car- 
ried to a magnitude equal to the importance which 
attaches to an inexhaustible supply of fuel. The 
present output is at the rate of twenty to twenty- 
five carloads a day. 

The property of Stiewel & Co. is that which 
originally gave to the coal fields of the State their 
value and reputation, and even as in the beginning, 
it was found to give importance to the coal meas- 
ures of the Arkansas Valley, so at this day it tran- 
spires that the product of their Coal Hill shaft 
forms the standard of excellence by which the Ar- 
kansas coal is judged to be the best steam fuel 
mined in the United States. The extent of their 
property in the Coal Hill and Eureka Mine district 
aggregates 2,300 acres, which area distinguishes 
the company as the largest owners of coal lands in 
this State and Missouri, situated on the lines of 
the Missouri Pacific system. Of the whole, they 
control something over 1,500 acres in the district 
immediate to their Coal Hill shaft, and 800 acres 
in the Eureka Mine district, situated between Coal 
Hill and Clarksville. The depth to the coal is 180 



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276 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



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feet, or, say a hoist of 200 feet. Their present 
output per day is twenty to twenty-five carloads. 
Exdusive of coal furnished the Missouri Pacific 
system, which takes the bulk of their output, the 
markets supplied by Stiewel & Co. are Kansas 
City, Atchison, Topeka, Leavenworth, Galveston, 
Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco, Little Rock 
and Helena. The coal of both the Coal Hill and 
Eureka shafts is classed by Prof. Winslow, in the 
report of Arkansas Geological Survey, published in 
1889, as semi-bituminous, and the analysis of both 
coals given as below. Bvit at the same time it is 
deemed appropriate to supplement the analysis by 
remarks and an analysis taken from Dr. Owen's 
work, published in 1860. The table from Dr. 
Owen's report refers to the immediate basin in 
which the Eureka shaft is located. Coal Hill 
shaft— water, 1.017; sulphur, 3.672; ash, 8.351; 
fixed carbon, 76.19; volatile hydro-carbon, 10.841. 
Eureka shaft — water, 1.1; sulphur, 2.715; ash, 
12.042; fixed carbon, 72.835; volatile hydro-car- 
bon, 11.278. The specific gravity of the Coal Hill 
coal was given at 1.345; that of the Eureka coal 
at 1.333. The analysis from Dr. Owen's report 
was as follows: Volatile matter, 8.4; coke, 91.6; 
moisture, .5; volatile gases, 7.9; fixed carbon, 
85.6; ashes, 6. Following are the remarks ap- 
pended to Dr. Owen's analysis: "This coal con- 
tains a far higher percentage of fixed carbon than 
any western coal that has been analyzed in my 
laboratory, except some coals which I received 
from Ai'kansas some years before the commence- 
ment of the survey. ' ' The property is owned ex- 
clusively by A. Stiewel of Little Rock, who has 
been in the coal trade of the State since 1877. His 
control dates back ten years, and from a minimum 
output, when succeeding to the property, he has 
raised the industry to the rank of one of the largest 
interests of the kind in the Southwest. A difli- 
culty in the way of the rapid development of the 
coal interests of the county is the same that is en- 
countered in the lumber districts of this State, a 
scarcity of cars in season; only that in coal dis- 
tricts the effect is to drive miners to other fields, 
and the local companies are consequently exposed 
to the danger of losing their men. 



The population of Johnson County is about 
18,000. The people represent every State in the 
Union, and in morals, industry and integrity, com- 
pare favorably with any community east or west. 
The temperate climate, great fertility and dura- 
bility of soil, adaptation to fruit culture and pro- 
duction of stock, together with the county's vast 
natural, undeveloped resources, both mineral and 
vegetable, can not fail to commend it alike to the 
capitalist and the man without money. Formerly 
game was plentiful, and deer, bears, turkeys, geese, 
ducks, tpiails, squirrels and rabbits were found. 
Black bass, salmon and other varieties of fish were 
plentiful in the mountain streams. Amusement 
more or less profitable for the sportsman can still 
be found in Johnson County, as the Arkansas River 
and other streams abound with fine fish, and wild 
turkeys and deer are to be found in certain locali- 
ties. 

Lands were entered in this county by the fol- 
lowing named persons prior to 1850, and the per- 
sons so entering them were many of them among 
the pioneers who remained to do their part toward 
the development of the county. Names, unless 
known to have been wrongly spelled, are given as 
they appear in the record. It has been found im- 
practicable to present them in the chronological 
order of the entries, but care has been taken to as- 
certain the township in which each claim was 
located: Township 10, Range 21 — Hiram A. Lind- 
sey, 1845. Township 8, Range 22 — Jacob Robinson, 
1841; James Harvey Jones, 1838; Thomas May, 
1836; Richard W. Adams, 1836; Casander Robin- 
son, 1840; B. H. Zachary, 1838; Hugh E. Porter, 
1838; W. W. E. Moreland, 1839; Samuel Adams, 
1838; David Porter, 1838; Andrew L. Black, 1837; 
William Porter, 1838; Alexander Black, 1837; 
Isaac Hughes, 1837; W. W. Adams, 1842; Cabel 
Zachary, 1836; Colby Dennis, 1838; James Rod- 
gers, 1838; John R. Willis, 1841; James P. King, 
1837; Philemon Williams, 1836; Caleb B. Zachary, 
1836; Bartlett Zachary, 1838. Township 9, Range 
22 — Archibald D. Hogins, 1841; Owen B. Hogins, 
1839; Isaac Wood, 1839; H. H. Herring and L. 
M. Wood, 1836; Parsons Jackson, 1839; John B. 
Brown, 1839; John Simpson, 1840; John Bales, 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



277 



1839; Samuel Adauis, 1840; Nathaniel Simpson, 
1842; Joab Durham, 1839; John Smith, 1839; 
Newton W. Brown, 1840; Adam T. Smith, 1836; 
William J. Parks, 1836; Shelton Wooster, 1836; 
Clayton R. Clark, 1844; Williamson Spears, 1839; 
Jeremiah Moreland, 1839; Robert McCaney, 1836; 
Nancy Seager, 1839; William Houston, 1839; 
John King, 1839; William Johnson, 1839; Ed- 
ward M. Simpson, 1839; Samuel Turner, 1839; 
Willis Collier, 1839; William C. Simpson, 1839; 
Jones Rogers, 1839; John Grounds, 1836, Charles 
Haynie, 1836; Hillary H. Herring, 1836; John 
Marshall. 1836; James and Phillip Madden, 1836; 
Peter Thornbury, 1836; Thomas Madden, 1836; 
David Slinkard, 1836; Christopher N. Gassett, 
1839; Jeremiah Moreland, 1839; Logan M. Wood, 
1836; William King, 1839; Lewis Johnson, 1839; 
Isaac L. Shelby, 1836; William Morgan Will- 
iams, 1846; Lewis Garner, 1850; Edward E. 
McConnell, 1839; Thomas May, 1840; James 
Madden, 1839; Thadeus F. Moreland, 1845. 
Township 10, Range 22 — Mary Johnson, 1845; 
Robert B. Johnson, 1846; William Spears, 
1844; George L. Patrick, 1844; Thomas King, 
1847; E. G. Gilbreath, 1844; William M. H. 
Newton, 1844; Auger Price, 1844; Willis Darks, 
1850; E. Newton, 1844; James P. Blancit, 
1850; Catharine Whitlock and others, 1845; 
A. B. Joyner, 1846; Joseph Adkins, 1847; Sam- 
uel Towel, 1845; Thomas Sling, 1848; Hiram 
Tomlinson, 1848; Reuben Pienson, 1846; J. D. 
Pulliam, 1844; William H. Colthorp, 1849; John 
S. Price, 1844; Jesse May, 1844; William S. Swi- 
gart, 1849; Joshua Jones, 1849; Sterling May, 
1845; George L. Patrick, 1847. Township 11, 
Range 22— Hamilton W. Blackwell, 1848; Will - 
iam Mea£s, 1848; B. W. Cox, 1848; Byrd George, 
rS48rJames E. Harris, 1850; Martin W. Bunch, 
1848; SampsonD. Free, 1848; Uriah Russell, 1848; 
Joseph Atkins, 1848. Township 12, Range 22— 
William Mears, 1847. Township 7, Range 23— Jor- 
dan Thomson, 1841; Maurice Brown, 1841; John 
Cravens, 1841 ; Rufus C. Sadler, 1 831 ; John C. Ward, 
1843; L. O. Sadler, 1841; Henry Buckman, 1841; 
Uriah Thompson, 1841; »N. Cravens, 1841; Isaac 
N. Burnham, 1841; Lorenzo D. Rody, 1839; Er- 



vin Rowland, 1839; Sandy Lipe, 1839. Town- 
ship 8, Range 23— W\ W. E. Moreland, 1841; 
William H. Polk, 1836; John Howell, 1840; 
Rachel Crawford, 1829; John Knight, 1836; 
John R. H. Scott, 1839; James AVare, Jr., 
1836; Phineas Williams, 1830; Thomas N. Ma- 
hon, 1841; David D. Watson, 1841; Edward 
E. McConnell, 1842; Hugh E. Porter, 1841; 
Daniel Porter, 1841; Minty Granthorn, 1841; 
Jacob Rogers, 1841; John R. Willis, 1841 ; Joseph 
James, 1830; James Patterson, 1836; Thomas G. 
Robinson, 1841; Matthew Willis, 1841; Peter 
Spingler, 1832. Township 9, Range 23— John 
Simpson, lS36; Andrew Houston, 1838; James T. 
White, 1839; Augustus M. Ward, 1839; Andrew 
D. Wolf, 1840; Joshua Simpson, 1839; Benjamin 
Ray, 1837; John Linton, 1837; Job Chrisman, 
1836; Leonard Sorter, 1839; Littleberry Robinson, 
1848; Moreau Rose, 1837; Edward E. McConnell, 
1836; Josiah Craven.?, 1837; Joseph James, 1837; 
William Collier, 1837; Kesiah Mason, 1836; B. H. 
Zachary, 1836; Philemon Williams, 1836; Joe 
Chrisman, 1836; Andrew Brown, 1838; David 
Ward, 1839; John Denning, 1847: John J. Dor- 
sey, 1848; Andrew M. Fulton, 1836; Thomas 
Powers, 1836; David Ward. Sr., 1836; Anthony 
Smith, 1850; William Sawyer, 1836; Presley Jami- 
son, 1838; Thomas G. Robinson, 1840; Thomas 
S. D. Young, 1848; JohnW. Patrick, 1836; Maj. 
Thompson, 1837; John Teague, 1838; Gabriel 
W. Payne, 1848; Peter Carpenter, 1850; H. J. 
Shropshire, 1837; John H. Johnson, 1837; Will- 
iam Johnson, 1837; James W^. Karnes, 1836; 
Samuel Whitney, 1839; Thomas Simpson, 1838; 
John Howell, 1836; Sterling May, 1837; Cham- 
pion Choto, 1837; John Houston, 1838; Richard W. 
Adams, 1837; Seth J. Howel, 1838; Isaac N. Rob- 
inson, 1837; Joseph James, 1837; Elijah B. Al- 
ston, 1836; JohnM. Wilson, 1841; Francis Logan, 
1836; Joseph Smith, 1845; Anthony Smith. 1849; 
Roljert McMurray, 1836; William Sawyer and 
William Evans, 1836; Issac N. Robinson, 1837; 
Preston Jamison, 1838; Thomas Arnold, 1837; 
William B. Walker, 1839; Greenberry Robinson, 
1839; Jacob Robinson, 1839; Samuel Adams, 1837; 
I James Keesie, 1836; Philip Jones, 1839; Robert 



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278 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Dielehay, 1839; Josiah Jenkins, 1830; Overton B. 
Alston, 1847; Nicholas Brewer, 1836; John R. 
H. Scott, 1837; John R. Somerset, 1838; James 
K. Polk, 1836; L. O. Saddler, 1836; John B. 
Howell and P. Jones, 1838. Township 10, Range 
23— Oliver Barsham, 1847; John W. Patrick, 
1840; Richard M. Lee, 1840; Cader Lee, 1839; 
Henry P. Bell, 1840; James Harris, 1840; Joseph 
James, 1848; John G. Brown, 1848; William Lee, 
1840; Britton Lee, 1840; John M. Wilson, 1841; 
Margaret Payne, 1847; William R. Hill, 1840; 
George W. Smith, 1845; Absalom Pryor, 1840; 
Jephtha C. Payne, 1841 ; Nathaniel C. Pryor, 
1849; George W. Garrett, 1840; Augustus M. 
Ward, 1840; James B. Harris, 1840; Jerome B. 
Annis, 1842; Laban C Howell, 1840; James 
Richey, 1842; Josejah Stewart, 1850; TolwerBlock- 
ard, 1850; Joseph W. Ryan, 1840; Russell Lee, 
1847; Benjamin F. Hartley, 1839. Township 
11, Range 23— Eli Cowen, 1839; Oliver Barsham, 
1847. Township 12, Range 23— William R. Hor- 
ner, 1839; Benjamin Pitts, 1839. Township 6, 
Range 24— George W. Wigginton, 1839. Town- 
ship 7, Range 24— Rufus C. Sadler, 1841. Town- 
ship 8, Range 24 — Harmon H. Brewer, 1835; Web- 
ster McCaslin, 1830; Clayton R. Clark, 1834; Lor- 
enzo N. Clark, 1834; Willian D. Reed, 1830; James 
H. Jones, 1839; James Shepard, 1830; John 
andM. T. Logan, 1836; John Knight, 1836; George 
Jamison, 1835; James Murphy, 1835; Joshua 
Gates, 1839; Frederick J. Moore, 1836. Town- 
ship 9, Range 24 — Hezekiah Dailey 1836; Leo- 
nard J. Garrett, 1837; Wesley Garrett, 1838; 
L. Armstrong, 1840; Robert H. Armstrong, 1845; 
James Hargraves, 1837; William M. Gwynn 
1836; Samuel Davis and William M. Gwynn, 1836; 
William Aills, 1837; Moses Ham, 1838; William 
Fritz, 1837; Aaron J. Livingston, 1837; Jacob 
Ham, 1837; James P. King, 1837; Dixon Rey- 
nolds, 1836; Gilbert Robins, 1837; Hugh Dunivan, 
1843; William C. Garrett, 1837; John Drennen, 
1838; John Dunning, 1838; Thomas Powers, 1836; 
William May, 1838; William Tatum, 1839; Will- 
iam Collier, 1842; Thomas Madden, 1836; Josiah 
Perry, 1836; James Cravens, 1836; Peter Allen 
1836; O. D. Hogins, 1838; James Logan, Jr., 1837; 



David Logan, Jr., 1840; Nimrod W. Dart, 1839; 
Thomas Robins, 1838; E. B. Alston, 1836; David 
Thompson, 1839; David E. Smith, 1850; Francis 
Logan and Robert McMurray, 1836; William W. 
Wilkins, 1838; Nancy Roberts, 1830; Lorenzo N. 
Clark, 1836; Hugh Logan, 1836; G. D. Hayes, 
1839; Henry B. Hays, 1836; Daniel B. Norris, 
1838; Jonathan Logan, 1836; Alonzo C. Sadler^ 
1836; David Perkins, 1830. Township 10, Range 
24 — Abraham Laster, 1840; Frederick Laster, 
1840; BurrH. Zachary, 1848; Thomas B. Porter, 
1840; Joseph M. Porter, 1840; James W. Boyd- 
ston, 1841; Bartlett Zachary, 1840; George Lewis, 
1844; Jane E. Hall, 1849; John Watson, 1849 
William S. Ogilvie, 1849; Henry Ward, 1840 
James B. Wilson, 1840; John M. Baskin, 1848 
William H. Royer, 1848; Reese B. Ward, 1843 
William Hamlin, 1849; Allen J. Hargraves, 1850 
Seth J. Howel, 1840; William McCord, 1847 
William Gray, 1841; James M. Ferguson, 1848 
Wesley Garrett, 1840; William Williams, 1848 
John Malloy, 1841; Henry B. Hays, 1840; John 
Penn, 1848. Township 11, Range 24— N. Flem- 
ing, 1849; Edwin Edwards, 1848; Township 12, 
Range 24 — Spencer Homer, 1844; Nathan Byrd, 
1844; John Arbaugh, 1844. Township 7, Range 
25 — James Cravens, 1847. Township 8, Range 25 
—Ray Marsh, 1833; Noadiah Marsh, 1836; Joseph 
Stout, 1839; O. D. Hogins, 1850; Alexander Will- 
iams, 1836; Lee Foster, 1836; Anderson Nicks, 
1839; Jonathan Logan, 1838; Daniel Connor, 
1831; Arpheus A. Sadler, 1836; William K. Lee, 
1839; John Knight, 1836; Elias W. Courtney, 
1839; Nathan Nesbitt, 1841; James Murphy, 
1836; Thomas Wilton, 1839; Augustus M. Ward, 
1839; Thomas Whittaker, 1838. Township 9, 
Range 25 — Abraham Laster, 1836; Thomas West, 
1836; Joshua H. Gates, 1836; Jesse Brashear, 
1836; Eli Patty, 1846; Henry S. Weathers, 1850; 
William E. Johnston, 1849; Renny Belen, 1839; 
Pleasant W. Hamblin, 1850; William A. Gwynn 
and Samuel Davis, 1836; Jonathan Courtney, 1836; 
Joseph Ring and Samuel Murray, 1837; John 
Fribs, 1836; Peter Allen, 1836; John S. Davis, 
1836; Joseph King, 1836; James Cravens, 1836; 
Samuel Davis, 1836; Anderson Nicks, 1839; Mai- 



^ 



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achi Iseley, 183'J; William H. Bates, 1837; Rob- 
ert H. Brown, 1838; Jarat Wright, 1839; William 
A. Anderson, 1839; O. D. Hogins, 1837; Robert 
H. Brown, 1838; James W. Smith, 1836; Peter 
Allen, 1837; Simon Logan, 1839; William Logan, 
1836; Thomas Anderson, 1836; Twitty Pace, 1836; 
Philemon Williams, 1837; Edward Davis, 1838; 
John Cargill, 1837; L. Whittle, 1836; Zadock 
Brashear, 1846; Lorenzo N. Clark, 1836; Walter 
Threadford, 1836; James Cargill, 183(); Robert 
Cargill, 1836; Matthew T. Logan, 1836; Miles T. 
Scott, 1836; James Logan, 1836; Heirs of David 
Logan, 1836; John Logan, 183(); William A. An- 
derson, 183(5; I. Tayloi-, 1836; James W. Smith, 
1836; David Pearson, 1836; Dickinson Burt, 1839. 
Township 10, Range 25— James Morris, 1840; 
Willis Steele, 1840; George Lewis, 1844; Mandy 
F. Bartlett, 1847; William Johnson, 1840; Louis 
Hargraves, 1849; William Ake, J840; Thomas I. 
Young, 1840; James Young, 1840; Robert R. 
Balls, 1847; Hart well Morris. 1848; Bartlett Zacli- 
ary, 1840; M. A. Kendall, 1848; James Cravens 
and others, 1840; Isaac Kersey, 1840; George 
Moore, 1843; Thomas Hale, 1844; Joseph T. Mile- 
ham. 1840; Claiborne Ake, 1840; Felix G. Ake, 
1840; Isaac Kerser, 1840; William Crawford, 1840; 
John Ward, 1840; Jesse E. Crook, 1842; James 
Hargraves, 1847; John C. Cloud, 1848; Joseph 
James, 1839; John Swaggerty, 1840; Henry Ryan, 
1840; William T. Hyden, 1847; Twitty Pace, 
1839; Davis Hargraves, 1840; Robert Har- 
graves, 1840; John Ward, 1840; John Hamblin, 
1840; Benjamin L. Pace, 1850; John Armstrong, 
1840; John Johnson, 1850; William Williams, 
1851; John Springer, 1841; Sarah M. Williams, 
1840; Renny Belen, 1840; Jacob Arbaugh, 1841; 
E. N. Davis, 1850; Henry Ryan, 1840; Thomas 
West, 1844; Henry S. Weathers, 1850; Frances 
Arbaugh, 1839. Township 12. Range 25 — Jonas 
L. Tebbuts, 1848; Joseph Stewart, 1848; Louis 
Eubank, 1848; John H. Davis, 1848; James F. 
Hill, 1848. Where different claims in the same 
township were pre-empted by one man, the earliest 
date only is given. Many of these are the names 
of Johnson County's pioneers — men who left com- 
fortable Eastern and Southern homes, surrounded 



by all the evidences of a high civilization and, "by 

the sweat of their face,'' by toil and privations, 

made a new country to "blos.som as the rose, " 

while upon the hillsides, the cross roads and in the 

valleys, the church and the school-house have been 

erected, and the whole county tilled with a happy 

and prosperous people. To accomplish these great 

changes, time has been required, and surely and 

rapidly the grand old men and women, who in 

j their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the 

vu'gin soil as their heritage are passing away. The 

! number now remaining who can relate the inci- 

I dents of the first settlement is small indeed. 

The pioneer days are looked back upon as a 
happy, careless period, when people were so few 
I that they valued each other more and would not be 
I outdone in hospitality. The barbecue, which most 
of the people of the county attended merely to see 
j one another and have a good time, bas largely 
passed away. The marksmen, and every man was a 
marksman then, had their shooting matches, where 
the steadiest nerves and clearest eye won a beef, or 
some money. Almost every family had its whisky or 
peach brandy to refresh the giiests who visited 
them, although many of the same persons lived to 
see public feeling place liquor among the forbid- 
den things. There is quite a colony of Germans 
in this county. 

The earliest schools were ' ' pay schools, ' ' held 
in private houses or other convenient, at times 
quite primitive places, by itinerant pedagogues. 
The old school system was not a success, for the 
common-school idea did not become popular until 
within the last twenty years, and the public school 
lands were, by the state of public sentiment, al- 
lowed to amount to almost nothing in the shape of 
revenue. It was largely the wealthy who could 
educate, and they hired private tutors to fit their 
children for foreign colleges and academies; or an 
occasional professional teacher would open a school 
to prepare students for higher schools. Education 
was a luxury which poor whites could not have, 
and as for the negro the idea was not entertained. 
Education, too, was purely literary, such as it was 
in many other parts of the country. The practi- 
cal and industrial phases of it are just beginning 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



to be fully appreciated; the realization gains ground 
that indiistrial and practical education, not the liter- 
erary alone, is the key to all successful permanent 
progress. None in all the South have been quicker 
to adopt such progressive ideas and put them in 
practice than the leaders in the educational move- 
ments of Johnson County. The last published edu- 
cational statistics of this county are as follows: 
Enumeration — white, 6,034; colored, 212; total, 6,- 
246. Enrollment — white, 3,948; colored, 114; total, 
4,062. Number of districts, 77; number report- 
ing enrollment, 62; number voting tax, 71; num- 
ber of teachers employed, 83; number of school- 
houses, 77; value of school-hovises, |14, 139. The 
sum of $15,000 to $20,000 is expended on the 
schools of Johnson County yearly. There is a 
good balance of school fund in the county treas- 
ury unexpended. The schools are well organized 
and thoroughly equipped, and for the most part 
they are excepti(mally well taught. 

Amidst all the good things bestowed on this 
county by nature, its people have not forgotten 
God as the giver of all. Numerous churches are 
scattered all over the territory, ministered to by 
consecrated men, the members of which have 
ample opportunity for exemplifying in their eon- 
duct the maxims which guide their lives. From a 
comparatively early period religious societies have 
been prosperous here. It is not known that there 
was any but infi-equent preaching before about 
1835. There were early families, members of 
which aflSliated with the Primitive or Hard Shell 
Baptists, the Missionary Baptists, the Methodists, 
and the Disciples or Campbellites. Now nearly 
every neighborhood has its church-house, Meth- 
odists, Presbyterians and Baptists predominate, 
though there are a few of other Protestant denom- 
inations and some Catholics scattered throughout 
the county. Sunday-school work is being prose- 
cuted with vigor. 

Johnson County was formed by the Legis- 
lature, November 16. 1883. Its southern bound- 
ary was defined November 2, 1835. Its eastern 
boundary was defined October 5, 1836. The line 
between Johnson and Franklin Counties was de- 
lined December 14, 1838, and on the same date of 



1848. The line between Johnson and Pope Coun- 
ties was defined February 19, 1859, and again 
March 27, 1871, and was re-established March 6, 
1875, and changed March 9, 1877. The first 
courts of this county were held at Old Spadra, a 
part of the time in Alston's store. The seat of 
justice was permanently located at Clarksville, and 
the first court there was held in the fall of 1837 in 
a building on the site of Pennington's store. Later 
courts were held in a building where the Floyd 
residence now stands. The "square" was devoted 
to county uses, and in its center a frame court- 
house was erected about 1838 or 1839, so old cit- 
izens say, which did service until it was destroyed 
by tire in May, 1872. A stone jail was built about 
the same time, a little back from the street, on the 
south side of the square. This was in use for 
many years until torn down. At the January term, 
1872, Thomas B. Paine, jail commissioner, re- 
ported to the county court that, in pursuance of in- 
structions, he had sold the old county jail lots to 
John C. Hill, and had purchased new jail lots from 
Francis M. Paine and wife. The sale was made 
for $75 and the purchase for $125. The county 
court-house was burned March 2, 1872, and on that 
day it was ordered by the county judge that Robert 
F. Naylor be appointed a commissioner to procure 
"suitable rooms for clerk's oflice, coiu't-rooms and 
rooms for grand and petit juries and to repair and 
fit said rooms for their respective purposes and to 
report his expenditures and procedings at the next 
April term of the county court." Mr. Naylor seems 
not to have completed this at the expected time, 
for it was not until the July term that he made his 
report to the effect that he had rented the rooms 
above M. Rose's store for court-room, and clerk's 
oflice, and the adjoining room for a jury-room, at 
$20. 50 per month for all of them. November 19, 
1874, the court appointed John M. Armstrong 
commissioner for the purpose of building a county 
jail, and authorized to prepare a plan and let the 
contract for the erection of the same. At the July 
term, 1873, the clerk had presented a copy of a re- 
port made by the grand jury to the Johnson Circuit 
Court at its March term, that year, recommend- 
ing the building of a jail. At the January term, 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



281 



1874, the petition for a jail had been by the board 
of supervisois continued to next session. At the 
April term, 1874, the consideration of the jail pe- 
tition had been again postponed. So late as the 
October term, 1874, the jail cause had been dis- 
continued by the board. The order of November, 
1874, seems to have been a spasmodic and unpro- 
ductive movement. At times since, the grand jury 
has recommended the building of a county jail, 
but no active steps have been taken to that end, 
and the records do not bear another similar order. 
Johnson County confines its prisoners in the State 
penitentiary at Little Rock. 

April 18, 1872, it was ordered by the court that 
a new court-house be erected at the seat of justice, 
and John S. Houston was appointed commissioner 
of public buildings, and required to submit to the 
county court at its adjourned session, May 10, fol- 
lowing, a plan of the building to be erected, and a 
statement of the dimensions thereof, and of the 
material of which it was to be constructed, and an 
estimate of its probable cost. May 10 it was or- 
dered that the commissioner of public buildings 
for the county of Johnson proceed without delay 
to complete, with detailed drawings and specifica- 
tions, the plans of a court-house adopted by the 
court. After the completion of said drawings and 
specifications the commissioner was required to 
give notice for at least thirty days in three news- 
papers, soliciting proposals to build said court- 
house agreeably to the plans and specifications 
adopted by the court. After the expiration of the 
thirty days' notice, the commissioner was instructed 
to open and carefully consider all proposals offered, 
and award the contract to such bidder as might, 
in his opinion, secure the early completion of the 
building, and protect the best interests of the 
county. July 3 the commissioner of public build- 
ings presented to the court proposals by different 
parties to build the court-house, and it appearing 
that some parties had put in their bids or proposals 
for currency and for bonds, and other parties for 
currency alone, it was ordered that further time 
be granted, and the commissioner notify those that 
had put in their bids in currency alone to again 
put in their bids in bonds. At the October term 



Mr. Houston reported that the lowest bid was that 
of A. J. Millard and E. S. King, of Little Rock, 
who entered into a contract for the erection of the 
building as follows: "This article of agreement 
made and entered into this second day of Septem- 
ber, 1872, by and between the honorable county 
court, of Johnson County, Ark., as party of the 
first part, and Willard & King, of Little Rock, 
Ark.," as principals, and W. A. Stuart, E. M. Phil- 
lips, Benjamin Thomas and D. P. Ujiham, of Little 
Rock, as security, as party of the second part — 
witnesseth that the party of the second part agree, 
and hereby bind themselves to furnish all the ma- 
terials and labor necessary to erect and finish com- 
plete the two story brick court-house building to 
be erected for the party of the first part at Clarks- 
ville, Johnson County, Ark., according to the 
drawings and specifications prepared therefor by 
John D. Edwards, architect. Little Rock, Ark., 
and which are signed and made a party of this 
agreement, for and in consideration of the sum of 
§30,875, said amount to be paid as hereinafter 
provided. The party of the second part also 
agrees that the work shall be commenced on or 
before the first day of February, 1873; that it shall 
be in strict conformity to the drawings and specifi- 
cations, and that the whole job shall be pushed on 
to completion as rapidly as possible consistent with 
its own durability and safety, and shall be fin- 
ished, complete in every particular, on or before 
the first day of December, 1873. It is mutually 
agreed that the work shall be under the supervision 
and direction of Col. John S. Hoiiston, duly ap- 
pointed by the court as commissioner of public 
buildings, or his successors in ofiice. It is further- 
more mutually agreed that if the party of the first 
part shall at any time desire any changes in either 
the quantity or quality of the work, they shall be 
acceded to and executed by the party of the second 
part without in any way violating or vitiating this 
contract, but the value of all such changes miist 
be agreed upon and endorsed upon this contract 
before going into execution, or no allowance will 
be made for them by either party. In consideration of 
the prompt and faithful performance of the foregoing 
terms and conditions, the said party of the first 



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282 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



part agrees and hereby binds himself to pay to the 
said party of the second part the aforesaid sum of 
$30,875, to be paid in the following manner, to 
wit: $5,000 v?hen the foundation walls are ready 
for the first tier of joists; $5,000 when the second 
tier of joists is in place; $5,000 when the walls 
are finished and the roof framing is done and up; 
$4, 0( )0 when the floors are laid and partitions built 
and roof entirely finished; $3,000 when the cornice 
and outside work of the building are completed; 
$2,700 when the j)lastering is finished and the sashes 
are in; $6,175 when the building is completed ac- 
cording to this contract and specifications herewith 
attached. It is hereby understood between the 
parties of the first and second parts, that each and 
every payment to be made as above enumerated 
will be in bonds of Johnson County, State of Ar- 
kansas, under and by virtue of an act passed by 
the Legislature of the State of Arkansas, and ap- 
proved March 28, 1871, authorizing the county 
courts of the several counties of the State of Ar- 
kansas, to issue bonds to build a court-house and 
jail in the above mentioned counties. In witness 
whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures 
and seals this twentieth day of September, A. D. 
1872." This contract was accepted by the court, 
and a bond for its fulfillment was entered into, 
signed by A. J. Millard, R. L. King, W. A. Stu- 
art, E. M. Phillips, Benjamin Thomas and D. P. 
Upham. Col. Houston resigned the position of 
commissioner of public buildings, February 14, 
1873, and was succeeded by R. S. Crampton. At 
the October term, 1873, the time for the completion 
of the court-house was extended to June 30, 1874. 
When completed the structure was duly accepted 
by the county. It is one of the best and most ex- 
{)ensive court-houses in the State, solid, artistic 
and convenient, and reflects great credit upon the 
county of whose enterprise it is a monument. The 
indebtedness incurred by the issue of county bonds 
to meet the expenses of its erection was paid 
promptly, and with comparative ease. The sev- 
eral political townships into which the county is 
divided are named Howel, McKennon, Pittsburg, 
Perry, Hickey, Piney, Pilot Rock, Spadra, Sher- 
man, Prairie, Ward, Grant, Stonewall, Horsehead, 



Batson, Low Gap, Mulberry, Hill, Lee and King. 
The following ofiicers of Johnson County have 
begun to serve at the dates mentioned, and re- 
mained in office until the accession of their suc- 
cessors: Judge — George Jamison, 1833; J. P. 
Keesie, 1835; J. L. Cravens, 1836; J. B. Brown, 
1838; Samuel Adams, 1846; M. Rose, 1848; J. B. 
Brown, 1850; C. B. Perry, 1852; H. A. Powers, 
1854; C. B. Perry, 1856; A. D. King, 1858; W. 
T. Hyten, 1860; S. H. Laster, June, 1865; A.M. 
Ward, 1866; Elisha Mears, 1868. Board of Su- 
pervisors— 1872-74; J. G. Connelly, 1874; W. G. 
Taylor, 1878; J. B. Porter, 1880; J. G. Connelly, 
1882; J. B. Porter, 1884; J. G. Connelly, 1888- 
90. Clerk— Thomas Janette, 1833; William Fritz, 
1835; A. M. Ward, 1836; J. G. Connelly, 1854; 
A. M. Ward, 1850; J. G. Connelly, 1860; C. C. 
Reid, November, 1865; J. B. McConnell, 1866; 
R. F. Nay lor, 1868; Edwin Greene, March, 1870 
(R. F. Naylor, clerk of the circuit court); J. M. 
Thompson, 1874; Q. B. B. Poyner, 1884; D. N. 
Clark, 1888-90. Sheriff— S. F. Mason, 1833; 
A. Sinclair, 1834; W. J. Parks, 1835; A. Sinclair, 
1838; W. M. H. Newton, 1842; J. M. Hamilton, 
1846; C. B. Mann, 1850; M. D. Griffith, 1856; 
Samuel Farmer, November, 1857; J. F. Hill, 
1858; W. L. Cravens, 1864; J. M. Laster, June, 
1865; E. N. Griffith, 1866; P. Hixen, 1868; R. S. 
Crampton, 1872; L. N. Swaggerty, from Decem- 
ber, 1873; J. M. Armstrong, 1874; E. T. McCon- 
nell, 1878; W. S. Jett, 1884-90. Treasurer— 
M. Rose, 1836; A. Lewis, 1838; William Adams, 
1840; R. A. Latimer, 1842; A. Smith, 1844; L. 
Armstrong, 1846; W. S. Swigart, 1848; M. A. 
Hill, 1850; William Fritz, 1852; J. Conway, 1856; 
William Fritz, 1858; T. Baskin, 1860; T. Powers, 
September, 1865, William Hamlin, 1866; J. R. 
Laferry, 1868; H. Jacobs, 1872; A. J. Clark, 1874; 
R. Houston, 1876; J. B. Wilson, 1880; W. G. 
Taylor, 1886-90. Coroner— J. P. Keesie, 1833; 
R. S. McMiken, 1835; A. L. Black, 1836; A. 
Brown, 1838; B. G. Clark, 1840; D. Hargraves, 
1842; Charles Dennings, 1844; Joseph Stewart, 
1846; J. Arbaugh, 1848; Lewis Matthews, 1852; 
James Carlisle, 1854; Lewis Matthews, 1856; 
James Ballard, 1858; P. Sanders, 1860; A. South- 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



283 



[ 



erland, 1802; W. Reed, 1864; J. C. Jones, 1866; 
J. C. Leek, 1808-72; Samuel Fleming, 1874; 
J. B. Lee, 1870; F. R. McKennon, 1882; J. T. 
Sykes, 1886-90. Surveyor— Augustus Ward, 1835; 
W. A. Anderson, 1836; J. W. Ryan, 1838; John 
Ward, Sr., 1840; D. G. Harris, 1842; Alfred 
Allen, 1844; W. D. Dropper, 1840; V. Wallace, 
1848; B. M. Davis, 1850; W. P. Clark, 1858; V. 
Wallace, 1802-04 ;B. M. Davis, 1860; A. R. Young, 
1808; Edward Greene, from March, 1870-72; S. 
H. Thompson, 1874; G. R. Daniels, 1878; Ezra 
Adkins, 1880; J. C. Bunch, 1884; J. M. Kelly, 
1886; Ezra Adkins, 1888-90. Assessor— J. F. Hill, 
1864-66; E. N. Griffith, 1808; L. Sykes, January, 
1870; L. Robinson, 1872; J. R. Price, 1874; J. 
M. King, 1878; J. W. Huddleston, 1882; J. T. Pat- 
terson, 1884; Reuben Matthews, 1886; J. M. King, 
1888-90. Officers elected September 1, 1890 for 
1890-92 -J. H. Basham, judge; J. N. Clark, cir- 
cuit clerk; John H. Powers, sheriff; W. G. Tay- 
lor, treasurer; J. T. Sykes, coroner; W. C. Boyle, 
surveyor; J. M. Kelly, assessor; H. L. Bunch, 
county clerk. State Senators representing John- 
son County have been as follows: J.Williamson, 
1836-38; S. Adams. 1840-43; M. Rose, 1844-46; 
W. A. McClain, 1848-51; M. Rose, 1852-55; W. 
W. Floyd, 1856-59; A. M. Ward, 1860-62; Ben 
T. Embry, 1862; William Stout, 1804-05; Ben T. 
Embry, Confederate Legislature, 1864; J. E. Crav- 
ens, 1866-67; J. N. Sarber, 1868-71; Thomas A. 
Hanks, 1873-74; C. E. Toby, 1874-77; John F. 
Hill, 1879-81; Ben T. Embry, 1883-85; G. T. 
Cazort, 1887-89; Senator elect, J. M. Harkey. 
Representatives in the Lower House — E. B. Al- 
ston and Samuel Adams, 1830-38; E. A. Pace and 
M. Rose, 1840; William Gray and William Mc- 
Clain, 1842-43; J. B. Wilson, W. W. Floyd and 
John B. Brown, 1844-45; W. M. H. Newton, Sam- 
uel Farmer and Samuel Turner, 1840; John H. 
Strong and S. Farmer 1848-49; O. Basham and 
S. Farmer, 1850-51; O. Basham and V. Wallace, 
1852-53; H. G. Butts and J. G. Watson, 1854-55; 
W. H. M. Newton and H. G. Wilson, 1856-57; 
S. Farmer and W. H. M. Newton, 1858-59; J. E. 
Cravens and L. Robinson, 1860-62; L. B. Howell 
and W. H. Connelly, 1862; J. Rogers and A. P. 



Melson, 1864-65; W. H. Connelly, Confederate 
Legislature, 1864; John W. May and J. S. Green, 
1806-67; W. W. May, 1808-09; W. G. Harris, 
1871; John N. Sarber, 1873; A. D. King, 1874; 
J. S. Green, 1874-75; A. S. McKennon, 1877; 
Louis Felton, 1879; F. R. McKennon, 1881; J. W. 
May, 1883; Isaac McCracken, 1885; T. P. King 
(succeeded by M. A. Moore), 1887; J. W. Coffman, 
1889; representative elect, J. W. Coffman. John- 
son Coiinty is in the Fourth Congressional District, 
composed of Johnson, Crawford, Franklin, Sebas- 
tian, Logan, Scott, Yell, Perry, Garland, Saline 
and Montgomery Counties, and rejiresented by 
Hon. J. H. Rogers, of Fort Smith. 

The Fifth Judicial Circuit is composed of 
Johnson, Yell, Conway, Pope and Franklin Coun- 
ties. The judges of this circuit have been, 
J. J. Clendenin, from December 28, 1840,; W. H. 
Field, from December 24, 1840; J. J. Clendenin, 
from September 0, 1854; Liberty Bartlett, from 
November 12, 1854; E. D. Ham, from July 23, 
1808; Benton J. Brown, from September 30, 1874; 
W. W. Mansfield, from October 31, 1874; Thom- 
as W. Pound, from September 9, 1878; W. D. 
Jacoway, from October 31, 1878; G. S. Cunning- 
ham, from October 31, 1882; J. E. Cravens, from 
October, 1889; J. G. Wallace, judge elect. The 
prosecuting attorneys have been, R. W. Johnson, 
from December 29, 1840; George C. Watkins, from 
January 11, 1845; J. J. Clendenin, from February 
17, 1849, to September, 1854; J. L. Hallowell, 
from September 8, 1858; Samuel W. Williams, 
from May 10, 1800; Pleasant Jordan, from Septem- 
ber 7, 1801; Samuel W. Williams, from July 0, 
1803; John Whytock, from December, 19, 1805; 
R. H. Dedman, from October 15, 1866; N. J. 
Temple, from Aiigust 15, 1868; Arch Young, from 
August 24, 1862; Thomas Barnes, from April 23, 
1873; J. P. Byers, from October 31, 1873; A. 
S. McKennon, from October 14, 1878; J. G. 
Wallace, from October 31, 1882; H. S. Car- 
ter, from October 30, 1886; Jeff Davis, prosecut- 
ing attorney elect. Some of Arkansas' most dis- 
tinguished lawyers have appeared in the Johnson 
Circuit Court, and the resident attorneys of the 
county have from the first taken high rank. The 



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list of resident lawyers at this time embraces the 
names of J. E. Cravens, present circuit judge, A. 
S. McKennon, J. W. Coffman, R. C. Reding, J. H. 
Basham, county judge elect, J. W. May, W. T. 
Hunt, Thomas B. May, E. D. W. Blythe, John N. 
Sarber, C. B. Wilson, J. D. Hunt and J. P. Bus- 
ter. 

The following-named residents of Johnson 
County hold or have until recently held com- 
missions as notaries public: F. L. Purrington, 
T. B. Blakley, R. C. Reding, J. H. Basham, J. 
M. Quaile, J. M. Thompson, R. E. L. Gray, J. 
N. Brown, W. F. Hunt, J. E. Watson, F. R. Mc. - 
Kenuon, W. A. AVhitemore, W. L. King, Charles A. 
Jones, E. A. Kline, Thomas Stevenson, Frank T. 
Diers. 

The Fourth Congressional District comprises 
the counties of Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Se- 
bastian, Logan, Pulaski, Scott, Yell, Perry, Gar- 
land, Saline and Montgomery. The present repre- 
sentative is Hon. J. H. Rogers, Democrat, of Fort 
Smith. 

The Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad, oper- 
ated as a part of the Gould system, crosses this 
county in a general direction east and west, with 
stations named Coal Hill, Hartman, Montana, 
Spadra, Clarksville, Cabia Creek (Lamar Post- 
office), Knoxville and Piney Station (Berlin Post- 
office). Following the construction of the Little 
Itock & Fort Smith Railroad, navigation of the 
Arkansas was abandoned, and the abandonment 
has had the effect of rendering steamboating on 
the upper Arkansas impracticable at this day, not- 
withstanding that for half a century before there 
hiid been no other highway for the commerce of 
country. As a consequence, if relief is to follow 
from a monoply of freight traific, it must come 
from one or more lines of railroad, the direction of 
which would render the resources of the interior 
of the county available as well as afford access to 
other markets, and therefore render competition 
practicable. It is not improbable that at least one 
such road — from north to south — will soon be built. 
A road has been chartered under the title of Kan- 
sas City, Bentonville & Southeastern Railroad, 
which, commencing at a point dividing Missouri 



and Arkansas, is to connect with the New Orleans, 
Natchez & Fort Scott Railroad at Clarksville, this 
county, and which will be a link in a chain of 
roads, the object of which is to connect Kansas 
City with New Orleans, by way of Bentonville, 
Springdale, Clarksville, Dardanelle, Hot Springs, 
and Hamburg, this State, and by way of Natchez, 
Miss. 

The several post offices in Johnson County are 
named as follows: Batson, Berlin, Clarksville, Cline, 
Coal Hill, Davis, Eubanks's Mills, Fort Douglas, 
Grace, Hagarville, Harmony, Hartman, Hunt, 
Knoxville, Lamar, Ludwig, Lutherville, Melson, 
Montana, Mount Levi, Ozark, Ozone, Powers, Smed- 
ley Spadra and Zadock. Berlin Post-office is located 
at Piney Station, Lamar Post-office at Cabin Creek. 
Clarksville and Coal Hill, money order offices, are 
the two largest towns in the county. Of these post- 
offices, Coal Hill, Hartman, Montana, Spadra, 
Clarksville, Lamar (Cabin Creek), Knoxville and 
Berlin (Piney Station), are on the line of the Little 
Rock & Fort Smith Railroad; the others are con- 
veniently distributed throughout the county. The 
less important points are some of them the centers 
of considerable trade, and all are supplied with 
churches and schools within accessible distance. 
Clarksville is the seat of justice; Coal Hill is the 
principal center of the county's coal industry; 
Montana is a point destined to become noted for its 
coal; Spadra is the seat of extensive coal opera- 
tions. Cabin Creek and Knoxville are promising 
lumber manufacturing points and local trade cen- 
ters. Clarksville, the county seat of Johnson 
county, is situated on the Little Rock & Fort 
Smith Railroad, 101 miles from Little Rock, and 
on S2)adra Creek, four miles from the Arkansas 
River. It is located on a level plat of land, with 
overhanging cliffs and ridges on the east and west, 
and the valley of Spadi'a Creek opening to the 
north and south. It has a population of 1,000, 
with business houses in proportion, and public 
improvements commensurate with its importance, 
including a handsome college building, erected by 
popular subscription. The town has been incor- 
porated since early in its history, and its charter 
was extended February 5, 1859. In common the 



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JOHNSON C0T3NTY. 



285 



citizens are Southerners who keep fully abreaht of 
the times. There are only a few of them who are 
wealthy, but as a whole they are in origin and 
equipment of a class whom it is not common to 
meet at interior western towns. And if at a vent 
ure an explanation were sought for their continu- 
ance at so remote a point, it would no doubt be 
found in the fact of the county aflFording the only 
natural gateway entrances to the Ozarks, it appear- 
ing to be only a question of time when Clarksville 
is to become a town of 10,000 to 15,000 inhabit- 
ants. On the social and moral side of the commu- 
nity the distinction is also to be made of a united 
sentiment in all matters pertaining to schools and 
churches. The Methodists, Cumberland Presby- 
terians, Catholics and people of other religious 
denominations have houses of worship or hold 
regular meetings. The school population, white 
and colored, is about 400. Local commerce is 
aided by the recently organized Bank of Clarks- 
ville. Coal Hill is about centrally located in the 
best part of the railroad lands, and contains the 
principal otfice of the land department of the 
Little Kock & Fort Smith Railroad Company. It 
was incorporated January 8, 1880. 

The coal interests here are treated more at 
length elsewhere. Much cotton is handled here, 
and two gins do a large business. The Arkansas 
Valley Improvement Company is engaged in pros- 
pecting, handling real estate and placing invest- 
ments. F. G. Srygley is general agent for the 
western division of the Little Rock & Fort Smith 
Railway land department, consisting of lands be- 
longing to the company, situated in Sebastian, 
Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Johnson Counties. 
This town, with a rapidly-growing population, has 
a bright future if the proper capital and ability are 
devoted to the development of its rich natural 
resources. Hartman, twelve miles west of Clarks- 
ville, was founded in 1881, and has at present a 
population of nearly 400. It is 113 miles west of 
Little Rock on the line of the Valley route. Its 
liusiness interests are represented by several gen- 
eral, grocery and drug stores, blacksmith and 
wagon shops, a hotel, a grist-mill, and a cotton-gin. 
It has three churches — Methodist, Presbyterian 



and Christian — and two schools. It commands an 
approach to the Boston range via Horsehead Valley, 
and this approach is known to atford one of the 
routes in this county over which a passage of the 
mountain is not deemed impracticable. At this 
jjoint the foot-hills converge on both the Arkansas 
and Horsehead Valleys, the immediate lowlands of 
which, 25,000 acres in extent, will alone give the 
place importance, once the whole area is placed in 
cultivation. Other advantages in prospect are a 
great body of coal, for which Horsehead Valley is 
celebrated, and large forests which flank the valley 
from its mouth to the head, all of which would be 
commanded in the event that a north and south 
railroad pursues the route indicated. This locality, 
the scene of the original coal discoveries in the 
State, is situated on the western outcrop of what is 
known as the Horsehead or Spadra coal basin of 
the upper Arkansas Valley. The distance from the 
Arkansas River is three miles. The principal 
shipments consist of cotton. 

In the pioneer period of the county, probably 
as early as 1837, a militia regiment was organized, 
of which the commander was Col. Hickey, and 
the major Nehemiah Cravens. Its general musters 
were held at Clarksville, its company musters at 
different localities in the county. For a time the 
center of much interest, it disbanded after a few 
years. Quite a number of the citizens of the 
county served their country in the Mexican War. 
Naturally the great majority of Johnson Counti- 
ans, espoused the Southern cause at the outbreak 
of the Civil War. The lack of records precludes 
more than an estimate of the number of men from 
the county who went into the Confederate service, 
as well as particular accounts of the constitution 
and service of the organizations, with which they 
were identified. The following items of war history 
have been gleaned, however. About 1,000 men, 
perhaps more, entered from this county. Con- 
sidering its small population at the time, this was 
a large number. Companies went out under com- 
mand of Capts. Basham, Turner, Armstrong, 
Perry, May, Hill and Swaggerty, and perhaps 
others. They served in various commands, and 
Capt. John W. May states no two of them were in 



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286 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



4 



the same regimental organization. There was 
scarcely an important campaign of the war that 
some of them did not take part in, and their ranks 
were decimated by battle and by sickness to such 
an extent, that it is estimated that not more than 
500 or 600 of the whole number returned. Capt. 
Basham rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and 
was killed at the charge of Ironton, Mo., in the 
fall of 1864. Capt. J. F. Hill was advanced to 
the command of a regiment. He was severely 
wounded. Jordan E. Cravens, now circuit judge, 
enlisted as a private, and also became a colonel. 
J. C. Hill commanded a company late in the 
struggle. No regular engagement between the 
contending forces took place in the county, but it 
was overran to some extent by scouting parties and 
marauders. Considerable property was destroyed 
or carried off, and a few people were killed. Late 
in the war quite a number of men from this sec- 
tion served in the Federal Army. Johnson County 
enjoyed exceptional quiet during the reconstruction 
period. 

The history of the press of Johnson County, 
may be thus briefly recounted: The Herald was 
established at Clarksville in 1877, by R. C. Hite; 
during 1883 it's name was changed to Laborers' 
Herald and it was edited by the Brothers of Free- 
dom, a secret order among the farmers of the 
county. In March, 1882, the first number of the 
Clarksville Enterprise was published by O. C. Lud- 
wig, who moved his printing material from Spring- 
dale. The Register was printed at Clarksville for 
a short time, about ten years ago by McCord & 
Pennington. The material was afterward moved 
to Paris, Logan County. In 1885 O. C. Ludwig 
sold the Enterprise to the Brothers of Freedom, J. 
R. Tolbert becoming editor, and the name of the 
paper was changed to Brothers of Freedom. The 
paper suspended within a year and the outfit was 
purchased V)y P. C. Stone, who l^egan the publica- 
tion of the Economist. In 1885 the Democrat was 
established at Knoxville l)y one Boyd and lived a 
few months. In the fall of 1885 the Arkansas 
Valley was launched at Coal Hill, by Rob- 
ert Stonecipher. Mr. Stonecipher soon sold out 
to Mr. Cox who, in turn, sold to P. C. Stone, 



and the paper was then called The Lancet. It sus- 
pended in the year 1887. In 188G the Economist 
suspended. The Clarksville Western Journal 
was started in March, 1887, by J. W. Adams. 
Tlie Lamar News was started early in 1887, by 
Robert Moffit and Samuel Maysfield. It soon sus- 
pended. The Coal Hill Monitor is now in its third 
volume. After editing it nineteen months, B. F. 
Grigsley was succeeded, October, 1890, by Talbert 
& Wilburne. In 1888 O. C. Ludwig began the 
publication of the Arkausan. Subsequently he dis- 
continued it and connected himself with the Her- 
ald Journal. In 1890 he resumed the publication 
of the Arkansan. The Herald, eleven years after its 
establishment by Mr. Hite, was consolidated with the 
Western Journal, which had been started in 1886, 
by J. W. Adams. The consolidation was effected 
March 26, 1888, and the new paper became the 
property of a stock company with an authorized 
capital stock of 12,500, all of which was paid in. 
J. W. Adams was elected editor and business man- 
ager. He was succeeded, September, 1888, by O. 
C. Ludwig, who sold his interest to H. B. Milner, 
May 8, 1890, when the latter was elected editor 
and business manager. The paper has been quite 
prosperous since the consolidation. Some of these 
papers were but short-lived; some had but a pre- 
carious existence, though they lived longer; and a 
few, it is believed, are established and may be long 
continued with honor and profit to their publishers. 
All are entitled to credit, and their founders should 
be numbered among Johnson County's most en- 
thusiastic and practical friends. Each has, in its 
turn, done its part in the work of advancement, 
bearing messages of cheer to remote townships and 
pointing out public needs and influencing men and 
money to supply them. The country editor sel- 
dom waxes opulent, but he almost invariably does 
good to the community with which his lot is cast; 
and this county has been fortunate in the editors 
of its local journals. 

Mention has been made of Johnson County's 
prominent claims as a fruit-producing region. As 
a means to the furtherance of this interest, the 
Johnson County Pomological Society was organ- 
ized in the spring of 1889, of which J. M. Thomp- 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



287 



son as president, G. W. Hinchee vice-president, F. 
M. Farris secretary, and R. G. Ward treasurer. 
An exhibition was held at Clarksville in the fall of 
1889, and later a majority of the exhibits took 
prizes at the Fort Smith fair. The second annual 
exhibition was held at Clarksville in October, 1890, 
and, like its predecessor, was a great success, at- 
tracting much more general attention than the first. 
County agricultural fairs are talked of, and are 
likely to be inaugurated at no distant day. Or- 
ganization and determined effort are surely doing 
their work in pushing Johnson County to the 
front. 



J. W. Acord is the possessor of 160 acres of very 
good land, and, although this farm is rather small, 
it is admirably tilled, and yields a larger annual 
income than many larger and more pretentious 
farms. He was born in Roane County, Tenn. , in 
1853, to C. C. and A. E. (Murray) Acord, who 
were also native Tennesseeans. In 1857 they de- 
termined to seek "fresh fields and pastures new," 
and accordingly settled in Johnson County, Ark. , 
where the father passed from life on October 25, 
1873, his widow following him to his long home on 
December 9, 1882. In this county J. W. Acord was 
brought up to a farm life, and although he did 
uot receive much schooling in his youth, he acquired 
sufficient knowledge to transact, in a perfectly capa- 
ble manner, the business affairs of life. In the 
month of January, 1873, he started out to make 
his own way in the world, and as he was thor- 
oughly familiar with farming, he has made that 
his chief calling with the above-mentioned results. 
His marriage, which occurred on January 16, 
1873, was to Miss Rebecca J. Bench, whose parents 
were David and Martha (Prim) Bench, and to her 
union with Mr. Acord the following named chil- 
dren have been born: W. H. , Viola A., John F., 
Martha A., J. M. and Rachel. Daniel C. and 
Eliza J. were drowned in Mulberry Creek, in the 
northern part of Johnson County, in the month of 
February, 1886. Mr. Acord was bailiff of Mul- 
berry Township from 1878 until 1882, and in his 



political views he has always been a stanch Demo- 
crat, at all times supporting the men and measures 
of his party. He has always been a hard worker, 
and although he is doing well at present has met 
with a good many misfortunes, sutficient to dis- 
courage a less determined man. The loss of his 
two children was a severe blow to himself and 
wife, from the effects of which they can not 
recover. 

Ferdinand Alix belongs to the firm of Alix & 
Earp, proprietors of a steam grist, planing- mill 
and cotton-gin at Coal Hill, these gentlemen being 
also engaged in farming. Mr. Alix was born in 
Indiana in 1845, the second of ten children born 
to Peter J. and Eleanor (Coux) Alix, both of 
whom were born in France. At the age of nine- 
teen years the father came to America and in his 
youth learned both to till the soil and the carpen- 
ter's trade. In 1872 he settled in Arkansas, and 
until his death, which occurred in 1885, was a 
worthy agriculturist of Johnson County. His 
wife came to this country with her parents when a 
child, and is still living, being a resident of Ar- 
kansas. Ferdinand Alix became familiar with 
farm life in his youth, his early education being 
acquired in the common schools, and at the age of 
twenty-one years he began farming for himself, 
and came with his parents to Arkansas. He was 
married in 1876 to Miss Malinda Ella Kerr, a 
native of Georgia, and the year following his mar- 
riage he purchased 120 acres of land, and on this 
property cleared 80 acres and made a pleasant 
home. This land he afterward sold, and bought 
auQther tract on which he cleared forty acres. In 
July, 1 889 he purchased a large cotton-gin, which 
has a capacity of fifteen bales per day, his mill 
easily grinding 250 bushels of corn per day. His 
planing-mill is also an excellent one, and the work 
which he does is guaranteed satisfactory. He and 
his worthy wife have a family of four children: 
Elvis Eugenie, Henry (who died in infancy), Harley 
W. and Antonia. Mr. Alix belongs to Coal Hill 
Lodge No. 383 of the A. F. & A. M., and he is 
one of the representative citizens of this section, 
and is a warm advocate of free schools, and all 
other worthy causes. 



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288 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



L. I. Barger was brought up to the life of a 
farmer by his father Henry Barger, and like the 
majority of boys has followed in his father's foot- 
steps, and is now one of the leading agriculturists 
and stockmen of Johnson County. He was born 
in Henderson County, Tenn., March 17, 1851, to 
Henry and Matilda (Mitchell) Barger, the former 
a Tennesseean and the latter born in Kentucky, 
their marriage taking place in the former State, 
and resulting in the birth of sixteen children — 
eight now living: Clementine, William H., Mary 
E., L. I., Monroe R., L. F., Henry B, and J. B. 
Henry Barger came with his family to Arkansas 
in 1858 and settled on a farm in White County, 
which he greatly improved. He died in 18()2, a 
member of the Christian Church, his widow still 
surviving him, a member of that church also. L. 
I. Barger came with his parents to Arkansas when 
seven years of age, here grew to manhood and 
was married in 1874 to Miss A. M. Whitaker, who 
was born in Tennessee in 1852. She has borne her 
husband four children: H. H., W. I., A. L. (de- 
ceased) and Myrtilla L. (deceased.) Mr. Barger 
is the owner of 196 acres of tine farming land, 
and by industry and good management has suc- 
ceeded in putting 125 acres under cultivation. He 
has one acre in a peach orchard, and the cultivated 
portion of his land is devoted to the raising of corn, 
cotton, oats and grass. In 1 885 he built a fine frame 
barn 40x50 feet, and his residence is also a sub- 
stantial structure, and his outbuildings in good 
repair. Considerable of his attention ia given to 
the propagation of stock, and hogs, cattle and 
sheep are raised in quite large numbers. He is a 
thrifty, industrious farmer, and every detail and 
part of his work is well looked after and nothing 
is let go to waste. He and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically 
he is a Democrat. Mrs. Barger' s father was a 
native of Greene County, Tenn. , and her mother 
of East Tennessee, their births occurring October 
28, 1823, and December 26, 1820, respectively. 
They were married in Siillivan County of their 
native State, December 23, 1851, and in time a 
family of three children gathered about their 
board: A. M. (Mrs. Barger), H. A. and J. B. The 



father was a tanner, throughout life, was a soldier 
in the Mexican War, and was also in the Rebellion. 
He served as justice of the peace of Pittsburg 
Township for some six years, after his removal to 
this State and county in 1860, and here became 
the owner of a large amount of land which he im- 
proved in an admirable manner. He died on 
October 11, 1877, and his wife on September 26, 
1876,both being members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and the former a Royal Arch Mason. 

J. K. Baskin is well known throughout this 
region, for he was born here in 1S52, and as a 
youth and man he at all times made numerous 
friends. His parents, J. M. and Melissa (Laster) 
Baskin, were born in Tennessee, and came to Ar- 
kansas with their parents in 1839 and 1831 re- 
spectively, their iinion taking place here. It re- 
sulted in the birth of the folio iviug children : Nancy 
C, William M. (who died in 1863), Abram L., 
Hester Ann, Octavia F. (wife of William Davis, a 
farmer of Scott County), Manisia, J. K., Mary M., 
Robert M., John C, Minerva (who died in 1861), 
Darthula (who married Robert Gillian, lives in Se- 
bastian County), and Frank C. The father of 
these children removed to Texas in 1864, and there 
remained until the termination of the war, when 
he returned to his family in Johnson County, Ark., 
and here has since tilled the soil, beinsr now the 
owner of 220 acres of land in Horsehead Town- 
ship, ninety acres of which are under cultivation. 
J . K. Baskin, the immediate subject of this sketch, 
was married in 1879 to Miss Minerva Yandell, 
daughter of Thomas Yandell, by whom he has two 
boys and two girls: Virgil Q., Chester D., Bonnie 
A. and Maud M. He has a fertile and well-tilled 
farm of 170 acres, seventy-five acres of which are 
in a good state of cultivation. He owns a half in- 
terest in a good cotton-gin with J. M. Laster, the 
gin being on Mr. Laster' s land. He had fairly 
good school advantages in boyhood, and gives 
liberally of his means in the support of worthy en- 
terprises of all kinds, being an equally liberal con- 
tributor to churches. He is a Democrat, but is not 
however, an enthusiastic politician. His wife is an 
earnest member of the Methodist Episcojial Church 
South. 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



289 



Daniel Bench is one of the leading farmers of 
the progressive agricultural region of Johnson 
County, Ark., and as he was born in the State of 
Ohio he possesses many of the characteristics of the 
natives of that State, among which may be men- 
tioned pluck, perseverance, intelligence and hon- 
esty. He was taken from that State when an in- 
fant, and was reared to manhood in Indiana and 
Missouri, coming to Johnson County, Ark., in 
1842, settling on a piece of land in this township 
which he improved and cleared. Here he remained 
hard at work until the bursting of the war cloud 
which had for so long a time hovered over the 
country, when he took his family and moved into 
the Indian Territory (the Choctaw Nation ), where 
he remained until the close of the war. He re- 
turned to Arkansas about one year later, sold his 
property and purchased a place at Mulberry and 
this farm continued to cultivate for twelve years. 
He then sold oiit and came to his former i^laee and 
purchased 100 acres of land to which he has since 
added from time to time until he is now the owner 
of 300 acres and has 110 under cultivation. His 
principal crops are cotton and corn, and this year 
he has devoted twenty acres to cotton which prom- 
ises well. His buildings are all in excellent con- 
dition, and as he was reared to the work which he 
is now following he thoroughly understands every 
detail of the work and has been successful. He 
was born in 1825 and in 1844 was married to Miss 
M.artha A. Prim by whom he has become the father 
of eleven children. Ho is a man who brings, 
tact, energy and skill to his assistance in the con- 
duct of his property and as a result is far more 
successful than many of his neighbors. He is lib- 
eral in his contributions to public affairs and is 
well preserved in both mind and body, notwith- 
standing the fact that he is sixty-five years of age. 

John G. Blair is a liveryman and hotel keeper 
of Lamar, Ark., but was born in Tennessee, on 
June 8, 1844, to Thomas B. and Sarah (Holmes) 
Blair, who were born in Alabama and Tennessee, 
respectively, their marriage taking place in Gibson 
County of the latter State, and resulting in the 
birth of eight children — four sons and four daugh- 
ters — two of whom are living: John G. and Belle 



(wife of Ben Martin). The father was one of th« 
honest " sons of soil, ' ' of Tennessee, but removed 
from that State to Mississippi, and from there to 
Arkansas, in 1858, settling in Johnson County, 
where he purchased 120 acres of land, afterward 
purchasing a much larger tract. He died in Sevier 
Count}', Ark., in 1864, a member of the Presby- 
terian Church, and was followed to the grave by 
his widow in 1867, she being a member also of that 
church. John G. Blair was married in this county 
in 1879 to Miss Louisa Paine, who was born in this 
State on March 14, 1847, a daughter of T. B. and 
Euth (Huston) Paine, and by her became the father 
of seven children — four sons and three daughters — 
of which family six members are still livinsr: 
William A., Walter H., Sarah K., John H., Min- 
nie M. and Thomas. Lou A. is deceased. Mr. 
Blair enlisted as a private soldier in Company L., 
under Hall McConnell, and was in the Confeder- 
ate Army until 1864, when he was captured in one 
of the battles of Kansas, and was taken to Rock 
Island, 111., thence to Richmond, Va. , where he 
was exchanged in 1865, and returned to his home 
in Arkansas, once more taking up the occupation 
of farming. He resided on the farm until 1889, 
when he moved to Lamar and bought the hotel and 
livery stable of which he is now proprietor. His 
farm consists of 135 acres of good land with 90 
under cnltivation, and on this he has an excellent 
frame residence and barn with three acres of good 
young orchard, consisting of apples, peaches, 
plums, cherries and quinces. He also raises grapes, 
raspberries and strawberries in abundance. He 
and Mrs. Blair are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

John G. Brown is a pioneer planter living in 
Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Ark., and 
is a native of Tennessee, born October 13, 1820, to 
John B. and Sallie (Huston) Brown, the former born 
in North Carolina, February 9, 1785, and the latter 
in Kentucky December 1, 1791, their marriage 
being consummated at Nashville, Tenn. Nine sons 
and five daughters were the result of their union, 
the subject of this sketch being the fourth son. 
Mr. Brown was a farmer, and during his residence 
in Tennessee, and after his removal to Arkansas in 



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290 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



1836 he followed that occupation, and became a 
large land holder, many improvements being made 
on his property. He served in the War of 1812, 
and was in the battle of New Orleans. He passed 
from life in October, 1852, his widow following him 
to the grave in March, 18G1, both being members 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. John 
G. Brown was married on November 17, 1842, to 
Miss Harriet Allen, who was born in Alabama July 
13, 1820, she being a daughter of Louis Allen and 
Lucy (Felts) Allen, who removed from Alabama to 
Arkansas in 1833, and settled in this county, where 
they made their home until 1845, when they 
moved to Mississippi, and a short time after to 
Louisiana, his death occuiTing in this State. The 
mother had died in Johnson County, Ark., in 1841. 
The father was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and the mother a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church. The parents were married in 
Tennessee, and became the parents of ten children, 
only two of whom are living. Mr. Brown and his 
wife have four sons and four daughters: John, 
Eliza (wife of Robert Winn), Delia (wife of David 
Strain), Emma (wife of James Nations), Ella (wife 
of Van Ross), living, and James H. , Oliver N. and 
Walter A., deceased. Mr. Brown is the owner of 
228 acres of land, and has 130 acres under cultiva- 
tion, well improved, with a good two story frame 
residence, built in 1879-80, and good ordinary 
barns and other buildings. He owns 100 acres in 
one tract of land and 175 in another, both being 
valuable, for they are ordinarily well tilled and im- 
proved. Mr. Brown and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically 
he is a Democrat. They have had thirty-three 
grandchildren born in Johnson County, twenty-five 
of whom are living. Mr. Brown is living within 
three miles of the place where he stopped in John- 
son County the last day of 1836, and within six 
miles the place where he was married, never hav- 
ing lived farther than six miles from this place. 

J. R. Brown is the oldest merchant of Coal 
Hill, and throughout this region has won an excel- 
lent reputation as a man of business. He was born 
in Tennessee in 1850, being the third of fourteen 
childi-en born to Benjamin A. and Elizabeth (Real) 



Brown, who were born in North Carolina and 
Tennessee, respectively, the former, a farmer, who 
came to Arkansas in the fall of 1866, and is still 
residing in Logan County of this State. His son, 
J. R. Brown, like so many of the substantial citi- 
zens of this country at the present time, was initi- 
ated into the mysteries of farming from the very 
first, and after his removal to Arkansas, in 1866, was 
favored with good opportunities for obtaining an 
education, and was an attendant of Pleasant Grove 
School at Cabin Creek. In 1878 he began busi- 
ness at Coal Hill, after having been a clerk in the 
establishment of J. W. May, of Clarksville, for 
some years, and he now has the facilities for doing 
a large trade, his stock of goods being worth $10,- 
000, and his annual sales amounting to S45,00O. 
He handles wagons, farming implements, and buys 
all kinds of farm produce. He owns two farms, 
comprising 214 acres, and has 120 acres under 
cultivation, the fine steam cotton-gin which is 
erected thereon being the best in the county, its 
capacity being twenty bales per day. He also has 
a good corn-mill, and is the owner of four resi- 
dence buildings and the post office building. He 
has been one of the active citizens of Coal Hill, 
and has identified himself with every worthy enter- 
prise of the place. His marriage, which occurred 
in December, 1878, was Lo Miss Lucy, daughter of 
Col. John S. Houston, of Clarksville, by whom he 
has two children, Howell Houston and Lucile. 
Vivian died at the age of one year, and another 
child died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. and Mrs- 
Brown are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
An annual statement taken in February, 1890, 
gives a showing of $30,000, all of which is the 
resnlt of his own labor. He was in debt when he 
began clerking for Capt. May, but is now a wealthy 
man. He owns three lots in Van Buren, on one of 
which he is erecting a handsome residence. 

Edward Buehring was born in Germany in 1885 
and he may be truly said to have inherited all the 
characteristics of those of his nativity — persever- 
ance, energy, thrift and honesty. Like all German 
youths he was put to school, and for four years 
after leaving school he served an apprenticeship 



VI «- 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



291 



in a mercantile establishment. He was of a plucky 
and ambitious disposition so determined to seek 
his fortune in America, and first reached this 
country in 1855, and from that time until 186] he 
worked on a farm, was clerk in a large store, and 
taught school for three years in Illinois. He then, 
in 1862, went to Minnesota, where he devoted his 
energies to tilling the soil and in managing a 
mercantile establishment until 1882, when he came 
to Lutherville, Ark., and purchased 200 acres of 
railroad land, upon a part of which the town of 
Lutherville was platted. Seventy acres of this 
farm have been cleared by Mr. Buehring, and the 
entire place is under fence. This is probably the 
best tilled farm in Johnson County, for every 
part of it is well looked after. In 1883 he erected 
a large two-story frame house which is unquestion- 
ably one of the best arranged and be.st furnished 
in the township, if not the best of the farm build- 
ings in the county. His large wagon-house, cribs, 
barns and tool houses are all frame, neatly and 
solidly built, and are at all times kept in good 
condition. In 1883 he was elected general agent 
for the colony with power to transact all business 
for it, and ably does he discharge his duties. The 
same year he was appointed notary public by Gov. 
Berry, and in 1887 he was reappointed by Gov. 
Hughes. He has been married since 1857 to Miss 
Caroline Westphal, a native German, and of thir- 
teen children born to them, eleven are living: 
Alma (wife of Fred Schneider), Cecelia (wife of 
Ernest Upheler), Edward C, Matilda (wife of H. 
Brenneisen), Cheruska (wife of J. A. Troeger), 
Eugene, Olga, Annie, Erna, Armin and Hugo. 
Mr. Buehring' s farm yields abundantly of all 
crops usually raised in this region, and he has a 
fine apple orchard of twenty acres, five acres of 
mixed fruits and a vineyard of three acres. One 
of the best and prettiest garden — with a nice 
assortment of different flowers and shrubbery, and 
a well-to-do lawn attracts the eye— a garden, in- 
deed, very seldom to be found on a farm. 

11. J. Butts is one of the thrifty, far-seeing and 
successful merchants and farmers of Johnson Coun- 
ty, Ark., bis post-office address being Hagarville. 
He has become well and favorably known to the 



many residents hereabouts, for, notwithstanding 
the old adage that "familiarity breeds contempt," 
his case has proved the exception to the rule, 
and he is universally esteemed. He was born in 
Arkansas in 1856 to Henry J. and Rachel (Clark) 
Butts, they being natives of Tennessee and Arkan 
sas, respectively, the former coming to this State 
when a youth. At the early age of eighteen years 
R. J. Butts started out in search of Dame Fort- 
une, and as he had acquired a liberal education 
in Boone County at Prof. Clark's Academy at Ber- 
ryville, and in the University of Arkansas at Fay- 
etteville, he was admirably equipped to begin the 
battle of life for himself, and until the summer of 
1890 followed the occupation of teaching school 
from three to ten months each year during the 
greater iwrtion of that time. He received from his 
father the gift of 120 acres of land, partly im 
proved, which he further improved by erecting 
substantial buildings thereon, clearing and culti- 
vating and putting up good fences. By good 
management and economy he was afterward en- 
abled to purchase 180 acres adjoining his original 
tract, a dwelling in Hagarville, forty acres on the 
mountain, and, in ISUO, 100 acres adjoining Hagar- 
ville, the same year purchasing a half interest in 
the store of N. C. Johnson in Hagarville. In 1879 
Mr. Butts was married to Miss Mary Johnson, a 
native of Arkansas, and a daughter of Robert and 
Elizabeth Johnson, and by her has three children, 
all of whom are living; Annice (born December 
25, 1879), Elva (born May 21, 1881), and Lizzie 
(born October 20, 1883). Mr. Butts is one of a 
family of five children born to his parents named: 
Hugh, Lucretia (wife of Thomas Adkins), Riley 
J., Alexander W. and Alice (wife of K. J. John- 
son). The father of these children was in the 
Mexican War, and was stationed on the fi'ontier. 
Prior to the Rebellion he represented Johnson 
County in the State Legislature, and during the 
war was captain of a company in Hill's regiment, 
C. S. A., serving until the battle of Pilot Knob, 
when he was wounded and captured, being held a 
prisoner of war until after Gen. Kirby Smith's 
surrender. He atfd his wife were both memljers 
of the Christian Church, in which he held the of- 



s— 



V 



lice of deacon and elder at different times. His 
death occurred in 1884, bnt his widow survives 
him, and is making her home with a son in Hagar- 
villo. E. J. Butts and his wife are also church 
members. 

Caleb Carey is a substantial farmer of Johnson 
County, Ark., and as such deserves honorable 
mention in these pages. He was born in North 
Carolina in 1818, his parents, Elijah and Elizabeth 
(Cash) Carey, being also born in that State, mov- 
ing, when the subject of this sketch was about two 
years old, to Tennessee in which State the latter 
was brought up, his early school days being quite 
limited. However, since attaining manhood he has 
acquired sufficient education to successfully carry 
on his business, and by taking an active part in the 
business affairs of life he has become well in- 
formed. He came to Arkansas in 1841, stopping 
first at Little Rock, but at the end of eighteen 
months came to this county, where he has made his 
home until the present day. He was married in 
1843 to Miss Eveline Price, a native of Alabama 
and of nine children born to them, seven are now 
living: John E., Martha A., William, Sarah, Dicey, 
Angy and Julia. The mother of these children 
was called from them by death in 1862, and in 
1808 Mr. Carey took for his second wife Miss Mar- 
tha Pearson, a " Hoosier " by birth, and an earnest 
member of the Christian Church. Mr. Carey is a 
member of the Cumljerland Presbyterian Church, 
and has been for over forty years, and is now one 
of its leading elders. He purchased 160 acres of 
the farm where he now lives in 1845, and of 
this he has about 65 acres improved, the build- 
ings, fences and orchard all being excellent. He 
afterward purchased ten more acres, and on his 
property he has erected two tenant houses with 
their accompanying buildings, etc. He raises corn, 
cotton, potatoes, tobacco and grapes in abundance, 
and, in fact, his land is well adapted to the rais- 
ing of nearly all the products of the temperate 
zone. He has raised 20 bushels of corn to the acre, 
600 to 800 pounds of cotton, 100 bushels of sweet 
potatoes and 400 pounds of tobacco. From his 
grapes he has made 250 gallons of wine to the 
acre. 



Dr. A. B. Carey is a practicing physician of 
Knoxville Station, Ark., and owing to the fact that 
he thoroughly understands his calling and has met 
with the best of success in practicing the "healing 
art, " he is ranked among the very foremost of the 
professional men of Johnson County. He was born 
in the county September 8, 1861, to Caleb (see bi- 
ography) and Eveline (Price) Carey, the former of 
whom was born in Alabama in 1818, and is a tiller 
of the soil. He married his wife in this county, and 
their union resulted in the birth of nine children, 
seven living: John E. , William, Sarah (wife of 
James Murray), Martha A. (wife of Call Williams), 
Dicey (wife of T. F. Young), Julia (wife of Joseph 
Looper), and our subject. Their mother died in 
1862, a member of the Christian Church, but the 
father is still a resident of this county, a member 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dr. A. 
B. Carey was principally educated in the common 
schools of this couaty, and in 1884 he began the 
study of medicine, and the same year attended lec- 
tures at Little Rock, graduating in 1888. He com- 
menced practicing at Knoxville and has won the 
entire confidence of his numerous patrons. Al- 
though he has practiced only a short time, he gives 
every promise of rising to distinction in his profes- 
sion, as he fnlly deserves to do. He is fitting up 
a large store-room, in which he intends putting a 
good stock of drugs and expects to have everything 
in working order by December 1, 1890. He was 
married in 1889 to Miss Nannie B. King, of this 
county, born July 23, 1871, a daughter of W. S. 
and Jane F. King. The Doctor and his wife are 
members of the Presbyterian Church and Methodist 
Episcopal Church respectively, and he belongs to 
Knoxville Lodge No. 30, of the I. O. O. F. 

P. J. Carr is now living a retired life, but has 
led an active career and was one of the most suc- 
cessful merchants and planters in this section. He 
was born in Logan County, Ky. , November 5, 
1810, to Daniel and Martha (Jones) Carr, they be- 
ing born, reared and married on Blue-Grass soil. 
P. J. Carr is the eldest of their four children, the 
other living members being Mary E. (wife of David 
Robison, now living in California), and Seth G. 
The father first moved from Kentucky to Illinois 



^ 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



293 



in 1836, ami in that State died in 1847, a member 
of the Baptist Church, his wife's death having oc- 
curred in 1824. P. J. Carr was married in John- 
son County, Ark., in 1861, to Miss Leviua AVilles, 
who was born in Kentucky in 1825, but her death 
occurred in 1874, after she had borne her husband 
two children: Cynthia J. (wife of M. H. Hobbs, 
manager of Mr. Carr's store at Kuoxville), and 
one child that died in infancy unnamed. Mr. Carr 
engaged in the mercantile business in Knoxville in 
the fall of 1887, but this establishment is now un- 
der the management of liis son in-law, Mr. Hobbs. 
Besides this, Mr. Carr is the owner of 250 acres of 
valuable land, of which 140 acres are under culti- 
vation, improved with good house, barns, etc. He 
has long been a member of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church, and as a citizen and upright man 
has not his superior in this section of the country. 
His son-in-law, Mr. M.H. Hobbs, isa Virginian, born 
in 1850 to W. F. and C. E. (Stalke) Hobbs, they 
being Virginians also, and married in that State. 
Ten children were born to their union of whom the 
subject of this sketch is next to the youngest. His 
father died in Virginia in 1868, and his mother in 
1884. After the death of his father M. H. Hobbs 
came to Arkansas to attend school at Little Rock, 
but at the end of four months he received word of 
the serious illness of his father and immediately 
returned home. In 1874 he returned to Arkansas, 
and in 1877 brought the first stock of goods to 
what is now known as Knoxville Station, he having 
the honor of naming the town. In 1887 he sold 
his store to P. J. Carr, now his father-in-law, and 
is now managing the business for him. He was 
the first station agent at that place, which position 
he held for eight years, and was the first postmas- 
ter of the town, being appointed in 1877, and served 
until 1881. He was married in 1878 to Miss 
Cynthia J. Carr and their union has resulted in 
the birth of four children: Philip J. (deceased), 
William P., M. H. and Hutakah E. Mr. Hobbs 
and his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and he belongs to Knoxville Lodge No. 30, 
of the I. O. O. F. 

Lewis Castleberry. The entire life of this 
gentleman has been uninarked by any unusvtal oc- 



currence outside the chosen channels to which he 
has so diligently applied himself. He is considered, 
and deservedly so, one of the most successful 
and prominent farmers of Lee Township, Johnson 
County, Ark. , and as he was reared to farm life and 
has never followed any other calling, he is the 
thorough master of every branch of the work. He 
was born in Alabama, but in boyhood came with 
his parents to Johnson County, Ark. , and here 
has since made his home. The purents, John and 
Louisa (Claunch) Castleberry, became the parents 
of three children — two sons and one daughter — of 
which the subject of this sketch was the eldest and 
is the only one now living. At the time of their 
arrival here the country was almost an unbroken 
wilderness, and as schools at that time (1845) were 
very few and far between, their son Lewis did not 
receive many advantages so far as book learning 
was concerned. At the age of twenty-two years 
he commenced the battle of life for himself, and 
soon after purchased the farm on which he is now 
residing, and immediately set to work to improve 
it by erecting good buildings, fences, etc. He has 
increased his acreage from time to time, and now 
has 240 acres, eighty-five of which are in a good 
state of cultivation. His principal crops are cot- 
ton and corn, twenty acres being devoted to corn, 
the cotton promising a yield of one-half bale to the 
acre. He has a pasture of red top, which makes a 
heavy growth, and besides this, has a good orchard 
of peach and apple trees, which supplies them with 
an abundance of fruit. Everything about the 
place indicates that a man of thrift and energy is 
at the helm, and that his farm is a fertile and val- 
iiable one, is shown when it is known that he often 
raises fifty bushels of corn to the acre and 1,500 
pounds of cotton. His wife, formerly Miss Eliza- 
beth Ridgway, was born in Alabama, and is the 
mother of five sons and two daughters: Osborne, 
Boone, Reuben, Mary, James, Riley and Linnie. 
The two eldest sons are married, Osborne being a 
resident of Texas, and Boone residing on a farm 
near his father. Mr. Castleberry is a member of 
Spring Hill Lodge, of the A. F. & A. M. He is a 
liberal supporter of public enterprises, and is 
anxious to see capital come to Johnson County. 



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294 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



^ 



D. N. Clark is the highly competent and paius 
taking clerk of the circuit court of Johnson County, 
Ark., and here he first saw the light of day in 
1841, being the seventh of twelve children born to 
the marriage of David B. Clark and Ann T. Moon, 
the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of 
Virginia. The paternal grandfather was born in 
either Ireland or Virginia, Imt the mother's father 
is known to have been a Virginian by birth, who 
became an early emigrant to Kentucky. D. B. 
Clark was reared on a farm in the Blue-Grass re- 
gions of his native State, but as early as 1829, be- 
came a resident of the State of Arkansas, and for 
four years was a resident of Arkansas Post; he re- 
sided the same length of time at Pine BlufP, and 
on January 1, 1837, landed at Spadra Bluff, in 
Johnson County, and entered land three miles east 
of Clarksville, where he made his home for thir- 
teen years. In 1850 he bought a farm of 160 acres, 
on the river three miles south of Clarksville, and 
on this farm was residing at the time of his death 
in 1866, his widow passing to her long home in 1871, 
both having been members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church for many years. Mr. Clark was al- 
ways interested in the cause of education, and for 
a long time was superintendent of public instruc- 
tion, which office he was holding at the time of his 
death. He was also an earnest worker in church 
matters, and for a long time was class-leader. Of 
the family born to himself and wife, only the im- 
mediate subject of this sketch and two brothers are 
living, D. N. Clark received the early advantages 
which are usually given the farmer's boy and until 
1861, he made his home with his parents. He then 
went to Desha County and opened a store at Red 
Fork, and in December of that year he enlisted in 
Company C, Sixteenth Regiment Arkansas Infant- 
ry, under Col. John F. Hill of Johnson County 
and on December 5, 1861, left home for the front. 
He was in the battle of Pea Ridge, and from there 
went east of the Mississippi River, taking part in 
the engagements at Farmington, Tuka and Corinth. 
He was then transferred to Port Hudson, La., 
where he endured the siege, and where he was 
taken prisoner on July 8, 1863, being one of forty 
volunteers to make a charge on the outside works. 



He was paroled and sent to Natchez, Miss., and 
from that place walked home to Clarksville. About 
October 1 he joined Col. O. Bacham's battalion, 
and went to the parol-camp at Washington, Ark., 
and was there exchanged in January, 1864; then 
placed in Gen. Docken's brigade, and in the en- 
gagements at Poison Springs, Mark's Mill and 
Jenkins' Perry. At the close of the war he was 
at Marshall, Tex. For one year following the close 
of the war he taught school, then began clerking in 
Clarksville, and in October, 1869, started a gun 
store in that town in partnership with another gen- 
tleman, the name of the firm being D. N. Clark 
& Co., which connection lasted until 1872, when 
the firm was dissolved. The name was then 
changed to Clark & May, and lasted during 1872- 
73. After the dissolution of this connection Mr. 
Clark once more resumed clerking, but at the end 
of one year once more entered business, and after 
being associated with a Mr. Miller for one year, 
he purchased his partner's interest and continued 
alone until 1884, when his brother became his 
partner, the firm name being D. N. Clark & Bro. 
until the spring of 1886, when it was discontinued. 
In 1888 Mr. Clark was elected circuit and county 
clerk of Johnson County, and was re-elected in 
1890. He was married in 1884 to Miss Dollie 
McLeod, a daughter of Alexander A. McLeod of 
South Carolina, and afterward moved to Hot 
Springs. This lady lived only five months, dying 
July 4, 1884. Mr. Clark has been an active 
worker for the Democratic party, and is a member 
of Framply Lodge No. 9, of the A. F. & A. M., 
Clarksville Chapter No. 49, and Ward Council No. 
9, of that place. He also belongs to Ezel Lodge 
of the I O. O. F. and the K. of H. 

James G. Coffee has been a resident of this 
county from his birth, which occuri>ed on December 
25, 1845, to Melvin and Jane (Laster) Coffee, the 
former of whom was born in Jackson County, Ala., 
and the latter in Tennessee. Mrs. Coffee came 
with her parents to Arkansas, when quite small, 
and here she was married in 1843, to Mr. Coffee, 
by whom she became the mother of two children: 
James G. and Melvina P., who first married Mas 
ton Roy, and after his death, which occurred 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



295 



shortly after their marriage, she was wedded to 
John Laster and bore him nine children, her death 
occurring in 1888, they being residents of Indian 
Territory, at the time of her death. Melvin Coffee 
was a soldier in the Mexican War and died while 
in the service, after which his widow married J. 
C. Baskin, about 1848, and to them five children 
were born. Mr. Baskin entered the Confederate 
Army at the opening of the war and was serving in 
South Arkansas, when he died in 1864 Mrs. 
Baskin then married T. M. Baskin, a half-brother 
of her second husband, by whom she became the 
mother of two children. He died in 1889, but she 
is still living. James G. Coffee was also in the 
Confederate Army, enlisting in 1861, in Company 
C, of the Sixteenth Arkansas Infantry, under Col. 
John F. Hill, and in 1862, went east of the Mis- 
sissippi River and took part in the fight at Corinth, 
and many others. He was discharged at Port 
Hudson, having served out his time of enlistment, 
and being under age was permitted to return home 
in March, 1863, but re-enlisted in the fall of the 
same year under Gen. Cabel. He was with Price 
on his Missouri raid, and while passing through 
Arkansas and near his old home he obtained a short 
furlough, but while visiting his people he was 
captured at Clarksville and was taken to Fort 
Smith, where he was paroled, soon after which the 
war terminated. He then turned his attention to 
farming immediately afterward and was married, 
in 1867, to Miss Clementine Harkreader, a daugh- 
ter of Samuel and Nancy Harkreader of Johnson 
County, and three children were born to them: 
Dee Buchanan (the eldest, a lovely boy, died in 
1876, at the age of eight years), Edna A. and 
Lester M. Their mother's death occurred in 1882 
and Mr. Coffee's second union took place in 1883, 
the maiden name of his wife being Miss Sallie A. 
Powell, a daughter of the Rev. John A. Powell, of 
Tennessee. Three children were born to this mar- 
riage: Harland, Dessie D. and Effie C. Mr. Coffee 
owns a farm of 300 acres, with 100 under cultivation 
eight miles northwest of Clarks\ ille, on Horsehead 
Creek, and on this land cotton and grain are raised, 
considerable attention being also given to the 
raising of stock. He is one of Johnson County's 



most highly- respected citizens and prosperous 
farmers, and as he started in life, with no means 
the first time he was married, what he has, has 
been accumulated during this time by his own 
earnest endeavors. He, his wife and Edna are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and they also belong to the Eastern Star Chapter 
Lodge, Mr. Coffee being a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. He has always been truly public 
spirited, and he and his estimable wife dispense 
such true hospitality that it is the delight of their 
friends to visit them. 

E. C. Estep is a man who has brought energy, 
skill and perseverance to bear in the conduct and 
management of his farm, and as a result is the 
owner of 280 acres, a portion of which he has 
been the owner since September, 1889. He has 112 
acres improved, 50 of which he rents, and on 
this he has a good tenant house and other build- 
ings. He was born February 4, 1851, in Madison 
County, Ark., and as he was compelled to labor 
quite hard on the home farm, and on account of 
the opening of the Rebellion, his opportunities for 
acquiring an education were quite limited. In 
1871 he began doing for himself on rented land, 
continuing six years, then purchased the place 
where he now lives which comprises 160 acres, 
42 of which he has improved. On this he has 
erected a good residence, barns, etc. , and now has 
the most of his land under fence. His principal 
crops are corn, cotton and oats, and as he works 
his home place himself he is doing well, and is 
usually ahead of his work. He has a fine tame- 
grass pasture, and on his home place is an excellent 
young apple orchard, which supplies him with fruit 
through the summer season. In 1871 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Rachel Chambers of Ohio, and their 
union has resulted in the birth of the following three 
children: Thomas J., Enoch A. and Linnie J., all 
of whom are at home, and two attending the dis- 
trict school. It is the intention of their parents to 
send them to higher institutions of learning when 
they attain a suitable age. Mr. Estep is liberal in 
his patronage of public affairs, and is anxious to see 
the country more fully developed, doing all in his 
power to bring about the desired result. He seems 






V 



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290 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



by nature to have been especially designed to be a 
planter, for be not only likes the work but thor 
ougbly understands it, and as a result has met with 
a degree of success that is highly flattering. He is 
a member of Spring Hill lodge, A. F. & A. M. 

William 0. Garrett (deceased). The career of 
this gentleman was closed in the year 1887, he 
having been one of the most useful, enterprising 
and energetic farmers of this section. He was a 
South Carolinian by birth, and in September, 1828, 
came with his father to Arkansas, settling with 
him on a farm in Johnson County, where he ac- 
quired an excellent insight into the details of agri- 
culture. At the age of twenty years he began 
doing for himself, renting a part of his father's 
land, and at the age of twenty three years was 
married, and purchased a farm in this township, on 
which he resided for six years, greatly improving 
it during this time. At the end of this time he 
sold his farm and moved onto the old homestead, 
to manage that and care for his aged jiarents, and 
here he was residing at the time of his death. 
Besides his wife, whom he married when she was 
fifteen years of age, he left a family of eleven 
children to mourn their loss, five of whom are living 
at home with their mother, and the rest earning 
their own living. Mrs. Garrett now has the farm 
under her management, and although it consists of 
340 acres, and keejjs her fully employed, she yet 
looks after affairs in an admirable manner, and has 
shown that she is a woman perfectly caj)able of 
business. The land is situated two and one-half 
miles west of Clarksville, and is one of the neatest 
and most fertile places in this section of the 
country. Mrs. Garrett's maiden name was Martha 
J. Lemons, a native of Arkansas, and a daughter 
of Samuel Lemons. She is a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is a lady 
[)ossessing true Christian principles. She has 
cared for the children left to her care in a noble 
manner, and tried to fit them for the duties of life 
by giving them good educations. Three of her 
sons were in the Confederate Army, one died when 
a prisoner at Alton, another was killed in Missouri 
while with Gen. Price on his raid, and the other 
returned home, and is now living at Clarksville. 



J. B. Green is one of the prosperous merchants 
of Coal Hill, Ark., and as he carries an excellent 
line of general goods, and has always proved him- 
self the soul of honor in his dealings with the pub- 
lic, he commands a fair share of the trade in this 
section. He was born in Alabama in 1845, being 
the eldest of seven children, born to William and 
Sarah (Moselej') Green, the former of whom was 
born in Alabama and the latter in South Carolina. 
The father was an agriculturist by occupation, and 
in 1870 came to Arkansas, and settled north of 
Coal Hill in Johnson County, where he passed 
from life in 1879, his widow's death occurring in 
1887. J. B. Green was brought up to farm life in 
his native State, and there he acquired a fair edu 
cation in the common schools. On September 14, 
1863, he enlisted in the Union Army in Company 
H, First Alabama Cavalry, and was in the battle 
of Vincent's Cross Roads, where he was taken 
prisoner, but soon managed to make his escape. 
After the war was over he continued to till the soil 
until 1870, at which time he came to Arkansas and 
settled in Johnson County, where he has been en- 
gaged in farming. In 1879 he went back to Ala- 
bama, and after another six years of farming in 
that State he came back to Coal Hill. He followed 
the calling of a clerk until 1889, then engaged 
with partners in general merchandising himself, 
but since October, 1890, has been in business 
alone. He is occupying a large store, and is carry- 
ing an excellent line of goods, worth at least $3,000. 
His annual sales amount to about 114,000. He 
has been married twice, first to Miss Catherine 
Brinton, March 8, 1865, who was born in Alabama, 
and died on May 5, 1887. To them six children 
have been born: Oliver (born August 9, 1867, and 
died October 16, 1876), Benjamin E. (born July 
21, 1870), Mary R.(born January 21, 1874), Thomas 
B. (born January 21, 1876), Aeicy Malvina (born 
February 21, 1878, and died October 16, 1880). 
and Sarah Alice (who was born March 12, 1881' 
and died September 21, 1884). Mr. Green's second 
marriage took place July 3, 1887, his wife being 
Miss M. B. Peck, a native of Georgia. The family 
of Mr. Green belong to the Missionary Baptist 
Church, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



297 



John R. Hickey is a man who has attained con- 
siderable prominence in the affairs of Johnson 
County, Ark., for he is a man of excellent parts 
and has shown good judgment and tact in the 
management of his farm, in connection with which 
he operates a cotton-gin. He is a Tennesseean, 
born in 1824, a son of James and Nancy (Baker) 
Hickey who removed from their native State of 
Tennessee to Arkansas in 1831, settling lirst in 
what is known as Bullfrog Valley, so called after 
an Indian chief of that name. They lived at this 
place for about four years, then came to the farm 
on which the subject of this sketch is now living 
on Little Piney Creek. At the age of twenty-one 
years John R. Hickey began doing for himself, 
and soon after enlisted in E. W. Patrick's com- 
pany, Yell's regiment, and served iu the Mexican 
War until its close, taking part in the battle of 
Buena Vista, the hardest battle of the war. At 
the end of twelve months he and his company 
were discharged, the term of enlistment having 
expired, and he returned to his home. In 1849 
he was married to Miss Margaret Macon, who was 
born in Arkansas in 1834, to Abner and Elizabeth 
(Vaughn) Macon, by which lady he became the 
father of the following children: Alvin H., James 
M. (deceased), Sarah Elizabeth, C. M., Malinda 
A., G. A., William J., A. N., Nancy J. and John 
M. Mr. Hickey' s first purchase of land was 280 
acres, 100 aci'es of which he improved and upon 
which he built a house, barn, other farm buildings, 
a scbool-hoase, and a church. This tract of land 
he afterward sold, and now conducts a farm of 
forty acres, in connection with which he is doing 
a ginning and milling business, his mill being run 
by water power. The capacity of his gin is six 
bales per day, and that of his mill eighty bushels 
of corn. Upon the opening of the Rebellion he 
enlisted in Capt. Hughey's battalion, and served 
until the war closed, when he returned home. 
He was quartermaster- sergeant of his company, 
and was in a number of important battle's, among 
which may be mentioned the fights at Blackburn 
and Prairie du Chien. He was married to his 
present wife in 1882, she being Mrs. Polly A. 
Murray, relict of Henry Murray. 



R. C. Highfill is noted for the enterprise and 
energy which he has displayed in the management 
of his farm, and his earnest and sincere endeavors 
to make a success of the talents which have been 
given him. are well worthy of imitation. He was 
born in West Tennessee, August 6, 1828, and, be- 
sides acquiring a practical education, he became 
thoroughly familiar with the duties of agricultural 
life on his father's farm. At the age of twenty 
years he began doing for himself, renting a farm 
iu Dallas Coimty, Ark., for three years, but at the 
end of this time removed to Missouri and made a 
purchase of 160 acres of land on which some im- 
provements had been made. After remaining on 
this farm for eighteen years he came to Johnson 
I County, Ark., and bought 160 acres of land near 
where he now lives, which he owned, improved and 
cultivated for eleven years, but has since resided 
on his present farm of 452 acres, about one-half of 
which is rich bottom land. His house and barns 
are substantial buildings, and near the former is an 
excellent apple and }>each orchard. He was mar- 
ried in 1848 to Miss Elizabeth Rodgers, of Tennes- 
see, and by her has three daughters and two sons, 
all of whom are married and settled near the old 
homestead. Mr. Highfill is a Baptist, in which 
church he has held the ofBce of deacon for many 
years, but his wife is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He is a stanch Republican in 
his political views, and during the Rebellion was a 
member of the Union Army, enlisting in 1802, and 
I serving until the close of the war, taking part iu 
j the battles of Prairie Grove, Cleriugton, and many 
skirmishes. He was a member of Company A, 
Eighth Missouri Cavalry. His home is a hospit- 
able and pleasant one, and, as he and his wife are 
liberal in their support of worthy enterprises, such 
as churches, schools, etc. , and are charitable to the 
poor, they have won the admiration and respect 
from all who know them. 

Marcus Hill is a Tennesseean by birth, born in 
the year 1826, and, so far as his occupation in life 
is concerned, he has followed in his father's foot- 
steps, and is a worthy and upright tiller of the soil. 
In 1831 he came with his parents, Mark and Rachel 
Hill, to Johnson County, Ark., from Tennessee, 



-^|>V 



9]^ 

* 



298 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



and here he arrived at man's estate, but on ac- 
count of the newness of the country received rather 
meager educational advantages. He commenced 
earning his own living in 1847, but put aside his 
farming implements to enlist in the Mexican War, 
and after serving for about ten months was honor- 
ably discharged. In 1863 he enlisted in the Con- 
federate Army, and was on active duty until the 
close of the war, when he returned home, and re- 
sumed farming, being now in good circumstances, 
financially. He was first married to Miss Eliza 
Jones, a daughter of F. K. and Sarah E. Jones, 
by whom he became the father of the following 
children: James, W. A., R. S. , Lafayette, Emeline 
and E. L. The first named three are dead. The 
mother of these children was called from the scene 
of her earthly labors in 1860, and Mr. Hill was 
afterward married to Miss Melissa Thomason, to 
which union the following child was born, J. D. 
(who died at the age of foui'teeu years). Mr. Hill's 
third union was to Miss Susan Davis, she being a 
daughter of W. A. and Winnie Hill, and in time 
their family numbered eight children: M. A., J. H. 
(deceased), W. O., E. A., L. N., W. R., Maggie 
and P. K. Mr. Hill has always been a very strong 
Democrat, and he and his family are earnest mem- 
bers of the United Baptist Church. As a citizen 
Mr. Hill has always been public spirited and law- 
abiding, and as he at all times endeavors to do 
what he considers right, he is meeting with a just 
reward, and has the utmost confidence and respect 
of all who know him. 

A. B. Hillmantle is a man who is noted for the 
enterprise and energy he has displayed in the 
management of his farm, and although it contains 
only 200 acres, 120 are under cultivation, admira- 
bly tilled, and yield abundant and excellent crops. 
He was born in Shiawassee County, Mich., in Jan- 
nary, 1855, being a sou of J. N. and Margaret 
(Clees) Hillmantle, both of whom were native Ger- 
mans, the father coming to this country alone, and 
the mother with her parents. At a later period the 
paternal grandfather came to this country also, and 
died in Michigan about 1862, his wife having pre- 
viously passed from life in Germany. A. B. Hill- 
mantle was the tliird in a familj of ten children — 



five sons and five daughters — and all with the ex- 
ception of three are living, and are residents of 
Michigan, with the exception of A. B. One 
brother, J. M. , is a tailor of Traverse City, and 
another brother, Alex, is farming with his father 
in that State; Susan is married to Thomas Dyer, 
a farmer of Michigan; Hannah is the wife of 
George Wisler, and Louis and Rose are still single. 
A. B. Hillmantle is the only one of the family in 
Arkansas, having come here in January, 1878, and 
was here married to Miss Anna Henry, a daughter 
of G. C. and Mary Henry, their union taking place 
in 1879. They now have three children: J. N. , 
Louis H. and Bessie B., who are bright and prom- 
ising. Mr. Hillmantle is the owner of considerable 
property, and has done well in his adopted State, 
so well in fact, that here he expects to make his 
home for the future. His farm is rented out, and 
his attention is devoted to merchandising at Hart- 
man, his stock of general merchandise being valued 
at about $6,000. He also owns residence property 
in the town worth $500. He is one of the substan- 
tial citizens and business men of Hartman, and the 
post-office, which is kept in his store, is managed by 
G. C. Henry, who is postmaster, and the father- 
in-law of Mr. Hillmantle. The latter and his wife 
are members of the Catholic Church. 

H. H. Holland is a Georgian, born in Decem- 
ber, 18-10, and like the majority of the natives of 
that State, he is progressive in his views and of 
an energetic tempei'ament. His parents, Gilbert 
and Mary Ann (Mitchell) Holland, as well as his 
grandparents, were born in Tennessee, the mar- 
riage of the former occurring in that State, but 
soon after the event they removed to Georgia, and 
from there came to Johnson County, Ark., in 1843. 
Their family, in time, numbered five sons and five 
daughters, the subject of this sketch being the 
fourth in order of birth. His father died in 
1852, but he continued to make his home with his 
mother until he attained his majority, when he 
began life for himself as a farmer. He was mar- 
ried in 1871 to Miss Caroline Rogers, a daughter 
of Joseph Rogers, of Logan County, and unto 
them two children were born: Fanny and William 
B. Mr. Holland owns 170 acres of laud, with 



V 



\h 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



299 



ninety uuder cultivation, two miles south of Hart- 
man in the river bottom, the income from which is 
liberal. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 
1801, in Capt. Howell's artillery company, under 
Gen. Cooper, and was on active duty west of the 
Mississippi River all the time, participating in the 
fight at Newtonia, Mo., in October, 1862, being 
also at Fort Wayne, Cabin Creek, and in a number 
of other engagements. His company was dis- 
banded in Texas in the spring of 1865, after which 
he returned to Johnson County, Ark., and here has 
since resided, his occupation being that of farming. 
Although his early opportunities were not good, he 
is one of the best informed men of this section, 
which result has been brought about by reading 
and contact with business life, and he is a liberal 
contributor to worthy enterprises. His mother is 
still living at the age of eighty-three years, and is 
making her home with her son, J. M. Holland, in 
Hunt County, Tex. 

Seth J. Howel is a very highly esteemed old 
resident of Clarksville, Ark., and during the long 
term of years that he has resided in this section he 
has never been known to do a dishonest act, or to 
willfully defraud his fellow-man. He was born in 
Logan County, Ky. , in 1810, to John Howel, who 
came to Arkansas on January 2, 1837, and died in 
Yell County ten years later, being a resident of the 
town of Danville at that time. Seth J. Howel 
wag educated in Kentucky and from 1840 to 1863 
he sold goods at Pittsburgh on the Arkansas River, 
but moved, at the close of the war, to Little Rock, 
and farmed near that place. He was married in 
1831 to Miss Willis, of Kentucky, but while a 
resident of Little Rock in 1867. she left him a 
widower with two children to care for: John, who 
is now a stock-raiser of Madison County, Tex. , and 
Sarah, widow of Mr. Jordan, of that place. Mr. 
Howel was married, a second time, in 1870, to Mrs. 
Willis, a widow of the brother of his first wife, and 
in the spring of the same year came back to Clarks- 
ville and erected the residence in which he is now 
spending a serene old age. He and his wife are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and throughout his life he has been quite an active 
politician, being deeply interested in all the im- 



portant movements of the times. He was a dele- 
gate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1874, 
and is an earnest advocate of Prohibition, and has 
done much to aid the cause of temperance in his 
town. He is the first man who drove a coach on 
this road, and also the first one to bring a Troy 
coach to the town. On his arrival in this place iu 
1837, there was but one house in what is now the 
fiourishing town of Clarksville, and as he has re- 
sided here the greater part of his life, he has seen 
almost the entire growth and development of this 
section. He was in the coach mail business from 
Little Rock to Fort Smith for twenty years, the 
name of his partner being Peter Hanger. 

A. G. Hughes belongs to that sturdy, independ- 
ent and honorable class, the farmers of Johnson 
County, Ark., and as he has been engaged in fol- 
lowing the plow from youth up, he has become 
the owner of 160 acres of excellent farming laud, 
and of the 140 acres that he has under fence he 
has 125 acres cleared. He was born in Tennessee 
in 1834 to Sumler and Katie (White) Hughes, the 
former of whom was born in the Old North State 
and the latter in Tennessee. After attaining his 
majority A.G. Hughes continued in his father's em- 
ploy until the opening of the war, when he enlisted 
as a private in Company F, Jackson's regiment of 
cavalry, and was afterward a participiant in the bat- 
tles of Corinth, Franklin, Vicksburg besides a 
number of other engagements of minor importance. 
He was captured at Corinth, but managed to effect 
his escape, and was there also wounded in the knee 
by a spent ball. After his return from the war 
he followed farming, first on his father's land, af- 
terward on rented land, then made a purchase of 
sixty five acres, to which he has since added thirty- 
five acres, and of which he is still the owner. He 
came to Arkansas in 1880, and purchased the land 
above mentioned, to which ho has since added forty 
acres of fine and fertile bottom land. He raises, 
corn, wheat, cotton, oats and red top grass, and is 
now giving considerable of his time and attention 
to the culture of fruit. He has averaged on his 
land thirty-five bushels of corn and 1,000 pounds 
of seed cotton to the acre, a fact that speaks well 
for the fertility of his property. He was married 



9 Sb^ 



'h 



300 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



in 1802 to Miss Sallie Smothers, a native of Ten- 
nessee, born in 1843, a daughter of Tom and Sal- 
lie (White) Smothers, the former a native of North 
Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. Mr. 
Hughes and his wife have four children: John W. , 
Thomas S., Katie and Malinda, all of whom are at 
home with their parents. The entire family are 
worthy members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, in which Mr. Hughes is a deacon. He at 
all times takes a great interest in church and edu- 
cational matters, and for many years has been a 
teacher in the Sunday-school, and for the past 
three years has been assistant superintendent. He 
is a man of unblemished reputation, and is well 
known for his shrewd and practical views of life 
and for his many amiable traits of character. So- 
cially he is a member of the K. & L. of H. 

P. R. Jett is a merchant of Knoxville Station, 
but was born in Tennessee on September 30, IS-t-l, 
being a son of T. R. and Margaret C. (Utley) Jett, 
the former born in Virginia March 15, 1815, and 
the latter in Tennessee, January 23, 1820, their 
union taking place in Benton County, Tenn., 
ill 1813, and resulting in the birth of four children: 
P. R., W. S., P. H., and Dee L. (wife of G. K. 
Choat). Mr. Jett was surveyor of Yell County, 
Ark., for four years, and by calling was a lawyer 
and school teacher, following the latter occupation 
in Prairie and this county, and the former in Pope 
and Johnson Counties. The father removed from 
Tennessee to Arkansas in 184U, and during his 
residence in Pi'airie County took quite an active 
part in politics, and was a warm friend of Thomas 
C Hindsmau, a member of Congress. His wife is 
is still living in this county. P. R. Jett was married 
iu this county in 1869 (Septemlier 30), to Miss M. J. 
E. Craig, who was born in Kentucky, September 20, 
1845, and came with her parents to Arkansas in 
1859. Mr. Jett and his wife have had eight chil- 
dren born them: Minnie, Maggie, Viola D. and S. 
P. living and four deceased. Mr. Jett was a sold- 
ier in the Civil War, being a member of Company 
A, First Arkansas Cavalry in 1803, and was in the 
battles of Corinth and Vicksburg. He was with 
Gen. Price on his raid, was on active duty until the 
close of the war when he returned home and en- 



gaged in farming, a calling he followed until 1887, 
when he engaged in merchandising, carrying a 
general stock of goods. He has a pretty and com- 
modious frame dwelling-house, and he is otherwise 
well lixed to enjoy life. He and his wife have 
been members of the Baptist Church since 1873, 
and until 1889 he was clerk of the church. He 
was elected justice of the peace of this township 
in 1878, and in this capacity has served, ever since, 
and for some twelve years has been a school di- 
rector also. He is a member of Knoxville Lodge 
No. 370, of the A. F. & A. M. and also belongs to 
Knoxville Lodge No. 30, of the I. O. O. F. 

Dudley S. Jones is a native of Person County, 
N. C, born on April 14, 1830, but is now one of 
the first citizens of Stonewall Township, Johnson 
County, Ark., where he is actively and success- 
fully engaged in agricultural pursuits. His par- 
ents, Clayton and Mary (Johnson) Jones, were 
born in North Carolina and reared a family of 
three sons and three daughters, of whom Dudley 
S. was the eldest, five being now alive. When he 
was twenty-one years of age Dudley S. Jones 
rented part of his father's farm, but at the end 
of two years moved to Arkansas, purchasing a 
farm of eighty acres near Spadra, which he im- 
proved and upon which he remained until Febru- 
ary, 1800, when he sold out and bought his present 
farm of eighty acres, of which he has fifty acres 
improved and under cultivation. He continued to 
make purchases of land at different times, so that 
he was enabled as his four childi-en married, to give 
each forty acres, and is now the possessor of 260 
acres, his home farm consisting of IGO acres. He 
has 200 acres improved with substantial buildings 
and has 100 acres near Clarksville. His land is 
devoted to the raising of cotton, corn and oats, 
forty acres being this year given to cotton, and 
twenty-eight acres to corn. He is also interested 
in raising horses of a good grade, and iu fact, is 
thoroughly up with the times in every branch of 
his business. Near his residence is a good apple 
and peach orchard which is well kept, and every- 
thing about his place indicates thrift and energy. 
Mr. Jones was married August 19, 1855, to Miss 
Elizabeth Dunning, a daughter of John Dunning, 






\^. 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



301 



this county, and the result of their union is three 
sons and one daughter: John T. , Henry W. , Mary 
R. H. and James C, all of whom are married and 
settled on adjoining farms. Mr. Jones is a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian, and his wife of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a dea- 
con of his church for twenty'- two years, and socially 
is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , and in his 
political views is a Democrat. He has always 
been noted for his liberality, and for his broad and 
comprehensive views on all subjects. 

Henry KaufFeld is a native of Germany, born 
in 1842, and came to America in 18r>4, settling 
in Shelby County, Ohio, where he followed the 
occupation of farming until the opening of the war, 
when he enlisted under Fremont as his body 
guard, being a member of the Benton Cadets. For 
disability he was discharged in 18B'2, and here was 
married in 1865 to Miss Elizabeth Zorn, who was 
born in Ohio in 1845. He began tilling his eighty- 
acre farm which was improved, and on account of 
his health came to Arkansas in the fall of 1883 and 
in this climate he has been greatly benefited. Upon 
reaching this State he purchased 100 acres of land 
which he has improved by clearing and repairing, 
and by building additions to his house and other 
buildings, he now has a desirable place of abode. 
To himself and wife ten children were born, eight 
of whom are now living: Annie M. (wife of Frank 
Doepel), Mary S., Christian E. , Henry J.. Martha 
A. and Caroline M. (twins), William V. F. and 
Jacob Henry, who is the eldest of the children. 
Mr. Kautfeld held the ofiSce of road supervisor in 
Ohio for several terms, was township trustee sev- 
eral terms and township assessor two years. Sincfe 
coming to Arkansas he has been repeatedly solicit- 
ed to run for justice of the peace, but refused until 
1888, when he was elected, and in 1890 received 
sixty-six out of seventy-five votes in his township. 
He is now serving as a member of the school board 
of which he is clerk. He is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, in which he has held the office 
of trustee for three years, and he is considered one 
of this church's most faithful workers. He is now 
turning the most of his attention to the culture of 
fruit, for which his land is admirably adapted, and 



raises largo quantitie.s of apples, peaches and 
grapes. 

J. M. Kelly has been a resident of Johnson 
County, Ark., for the past forty-six years, and like 
most of the noted figures of American history, he 
was reared upon the farm. His birth occurred in 
Missouri in 1837, to Daniel and Elizabeth (Monroe) 
Kelly, the former a native of Alabama, and the 
latter of Missouri, their marriage taking place in 
the eastern portion of the last named State. Of a 
family of eight children born to them the follow- 
ing are living: Rachel M. A., Lydia Priscilla, and 
J. M. (who was the youngest of the family). After 
coming to Arkansas the family settled in what is 
now known as Hagarville, which was then but a 
settlement without a name, but soon after went to 
Little Piney, where Mr. Kelly rented land and be- 
gan tilling the soil. When the subject of this 
sketch was about fifteen years of age his father be- 
came crippled from a fall from a horse, and he 
then became the mainstay of the family, his slender 
shoulders being the only barrier between the fam- 
ily and utter want. He carried on his father's 
business until he was twenty three years of age, 
at which time he was married to Miss Rachel L. 
Stewart, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of 
Joseph and Almira (Rogers) Stewart. Mr. Kelly, 
in 1872, purchased a claim and homesteaded 160 
acres of land where he now lives, of which he has 
about 45 acres improved with fair buildings. His 
principal crops are cotton, corn, and some oats and 
wheat, and of the former raises from one-half to 
two-thirds of a bale per acre, and from twenty-five 
to thirty bushels of corn. He also gives some at- 
tention to fruit raising and the propagation of 
stock. He and his wife have a family of six chil- 
dren living: Jordina (wife of C. L. Bacchus), Ira 
Albert and Ida Alice (twins, the latter the wife of 
W. T. Curtis), Laura (wife of J. W. Harmon), 
Hester H. (wife of S. M. Curtis), and Sarah C. 
Upon the opening of the Rebellion Mr. Kelly 
helped to swell the ranks of the Confederate Army, 
becoming a member of Company C, Fourteenth 
Arkansas Infantry, of which he was elected orderly- 
sergeant, it being afterward consolidated with 
other regiments, and became the Twenty-first 



.v^ 



♦iffe=±= 



302 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



*>2 



,3 ' 



Arkansas Infantry. Mr. Kelly took part in the 
battle of Pilot Kaob, and numerous minor engage- 
ments and skirmishes, in the above mentioned 
battle receiving quite a severe wound in the face. 
In 1886 he was elected to the office of county sur- 
veyor, serving one term, but in 1890 was elected 
county assessor, and for some time has also held 
the office of school director of the Fifth District — 
fifteen years. At the time that he became director 
the district was a very large one, containing four 
log structures, which, as Mr. Kelly says, would 
make a shade but not a shelter. By his efforts the 
district was divided, so that now, instead of hav- 
ing a two months' school each alternate year, they 
have seven or eight months each year, and have, in 
all probability, as good school-houses as there are 
in the State. Mr. Kelly has always taken a deep 
interest in the cause of education, and the present 
excellent state of the schools of this section has 
been brought about largely through his efforts. 
He is interested in all matters pertaining to the 
public weal, and is an upright citizen in every 
respect. 

Jonathan King has followed the occupation of 
planting for many years in Pittsburg Township, 
Johnson County, Ark. , but is a native of Tennes- 
see, his birth occurring on October 7, 1828, to 
William and Nancy (13erry) King, who were born 
in Sullivan County, Tenn. , and were married in 
Dickson County, of the same State, their union 
resulting in the birth of eleven children —nine sons 
and two daughters — of which family six members 
are now living: Jonathan, William S., Newton J., 
Thomas J., Sidney A. and Mary I. (wife of Larkin 
McCarley). Those deceased are: Harney, James 
E., Benjamin D., Leander L. and Francis J. The 
father of these chiiden removed to Arkansas in 
1830, and settled on a tract of land in Johnson 
County, which he improved greatly, and on which 
he resided until his death in 1801, being a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife also 
belonging to that church, and dying in 1875, 
Jonathan King was married in Sullivan County, 
Tenn., April 11, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth A. Hall, 
born in Sullivan County, January 2, 1830, to S. D. 
and Jane (Stevens) Hall, who were born in Ten- 



nessee, and became the parents of six children, 
live now living: Elizabeth A. (Mrs. King), Hugh 
C. (deceased), Eleanor J. (wife of William Boy), 
James F., Samuel S. , and Sarah R. (wife of N. P. 
Chedister). Mr. Hall died in Tennessee, in 1842, 
and his widow in 1888, Ijoth members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. King have 
eight children living: Eleanor F. (wife of John C. 
Burch), William S., Tennessee R. (wife of Samuel 
L. Southerland), Belvadurah E., J. L., James P., 
Sarah T., Nancy J. and Adeline E. (deceased). 
Mr. King was a soldier in the Confederate Army 
during the war, enlisting in the cavalry in 1862 
under Col. Hill, and taking part in the battles of 
Little Missouri, Poison Springs, Mark's Mill and 
Pilot Knob. In the last named battle he received 
a gunshot wound in the right side of the head, the 
ball entering just back of the ear, and coming out 
at the cheek bone. He was paroled at Richmond, 
Va., April 28, 1865, immediately returned home 
and once more turned his attention to farming, be- 
ing now the owner of 260 acres of good land with 
150 under cultivation, on which is an excellent 
young fruit orchard of apple and peach trees. In 
1884 he built an excellent frame residence, and 
has it nicely finished both inside and out. He and 
his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
J. H. Laster. Tennessee has given to Arkan- 
sas many estimable citizens, but she has contributed 
none more highly respected, or, for conscientious 
discharge of every duty in every relation of life, 
more worthy of respect and esteem than is the sub- 
ject of this sketch. He was born in Wilson County, 
in 1820, but since 1831 has been a resident of 
Arkansas, and since 1837 of Johnson County. His 
parents, Frederick and Nancy (Smith) Laster, were 
born in the Palmetto State, and as early as 1810, 
became residents of the State of Tennessee, where 
they continued to reside, engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, until 1831, when they located in Lawrence 
County, Ark., their declining years being spent, 
however, in Johnson County. Here, J. H. Laster 
has since made his home, and although he attended 
the common schools in this and his native State, it 
was only for a short time each year, consequently 
his knowledge did not extend far beyond the three 



\ 



4 



* L> 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



303 



R's. He helped to build the first school house 
that was ever erected in Johnson County. When 
he had attained his twentieth year he began making 
his own way in the world, and farming and tan- 
ning have been his chief calling ever since, in each 
of which he has been reasonably successful. He 
served in the Confederate A.rmy during the Re- 
bellion, serving from 1863 till the close of the war, 
being wounded in the shoulder in April, 1864, at 
Marks' Mil'. He was married in September, 1841, 
to Miss Sarah A. Patrick, daughter of John W. and 
Susan (Lee) Patrick, and unto them the follow- 
ing children were born: John R. (deceased), Abe, 
Rebecca, Emily C. , Julia A., Susan (deceased), 
Jane, Seth P., Seldom L. (deceased), James D. 
(deceased). Bell and Lou. The children that are 
living are married with the exception of Seth P. 
Mr. Laster and his sons are Democrats, and he 
and his wife and children are members in good 
standing of the Presbyterian Church. 

James M. Laster is a native of the county in 
which he is now residing, his birth having oc- 
curred in the month of November, 1840, to Abram 
and Nancy (Pucket) Laster, the former of whom 
was born in North Carolina, and there lived until 
he was about six years old, when he was taken by 
his parents to Tennessee, where he grew to man- 
hood and was married in 1824, the State of Ten- 
nessee being his wife's birthplace. In 1831 
they removed to Arkansas Territory, being among 
the 'pioneer settlei-s of the country, and Mr. Laster 
was one of the commissioners that located the 
county seat when Johnson County was organized. 
He was a worthy tiller of the soil for many years, 
and the farm on which the immediate subject of 
this sketch is now residing is the old homestead. To 
them eleven children were born: James, Melissa, 
Hester Ann, Mary, Thomas, Prances, Washington, 
Jane, Robert, James M., and one child that died in 
infancy, unnamed. The father of these children 
died in 1862, and his widow in 1865. In 1859 James 
M. Laster was married to Miss Sarah, a daughter 
of Mrs. Nanc}^ Sarles of Sebastian County, and in 
time their children numbered ten: Elizabeth, (be- 
came the wife of Dr. J. W. Ogilvie, and lived 
nineteen months after her marriage, bearing one 



child, a boy, Benton L. ; she died on August 20, 
1888), Anna (was married in 1887, to Hugh Wil- 
son, who was killed in 1888, by being caught in a 
cotton-gin; seven months after his death his wife 
gave birth to a little daughter whom she named 
Hughie after her father, and after the child had 
lived to be three years old she was taken ill and 
died), Robert, Frank, Thomas, Lou, Augusta, 
Fanny, Earl and Conley. Mr. Laster went into 
the Confederate Army, under the conscription law, 
June, 1S62, serving until the summer of the fol- 
lowing year, and in the following September 
joined the United States Army, becoming a mem- 
ber of Company A, Second Arkansas Infantry, 
under Col. Stevenson, and was on duty in his 
own State during the remainder of the war. 'He 
was on the Camden raid with Gen. Steele, and 
in a number of quite important engagements. He 
was mustered into the army as orderly-sergeant, and 
in June, 1862, was promoted to second lieutenant. 
He was discharged at Clarksville in August, 1865, 
after which he immediately returned home and re- 
sumed farming, for the past ten years being also 
engaged in operating a cotton-gin, owning a half 
interest in a gin with J. K. Baskin. He is the 
owner of 265 acres of land with 100 under cultiva- 
tion, and has always been one of Johnson County's 
most highly-respected citizens and successful 
farmers. He is a member of the Royal Arch 
degree of Masons at Clarksville, and the Blue 
Lodge at Harmony. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Eastern Star Lodge that meets at Har- 
mony, and both belong to the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church, and are generous givers to en- 
terprises of a worthy nature. 

M. N. Lee has for some years devoted his at- 
tention to the raisii]g of fruit in connection with 
farming, and being a man of energetic tempera- 
ment and progressive in his views, he has made a 
success of both callings. He was born in this 
State in 1853 to William J. and Celia (Cooper) 
Lee, the birth of the former occurring in South 
Carolina, and that of the latter in Tennessee. Mr. 
Lee came to Arkansas about 1832, followed by his 
widow some four years later, and here they were 
married and began the journey of life together. 









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304 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



When their son, M. N. Lee, was twenty-one years 
of age, he began making his own way in the world 
and also maintained them. In 1880 he purchased 
eighty acres of railroad land, and of this he now 
has seventy acres under cultivation, on which is a 
good house and other buildings. He afterward 
homesteaded forty acres, upon which he made im- 
provements, and now has about seventeen acres 
under fence. He raises considerable corn and 
cotton, the yield of the former being from thirty to 
forty acres, and of the latter from 1,200 to 1,500 
pounds. From 250 to 300 bushels of Irish potatoes 
are also raised to the acre, and 200 bushels of sweet 
potatoes. He is now giving a great deal of his 
attention to the culture of fruit, at which he is 
meeting with remarkable success. To the union of 
our subject and his wife were born six children, all 
of whom are now living: Josephine, Luella, Walter 
Scott, Rhoda J., Ida May and Ada. For the past 
seven years Mr. Lee has served as a member of 
the school board of his district, and under his 
directorship, new furniture, of an improved kind, 
has been introduced into the schools and the 
school-year lengthened. Mr. Lee has two brothers: 
Kennedy C. and Ebenezer N. 

O. C. Ludwig is the editor of the Herald - 
Journal, one of the best wide-awake, breezy and 
ably-edited journals of the State. Mr. Ludwig 
was born in Decatur, Ala., in 1858, being the eld- 
est of six children born to Frederick and Mary 
(Hoxter) Ludwig, the former a native of German}' 
and the latter of Maryland. The father came to 
the United States at the age of twelve years, being 
brought there by his parents, and after coming to 
Arkansas, he followed the calling of a confectioner 
in Decatur, and died in 1878. He served in the 
Confederate Army during the Rebellion and did 
some gallant service for the cause he espoused. 
His widow survives him. The immediate subject 
of this sketch attended the schools of Huntsville, 
Ala., and at the age of sixteen years entered the 
post-office at Decatur as a clerk, in which capacity 
he served for three years. At the end of this 
time he opened a grocery store, which he conducted 
in a fairly satisfactory manner until 1880, at which 
time he came to Arkansas and settled at Atkins. 



At this point he started a commercial business, 
but soon purchased an interest in the News and 
for a short time was its owner. After spending a 
few months at Eureka Spirngs he went to Spring- 
dale, where he established the Enterprise of that 
place in 1882, the first paper ever published in the 
town. After remaining there eighteen months he 
came, in 1883, to Clarksville, where he founded 
the Enterprise, a paper he ably and successfully 
conducted until eighteen months later, when he . 
sold it and entered the office of the Secretary of 
State, under E. B. Moore. Six months later he 
was appointed postmaster at Clarksville, which 
office he held during Cleveland's administration. 
He is a stockholder in and has been for a long time 
editor and business manager of the Herald- Jour- 
nal. In 1888 he began editing the Arkansan, but 
stispended it and connected himself with the Her- 
ald-Journal, but in 1890 resumed the publication 
of the Arkansan, which he has since continued 
with success. Mr. Ludwig has been married three 
times, first in 1880, at Atkins, to Miss Kate Rob- 
erts, who lived but eighteen months, bearing one 
child, Katie. His second marriage took place in 
Springdale in 1883 to Miss Theo Wilson, who died 
ten months later at Clarksville. His third union 
was consummated on January 7, 1885, to Miss 
Lizzie, daughter of A. P. May, of Clarksville. By 
her he has three children: Mary, Thomas May 
and Oswald. Mr. Ludwig is a member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and socially is " 
a member of Calantha Lodge No. 38, of the K. of 
P. , in which he is past chancellor. In politics he 
has always been a stanch Democrat, and has lieen 
a delegate to several State, congressional and 
judicial conventions. He is the owner of a 
good residence and several small lots in Clarks- 
ville. His worthy wife is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

E. T. McConnell is a merchant and druggist of 
Clarksville, Ark., and in this county was born on 
November 20, 1845, being a son of E. E. and Su- 
san (Sholton) McConnell, the former a native of 
North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. The 
father was a physician, and came to Arkansas in 
1838, settling in this county, and here he prac- 



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(3 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



305 



ticed until bis death, in 1858. He, with T. J. 
Howel, began mercbandising at a place called 
Pittsbnrg, on the Arkansas River, of which place 
they were the first merchants, and there they con- 
tinued to do business until 1847, when he removed 
to Clarksville, and here started a di'Ug store, the 
first in the town. His wife, the mother of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, died on July 4, 1865, a worthy 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. E. 
T. McConnell was reared in Clarksville, educated 
in the schools of this county and in Little Kock, and 
on September 13, 1863, enlisted in the Confeder- 
ate Army in a company raised by his brother, AV. 
H. McConnell, which was attached to Col. John F. 
Hill's regiment, and was in numerous engage 
mentsin this State. At the time of the Missouri 
campaign he was detailed as a courier, and served 
as such wholly in this State under Gen. Kirby 
Smith. He was in Calhoun County at the close of 
the war, and after the war came back to Clarks- 
ville, where be followed farming near the town for 
one year, and then began mail contracting, his 
route being from Little Rock to Fort Smith, con- 
tinuing one and one-half years. After clerking 
for one year he opened a store on Little Piney 
Creek, and there also farmed for two years. He 
then bought the drug establishment of Paine & 
Adkins, in Clarksville, his place of business be- 
ing the same as where his father opened a drng 
store in 1847, although the building, which was 
erected by him, was burned to the ground in I86U. 
In 1871 E. T. McConnell erected the building in 
which ho is now doing business, to which he has 
made additions. He erected a hotel in 1888, and 
the K. of P. Hall at a later period. He carries a 
full line of drugs, patent medicines, toilet articles, 
etc., his stock being valued at from $3,000 to 14,- 
000. He is also the owner of three sawmills, and 
does a wholesale lumber trade, and is land agent 
for the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad. He 
has some 3,000 acres of land, with 1,500 under 
cultivation, on which is a tine residence, and in ad- 
dition to this he owns twenty other houses in town. 
In 1878 he was elected sheriff of the county, serv- 
ing six years, and has also been mayor and coun- 
cilman of the town. Ho was married on Decem- 

20 



ber IS, 1873, to Miss Alice A. Porter, of this 
county, a daughter of William C. Porter, an old 
pioneer from Kentucky. To them four children 
have been born : Susie, Hall C. , Maud A. and Imo- 
gene. Mrs. McConnell is a member of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, and socially Mr. Mc 
Connell belongs to Calantha Lodge No. 38, of the 
K. of P., Ezel Lodge of the I. O. O. F., and the 
K. of H. He has always been an active worker 
for the Democrat party, and has been chairman 
for the County Central Committee for the past two 
years. On one of his farms he has an apple or 
chard of 2,000 trees, and intends to plant many 
more. He is a thrifty, industrious citizen in every 
respect, and would be a decided acquisition to any 
community in which he might locate. 

William B. McDaniel is one of tile honest "sons 
of the soil" of Johnson County, Ark., although 
his birth occurred in Person County, N. C, in De- 
cember, 1845, he being a son of James C. and Har- 
riet J. (Hester) McDaniel, both of whom were born 
in the Old North State also. They removed to 
Johnson County, Ark., in 1852 with a family of 
four children, and four more children were born to 
them after their settlement in Arkansas: Martha 
A., William B., John V. and Eliza F., being na- 
tives of the former State, and Harriet H, Mary J., 
James L. and Nancy, of this State. Martha mar- 
ried John King in 1869, he being now a farmer of 
this county; Eliza married A. A. Garrett, who is 
the proprietor of a boarding-house at Atlas, Ark., 
and John V. is in the lumber business in Texa,s. 
The paternal grandfather of these children was 
born in Scotland, and at a very early day came to 
America, his wife coming here from that country 
also. The maternal grandparents were of Irish 
descent. The subject of this sketch was married 
to Miss Elizabeth Ogilvie, a daughter of W. S. 
Ogilvie of Johnson County, in 1808, and to them 
three sons and three daughters have been born: 
Charles M., Mallie J., William C, Anna L., Sybil 
B. and Ernest L., all of whom are single and liv- 
ing with their parents. Mr. McDaniel has always 
been a hard worker, and as he is also a shrewd and 
careful manager he became the owner of 330 acres 
of land, 125 acres of which are under cultivation. 



^ 



riV 



Al*- 



K* 



300 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



In December, 1863, he enlisted in the United States 
Army in Company K, of the Second Arkansas In- 
fantry, under Col. Stevenson, and did service in the 
State altogether. He was with Gen. Steele on the 
Camden raid, being in the engagement at Jenkins' 
Ferry. In August, 1805, he was discharged at 
Clarksville, Ark., after which he returned home 
and engaged in farming, to which business he has 
devoted his attention ever since. His wife died 
November 27, 1887, and ho has since remained a 
widower. His father and mother died in September, 
1863, and in January, 1804, respectively. 

William Malchow is the postmaster at Luther- 
ville, but by birth is a German, in which country 
be received his education and rearing. In 18(')"2 
he came to the United States, and after a residence 
of twenty years/in the State of Wisconsin, de- 
voted to farming and merchandising, he came to 
Lutherville, Ark., in March, 1883, and here pur- 
chased a farm of eighty acres lying west of the town, 
which he improved, clearing ten acres; also three 
lots in Block A, upon which he built a house and 
store-room, the latter being 40x20 feet. In this 
building he put a general mercantile stock worth 
about $2,000, and here has successfully hold forth 
ever since. Besides the property above mentioned 
he owns two lots in Block E, of Lutherville, and 
from this property derives sufficient means to sup- 
ply him with all the necessaries, and many of the 
luxuries of life. He was married in 1802, just 
prior to coming to America, to Miss Wilhelmina 
Handrich, a native of Germany, whose parents are 
now living in Wisconsin. To this union five chil- 
dren have been born, three of whom are now 
living: Albert, Bertha and William. Mr. Malchow 
was appointed postmaster of Lutherville on January 
1, 1880, and has held the position ever since. He 
was for nine years school director, and during that 
period was also town tax collector. He and his 
family are members of the Lutheran Church. He 
was born in 1839, to Frederick and Caroline Mal- 
chow, the former of whom was born in 1811 and died 
in 1885, and the latter, who was also born the same 
year as her husband, is still residing at Lutherville, 
Ark. In connection with his mercantile establish- 
ment Mr. Malchow is giving considerable atten- 



tion to fruit raising, especially the raising of grapes. 
The fine orchard which he has, is now six years old 
and is bearing its second crop of fruit. The trees 
are bending to the ground beneath their load, but 
none of the apples are one-sided or blemished, but 
perfect and sound. Under his methods of culture, 
trees will yield a good crop in the fifth year. 

John B. Mann is the well known proprietor of 
a flourishing livery stable in the town of Clarks- 
ville, and his birth occurred in this county in 1840, 
and he has resided here all his life the people 
have had every opportunity to judge of his char- 
acter and disposition, and naught but prai.se has 
ever been said in regard to either. He is the 
second of six children born to C. B. and Elizabeth 
(Collins) Mann, who were born in Virginia and 
Tennessee, respectively. The father came to Ar- 
kansas at an early day and followed farming for 
several years. He was very successful in politics, 
and served as sheriff of the county, which ofilice 
he was holding at the time of his death in 1856. 
He had been twice married, his first union result- 
ing in the birth of two children, both of whom are 
living. His second wife bore him three children 
and died in 1881. John B. Mann was reared in 
Johnson County, and after attending the common 
schools until he was sixteen years of age, he, in 
1868, -enlisted in the Confederate Army in a com- 
pany organized by his brother, A. T. F. Mann and 
A. D. King, the latter being chosen captain and 
the former second lieutenant, and with this com- 
pany he participated in the battles of Poison 
Springs and Mark's Mill, being at Marshall, Tex., 
at the close of the war. The summer following the 
surrender of Lee Mr. Mann spent in Texas, but in 
the fall returned to Arkansas, and at once began 
farming. In 1870 he married Miss Lizzie King, a 
native of the State and a daughter of Reuben 
King, an old pioneer still residing in this section. 
Mr. Mann is the owner of 160 acres of land in 
Spadra Township, of which 100 acres are under 
cultivation, but since 1885, when he moved to 
Clarksville, he has devoted his attention to the 
livery business. His barn is 70x100 feet, and is 
well fitted up with good horses and vehicles, the 
former numbering twelve. He does a general 






J ^" — ^ 



[[T 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



307 



transfer business in connection, and is one of the 
pushing and wide-awake men of the place. He 
is now engao;ed in erecting a fine residence on the 
hill in East Clarksville. To his union with Miss 
King seven children have been born: William C, 
Mary Virginia, Margaret Estella, Charles Bnchanan- 
Ella, Emma and Harley. Mrs. Mann is a member 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. 
Mann is a member of Calantha Lodge No. 38, of 
the K. of P., Ezel Lodge No. 45, of the I. O. O. F., 
and the K. of H. He is an active worker for the 
Democratic party, and as he has always been inter- 
ested in educational matters, he has been a schooj 
director for several years. 

John L. Martin, farmer, is well and favorably 
known to the majority of the residents of this sec- 
tion. He has resided here over since his birth in 
1840, and has been prominently indentified with 
the farming interests hereabouts, ever since he be- 
gan doing for himself. His parents, L. A. and 
Nancy (Laster) Martin, were Tennesseeans and in 
1837 went to Johnson County, Ark., where the 
father followed the occupation of a farmer and 
cooper, teaching his son the details of these call, 
ings also. John L. attended school a sufficient 
length of time to obtain a practical education, and 
when only nineteen years of age, he started out to 
make his own way in the world, and by persever- 
ance, energy and intelligence has become the 
owner of 180 acres of tine farming land, situated 
in King Township, about 100 acres of which he 
has under cultivation. In 1801 he enlisted in the 
Confederate Army, and served the cause he es- 
poused faithfully and well until the close of the 
war. His marriage, which occurred in 1859, was 
to Miss Permelia Boyer, and the following are 
the names of the children that have been born 
to them: William E., Emeline, F. L., Sarah R., 
Lou (deceased), Orah, James M., Bell, Charles 
O. , Lillie, Jessie L. , Abe and Newberry (deceased). 
Mrs. Martin is a daughter of William and Mary 
(Cooper) Boyer, and she, her husliand and four 
children are members of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church. Everything about Mr. Martin's 
place shows that he is a man of thrift and indus- 
try, for his buildings and fences are substantial, 



and his.land is in an excellent state of cultivation. 
Among their acquaintances and friends, the respect 
shown them is in full keeping with their well-estab- 
lished reputation for hospitality, and their true 
and sincere cordiality. Mr. Martin is thoroughl}' 
public spirited, and is also a very liberal contribu- 
tor to the different enterprises that come before 
his notice. 

Rev. H. B. Milner is the editor of the Herald- 
Journal of Clarksville, Ark., and in 1848 was born 
in Alabama, being the second of six children born 
to A. and Mary (Taylor) Milner, who were born in 
Tennessee and Alabama, respectively, the former a 
farmer by occupation. In 1852 he removed to 
Texas, purchased a farm of IfiO acres, on which he 
lived until his death in 1884. His wife died in 
1879, both having been members of the Camber- 
land Presbyterian Church. Mr. Milner was an 
office-holder of his county in Texas for many years, 
being an advocate of educational affairs of all kinds, 
and for some time was county superintendent of 
schools and also commissioner. Rev. H. B. Mil- 
ner was reared in Texas, and was mainly educated, 
after reaching manhood, in Trinity University, tak- 
ing a literary course, and in 1870 actively entered 
upon his study for the ministry, his first preaching 
being done in 1876, in the eastern part of the State, 
where he resided imtil 1879, at which time he 
moved to Paducah, Ky., where he was pastor of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church until 1883. 
He then came to Russellville, Ark. , at which place 
he was pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church for five years, and editor of the Russell- 
ville Democrat for live months. Since October 1, 
1888, he has resided in Clarksville, at which place 
he purchased on May 1, 1890, an interest in the 
Herald Journal, and at once entered upon his du- 
ties as editor and business manager. He is doing 
well in this calling, and at all times endeavors to 
give to the public a paper containing valuable in- 
formation. He is also pastor of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. He was married in 1882 to 
Miss Bettie Holibs, of Paducah, Ky., who died in 
1887, leaving two children: Beulah and Eilah. 
His second union took place in 1888 to Miss Loula 
Bonds, of Russellville, and has resulted in the birth 



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^ 



308 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of one child, Henry Grady. Mr. Milner is one of 
the leading men of this region, and his many 
worthy qiialities of head and heart have won for 
him numerous friends and few enemies. 

Dr. William C. Montgomery. The name of 
this gentleman is one of the most respected in this 
community, and during a residence of over thirty 
years in Johnson County, Ark. , he has enjoyed a 
large practice among the best families, and is kept 
very busy; while with the medical fraternity his 
reputation is by no means local, and he is well 
known for his remarkable cures throughout this 
section of the country. He was born in Sumner 
County, Tenn., April 29, 1831, to Jeff T. and Polly 
(Jouett) Montgomery, the latter a native of North 
Carolina, and the former of Sumner County, Tenn., 
where he was reared and spent his life, dying 
April 29, 1879, at the age of seventy-five years. 
He was a son of William and Jane (McMillan) 
Montgomery, who were born, reared and married 
in the Keystone State. They removed to Tennes 
see at a very early day, it being said of Mr. Mont- 
gomery that he drove the first wagon that came 
down Drake's Creek in Sumner County, Tenn. At 
the early age of fourteen years he acted as drum 
major in the Revolutionar}' War. Jeff T. Mont- 
gomery and his wife, Polly, both died on the old 
homestead in Tennessee, which is still in possession 
of the family, the death of the latter occurring 
July 16, 1801, at the age of fifty seven years. 
They had five sons and one daughter born to them: 
William C, John T., Robert A., D. B. C, Patsey 
J. and James. All lived to be grown and m.irried 
except Robert A., who was a member of the Sec- 
ond Mississippi Regiment, being drum major, and 
died al)out 1863 in a hospital in Virginia, after the 
battle of Manassas. James became a lawyer, and 
D. B. C. and John T. gave farming their attention. 
Daniel died in December, 1884, and John T. is 
residing in Dyer County, Tenn., ho and Dr. Will- 
iam C. being the only members of the family that 
are living. The latter came to Roseville, Ark., in 
1854, and at that place commenced reading medi- 
cine with Dr. William Wasson, and at the end of 
eighteen months entered the University of Nash- 
ville, Tenn., from which institution he graduated 



in the spring of 1857, after which he went to La 
Fayette County, Ark. , where he was engaged in the 
practice one year. In January, 1859, he located 
at Spadra, Ark., where he continued his practice, 
also building a cotton-gin and grist-mill. He sold 
his mill, after operating it four or five years, and 
purchased 150 acres of woodland, of which he now 
has 100 acres under cultivation, situated on Ar- 
kansas River, three miles southwest of Spadra. 
The Doctor was married May 6, 1863, to Miss 
Martha A. Maddox, a daughter of John G. Mad- 
dox. She was born in Georgia, and has borne her 
husband two children: Martha J. (born February 
22, 1864), and John J. (born February 16, 1871), 
the latter lieing now a student in the Cumberland 
University of Lebanon, Tenn., from which he ex- 
pects to graduate. Dr. Montgomery is the oldest 
practicing physician of this county, and, as above 
stated, has been very successful. He was with the 
Federal recruits three months, stationed at Darda- 
nelle during the year 1864, under Col. Fuller, as 
a recruit. The Montgomerys are of Scotch de- 
scent, and their old homestead, in Sumner County, 
Tenn., is now in possession of the Doctor. The 
house is a two-story brick, with a cellar under- 
neath, 25x60 feet, and was built in 1804. It is 
said that Aaron Burr staid one night with Grand- 
father Montgomery in that house soon after it was 
built, and the old clock which the latter purchased 
in 1797 is still in the house and is a good time- 
keeper. 

Robert R. Moreland is a prominent planter of 
Pittsburg Township, Johnson County, Ark., but 
bis birth occurred in the Palmetto State on Sep- 
tember 17, 1833, to W. E. and Mariah (Stribling) 
Moreland, both of whom were born in the Old 
North State, in 1802 and 1806, respectively. They 
were united in marriage in South Carolina in 1824, 
and unto this union were born ten children — eight 
sons and two daughters — three of whom are now 
living: L. M., W. H. and Robert R. The chil- 
dren that are deceased are T. F. ,B. F. , Thomas, 
J. C, A. J., Frances V. and Virginia. The father 
emigrated from South Carolina to Arkansas in 
1834, and settled in this county where he entered 
land, also purchasing a tract, and made a large 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



309 



k^ 



I 



farm on whicli be lived, and made many valuable im- 
provements until his death in 1863, his widow paas- 
incr from life in 1880. The paternal great-grand- 
father emigrated from Ireland and his wife from 
Scotland, their union taking place in North Caro- 
lina. Of a family of five sons born to them, all 
served in the Kebel Army during the Kebellion, 
and all came through alive with the exception of 
A. J., who died of measles. In this county Mr. 
Moreland was married in 1857 to Miss Adelia Mad- 
din, by whom he became the father of four chil- 
dren, R. E. and J. D. being the only ones alive. 
T. B. and a child that was unnamed are deceased. 
Their mother died in 1867, having been a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Robert R. 
Moreland was married to his second wife, Tennes- 
see Hogin, in 1868. she having been born in this 
State in 1839, to P. G. and Margaret Jackson. 
His second union has resulted in the birth of four 
children: Mary I., Lillie A., Ann and Maud (de- 
ceased). In 1S<')1 Mr. Moreland became a member 
of Company B, Hill's regiment, and served until 
the close of the war, when he returned home, his 
time since then being occupied with farming. He 
was elected justice of the peace of this township 
in 1880, and has served faithfully and well ever 
since. He is the owner of 320 acres of good land 
with 150 under cultivation, on which is a good 
frame house, barns and other buildings. His 
orchard, consisting of apple, peach, pear and 
plum trees, is excellent, and he has also a good 
vineyard. He is, as was his worthy wife who died 
in 1882, a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and he is strongly in favor of all public im- 
provement. 

M. M. Nichols is one of the largest land owners 
of Johnson County, Ark., and in addition to this 
is the owner of an excellent mercantile establish- 
ment which brings him in a handsome income annu- 
ally. He was born on his father's plantation, in 
South Carolina, and when about seven years of age 
he was taken to Cass County, Ga., but his early 
scholastic opportunities were of the most meager 
description. After he had married, and when his 
children were old enough to enter a school, he had 
them review their lessons to him at night, and in this 



way obtained suflScient education to enable him to 
successfully transact all his own business, both ag- 
ricultural and mercantile. He remained in Georgia 
until twenty three years old, at which time he left 
home and secured a position as overseer at the 
Choctaw Mission, at Fort CofiPee, Ind. Ty. , and this 
position he retained, at a good salary, for two 
years, at the end of which time he went to Law- 
rence County, Mo., where he worked for wages on 
a farm for one year. At the exjiiration of this 
time he came to Johnson County, and almost im- 
mediately, or in 1858, he purchased eighty acres of 
land on which he settled and which he cultivated 
until 18(52, when he enlisted in Col. Hill's regi- 
ment of Arkansas Cavalry, and after Lee's sur- 
render he was discharged at Marshall, Tex., having 
participated in a number of engagements, among 
which were Oak Hill, Holly Springs, and many 
others of less importance. He was also in the 
commissary department for some time, and during 
his entire service did not receive a wound. At the 
close of the war he returned to Arkansas to find 
his farm laid waste — buildings torn down and 
burned, and hogs, of which he had 400 head when 
he entered the army, were slaughtered or driven off, 
nothing, in fact, was left but the bare land. He 
met his wife and two little ones at Roseville, and 
near that place he rented land for two years, then 
returned to improve his place, but instead sold it 
soon after and purchased the property on which he 
is at present residing. He again engaged in the 
stock business, but at the present time deals prin- 
cipally in horses and mules. He devotes but little 
attention to the culture of cotton, but corn receives 
considerable attention at his hands. He first pur- 
chased forty acres of this farm, but from time to 
time, as he was able, he added to it and now has 
410 acres of as good farming and stock-raising 
land as there is in the township. His residence 
and all outbuildings are all excellent, and on this 
land he has also a good store buildingr, in which is 
a stock of goods well calculated to meet the wants 
of the citizens hereabouts. Clover, timothy and 
red top grow luxuriantly on his place, and cotton 
could also be raised in paying quantities did Mr. 
Nichols so desire it. In 1887 he and his son 



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310 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



opened a mercantile establishment at Coal Hill, 
consisting of a general stock of goods, but it is now 
conducted by his sonin-law, B. F. Pyrou (see 
sketch). Although Mr. Nichols does not care to 
state what he considers the value of his property, 
it has been learned from other sources that $G0, - 
000 approximates very closely the amount. He 
was bom on June 16, 1826, and was married 
December 15, 1858, to Miss Louisa J. Lee, daugh- 
ter of Russell Lee, of this county. They have 
four sons and four daughters: Manus M. (a phy- 
sician of Morrillton, Ark., married to Cynthia Hol- 
man, by whom he has two children), Amanda J. 
(wife of B. F. Pyron, of Coal Hill), George N., 
Elva I., James Malvin, Emily N., Margaret W. 
and William A. Mr. Nichols has given his chil- 
dren liberal educations, for he has often felt the 
need of a better knowledge of books, and decided 
that his children should not want in that respect. 
He and his family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and has taken an active interest 
in the Sunday-school for years. He is treasurer in 
Spring Hill Lodge of the A. F. A. M., and in pol- 
itics is a firm Democrat, at all times supporting the 
measures of that party. He is a man who has 
always made the most of hfs opportunities and has 
at all times tried to raise something that was salable 
and wanted by the public. He says that no man is so 
far from market as the one that has nothing to sell, 
hence he has always tried to keep near some wide- 
awake and pushing town. He is a man who reads 
a great deal, is a deep thinker, and is accordingly 
one of the well-informed men of this section, 
his family, as well as himself, commanding respect 
from all. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Tusi- 
neur) Nichols, were South Carolinians by birth. 

Joseph A. Nourse has for many years been fol- 
lowing the occupation of planting in Johnson 
County, but was born in Logan County, Ky. , Sep- 
tember 15, 1828, to Ralph E. and Rebecca (Jenir- 
son) Nourse, they being born in Kentucky in 1800 
and 1805, respectively. They were married on 
Blue-Grass soil, and to their union seven children 
were born, only two, Joseph A. and Alney, being 
now alive. Mr. Nourse settled on a farm in John- 
son County, Ark., in 1836, improving it in an ad- 



mirable manner, and making it one of the most 
valuable pieces of property in this section of the 
country. He was called from the scene of his 
earthly labors in 1851, and his widow in 1882, both 
being worthy Christians, the former a member of 
the Presbyterian Church, and the latter a Baptist. 
Joseph A. Nourse was married in this county in 
1852 to Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, a native of this 
county, born in 1833, a daughter of William Ham- 
ilton. Mr. Nourse and his wife are the parents of 
five children, but only two are now living: James 
and W'alter A. William M., Georgiannah and 
Mamie are deceased. In 180-1 he enlisted in the 
Confederate Cavalry during the Rebellion, but after 
he had served for six months peace was declared, 
and he once more returned to the peaceful pursuit 
of farming, and has since been thus occupied. By 
the sweat of his brow he has become the owner of 
160 acres of good farming land, and the 100 acres 
which he has under cultivation he devotes to -the 
raising of the cereals. His residence is substantial 
and commodious, his other buildings being like- 
wise, and near his residence is a good orchard of 
apple, peach, pear and plum trees, besides which 
he has an excellent vineyard. He and his wife are 
upright people in every respect, are worthy mem- 
bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and 
are well known throughout this region as charitable 
and hospitable people. 

Thomas B. Paine is a prominent pioneer settler 
of Lamar, Ark., but was born in Giles County, 
Tenn., January 9, 1825, to G. W. and Mary (Han- 
ners) Paine, who were born in North Carolina and 
Tennessee in 1801 and 1803, respectively, the former 
being a farmer and wagon-maker by occupation. 
They were married in Lincoln County, Tenn., in 
1819, and of nine children born to them two are 
now living: T. B. and Francis M. The father 
served three years as judge of Union County, III., 
having moved to that State from Tennessee in 1833 
and to Arkansas in 1844, settling in Johnson 
County, where the father passed from life in 1864, 
his widow following him to the grave in 1872, she 
being a member of the Hardshell Baptist Church. 
Thomas B. Paine was married in this county, Sep- 
tember 26, 1844, to Miss Ruth HouBton, who was 



1 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



311 



born in Shelby County, Ohio, October 28, 1824, a 
daughter of John M. and Ruth (Stroud) Houston, 
who were born in North Carolina and Georgia, May 
26, 1787, and March 25, 1790, respectively, their 
marriage occurring in Dickson County, Tenn. , in 
1808, and resulting in tlie birth of twelve children, 
only two being now alive: Mrs. Paine and Robert. 
Mr. Houston was a tiller of the soil and in 1837 
came to Arkansas, settling in Johnson County, 
where he died in 1861, having been a member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his 
wife was also a member, her death occurring in 
1858. To Mr. and Mrs. Paine nine chihlren have 
been born, the following being alive: Louisa (wife 
of J. G. Blair), Bettie R. (wife of A. Er), Mattie C. 
(now postmistress of Lamar), and Harry L. ; John 
W., Thomas H., Robert V., Mary C. and Anna are 
deceased. Mr. Paine has been school commissioner 
ten years, constable six years, county judge one 
year, justice of the peace of his township six years, 
mail contractor eight years, and postmaster of La- 
mar four years. He owns 120 acres of good land 
with 100 under cultivation, on which are good 
buildings of all kinds. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and 
are worthy and honored citizens of this section. 
Mr. Paine' s paternal grandfather, John Paine, was 
a lirst cousin of the noted Thomas Paine of Ten- 
nessee. 

Thomas B. Patty (deceased) came to this 
county from Tennessee, when a small boy, and was 
here reared on a farm, his educational advantages 
in his youth being fair. He commenced life for 
himself as a poor boy, but by earnest and persist- 
ent endeavors he was the owner of a finely im- 
proved little farm of forty acres at the time of his 
second marriage in 1848. He was first married 
to Miss Rachel Courtney, who died leaving no 
issue, after which he wedded Miss Merilla A. 
Davis of Johnson County,- Ark., but a native of 
Tennessee, and a daughter of Severe and Margaret 
Davis, who were born in Tennessee and North 
Carolina, respectively. They came to this State 
and county, when Mrs. Patty was only two years 
of age, and here she attained womanhood and was 
given the advantages of the common schools. At 



the time of her marriage she was seventeen years 
of age, and she has been actively employed on 
the farm ever since. After residing on their farm 
of forty acres until 1851, they sold out and bought 
the forty acres on which Mrs. Patty is now living, 
which they improved and added to until Mr. 
Patty, at the time of his demise, was the owner 
of 160 acres and had 75 acres under cultivation, 
improved with a good residence, barn and orchard. 
Mrs. Patty's son now resides with her and works 
a part of the farm, but all is under her direct 
control and supervision. She has shown that she 
is in every respect perfectly capable of succcess- 
fully managing her affairs, and is proving a good 
financier and a thorough business woman. She 
and her husband were happily mated, and were 
earnest members of the Baptist Church. 

Judge J. B. Porter is recognized as a man of 
sound judgment and practical ability, and his 
practical sagacity, and keen insight into the mo- 
tives and methods of men, have been of great 
benefit to him in the different official capacities in 
which he has served. He was born in Johnson 
County, Ark., February 22, 1839, to Thomas B. 
and Mary (Covington) Porter, both of whom were 
born in Tennessee, where they were married. In 
1836 they removed to Arkansas, and for a long 
time were engaged in farming in Johnson County, 
their family of six sons and three daughters 
(four born in Tennessee and five in Arkansas) be- 
ing as follows: Jane E., John W., Amanda T. , 
Eliza, J. B., James C. C, Thomas B., William F. 
and Edmund L. The mother of these children 
died on October 20, 1858, and in October of the 
following year Mr. Porter married Mrs. Elizabeth 
Beluh, widow of Raine)^ Beluh, but he was so un- 
fortunate as to lose this wife also in May, of the 
following year. In March, 1861, a Mrs. Chauncey 
became his wife, but after a wedded life of five 
years she, too, passed away and was succeeded by 
Miss Phoebe Boyer as the wife of Mr. Porter. 
The latter died on December 24, 1883, being then 
seventy- nine years of age, having lived on the place 
where he settled from October, 1836, until his death. 
His last union resulted in the birth of one child, 
Victory, wife of J. C. Payne, a farmer, by whom 



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it 



312 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



she has four children. They reside in Johnson 
County, Ark., and Mrs. Payne's motlier lives with 
her. Judge J. B. Porter was the fifth one of the 
family, and was the first one born after the removal 
of his parents to Arkansas, he and three brothers 
and two sisters being the only ones of the family 
that are living. On January 5, 1860, the Judge was 
married to Miss Nancy C. Baskiu, and to their 
union the following children were born: Mary E., 
Dora A., John T., William, James R. , Augustus 
F., Una S., Guy C, Amy B., all of whom are 
single, but Mary, who married C. F. Ogilvie, a 
son of James Ogilvie. John T. is a clerk in 
Cravens & Cravens store at Hartman. Judge 
Porter is the owner of 150 acres of land, 60 of 
which are under cultivation, and besides this prop- 
erty has a half interest in a cotton-gin and grist- 
mill. In November, 1861, he enlisted in the Con- 
federate Army, becoming a member of Company 
C, First Arkansas, Mounted Rifles (Churchill's 
regiment), and prior to going east of the river in 
1862, was in the tight at Pea Ridge, and afterward 
took part in nearly all the principal engagements 
in which the Army of Tennessee participated. 
He received a flesh wound at the battle of Frank- 
lin, Tenn. , and soon after this was furloughed 
home. While there he was captured by the Fed- 
erals and was taken to Little Rock, where he was 
kept until June 10, 1865, reaching home on the 
19th of the same month. He itnmediately engaged 
in farming, and in 1880 was elected county judge, 
re-elected in 1884 and 1886, but prior to that had 
been justice of the peace for about eight years. 
In 1890 he was nominated on the Union Labor 
ticket for representative to the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He and his wife are members of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he is a 
free contributor to schools, churches and all fvub- 
lic enterprises. He is an elder in his church, has 
been a school director for many years, and he is a 
man worthy of all honor and esteem, for, as above 
stated, he is upright in every worthy particular. 
He had two brothers killed in the Confederate 
Army, Thomas B., May, 1862, at Corinth, Miss. ; 
James C. C, August, 1862, at Richmond, Ky. 
James M. Prim, one of the early settlers of John- 



son County, Lee Township, came to this country 
with his widowed mother when he was about twen- 
ty-four years of age, he being the eldest of her 
seven children. A large share of the support of 
this family devolved upon him at an early age, and 
after coming to this county and township in 1841, 
he began farming on rented land, but in a few 
years bought a tract of land, upon which he is now 
residing — 200 acres, 80 acres of which are in a good 
state of improvement. In his youth he never received 
over sixteen days of schooling, biit at odd times 
he picked up sufficient education to admit of his 
transacting the ordinary affairs of business. In 
1842 he was elected to the position of justice of 
the peace, and in that capacity served for fourteen 
years, making a faithful and efficient officer. His 
marriage, which occurred in 1844, was to Miss 
Maranda Patty, a daughter of Eli and Rebecca 
Patty, natives of Tipton County, Tenn., who be- 
came the parents of ten children that grew to ma- 
turity. Mr. Prim was born on April 28, 1818, 
in Tennessee, near Nashville, but went with his 
father to Alabama, Limestone County, where he 
died about the time Mr. Prim was fourteen years of 
age, and although he has as a farmer, followed 
in his father's footsteps, he at one time gave some 
attention to wagon-making. His land, aside fi-om 
that which he has under cultivation, is heavily 
covered with timber, and on the same are some 
valuable stone quarries. His crops are principally 
corn and cotton, and near his residence is a good 
bearing orchard. He and his wife have a family 
of five sons and three daughters, all of whom are 
married, but the two youngest sons who are still 
residing with their parents. The others are settled 
near the old homstead. Although Mr. Prim is 
seventy-two years of age he still cultivates a por- 
tion of his land, and he and his wife are well pre- 
served and in the enjoyment of good health. They 
are well pleased with their home in Arkansas, and 
desire no better place in which to pass their de- 
clining years. 

F. M. Puckett is a man who has made his own 
way in life, and the property of which he is now 
the possessor has been earned by the sweat of his 
brow. He is a Tennesseean by birth, born in 



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1^ 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



313 



1845, a son of George and Nancy (Ishell) Puckett, 
they being also Teuuesseeans, and he is one of a 
family of ten children born to them, eight of whom 
are now living: Caledonia (wife of Ed League), 
Francis M. (the subject of this sketch), Serena 
(wife of John Walker), Lafayette, Nancy (wife of 
John Burton), Pirteman, Lillie (wife of J. C. 
Cantwell), and Napoleon. In 1801 Mr. Puckett 
enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fifth Tennessee 
Infantry, and served the Confederate cause for 
four years. He was wounded on four different oc- 
casions: Mill Springs (where he was wounded in 
the left arm), Perryville, Murfreesboro (where he 
was wounded in the left arm near his former 
wound) and Chickamauga. He also took part in 
the engagements at Knoxville, Beau Station, and 
was in the Wilderness campaign until the surren- 
der at Appomattox Court House. In 1868 he came 
to Arkansas and settled on Little Piney, where be 
homesteaded eighty acres of land, upon which he 
cleared thirty-live acres and built a house, barn 
and other buildings. On selling out in 1880 he 
purchased the farm on which he is now living, 
which consists of 200 acres, and here he has made 
many valuable improvements in the way of clear- 
ing, seventy -five acres being under cultivation, 
upon which he has built a good double house, out- 
buildings, fences, etc. About ten acres of his land 
are devoted to fruit, from which he has obtained 
about 7,500 bushels of fruit, principally peaches 
and apples. All his orchard has been grown from 
seed, and scions in the last four years. Corn 
yields about twenty-five bushels to the acre, and 
cotton one-half bale. Mr. Puckett has served four 
years as justice of the peace, and he and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, he having been for many years a teacher in 
the Sunday-school. Mr. Puckett and his wife have 
four children: Serena, Mary, George and Betsey. 
B. F. Pyron is the efficient general manager 
for the firm of Nichols & Son, dealers in general 
merchandise at Coal Hill, Johnson County Ark. 
He was born in the State of Mississippi, and was 
reared to manhood on a farm, his educational ad- 
vantages being quite limited, from the fact that for 
several years prior to his death Michael Pyron, his 



father, was a cripple. He was the next to the 
youngest of the family, and it devolved up(m him 
to support his mother, thus his school days were 
cut short. After his mother had passed to her 
long home he came to. Arkansas with the idea of 
bettering his condition, and as his means were 
quite limited he rented and operated a farm for 
one year. At the end of this time he was married 
to Miss Amanda J. Nichols, a daughter of M. M. 
Nichols, senior member of the firm of Nichols & Son, 
and as Mrs. Pyron was a lady of tine education she 
assisted her husband in his studies, as he was very 
desirous of learning. At the end of a few years 
he was sufficiently posted to transact any ordinary 
mercantile business. After his marriage he con- 
tinued to rent land for one year, then purchased a 
claim which he improved by erecting a comfortable 
residence thereon, and clearing the land of its tim- 
ber. During the five years that he owned this 
property he had succeeded in clearing fifty acres 
of timber, but after disposing of it, he moved to 
Coal Hill, where he was appointed assistant post- 
master, and at the same time entered the mercantile 
business, by putting in a stock of groceries in the 
post-office building. After continuing in this bus- 
iness for about two and one-half years he sold his 
stock of goods and entered the employ of 11. S. 
Davis as clerk in his general mercantile establish- 
ment. Here he remained for four months, at the 
end of which time he became general manager for 
Nichols & Son, of Coal Hill, a position he still fills 
in a very efficient manner and at a good salary. 
He has the utmost confidence of his employers and 
is what might be called a self-made man, in the 
fullest sense of the term. Mr. Pyron was born on 
March 6, 1859, and was one of twelve children 
born to his parents, all of whom are living with the 
exception of two sons, who were killed during the 
Rebellion. His marriage to Miss Nichols took 
place in October, 1880, and to their union three 
sons and one daughter have been born. Mr. Py- 
ron and his wife are members in good standing of 
the Primitive Baptist Church, and are ardent work- 
ers for all movements which they believe to be 
right, and have the respect and esteem of all who 
love the pleasure of their acquaintance. 



^-* 



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3U 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Thomas H. Reynolds. Not without justice is 
llr. Reynolds conceded to be one of the pros- 
perous farmers of the county, for he is the owner 
of an excellent farm of 160 acres on Mulberry 
Mount, in Low Gap Township, this being one of 
the finest fruit regions in the world. The twenty- 
three acres that are under cultivation, are princi- 
jaally devoted to the raising of fruit, and he has on 
exhibition this year some of the finest apples the 
State can produce. The Roman Beauties that he 
had on exhibition at the Fort Smith fair measured 
fifteen and one-half inches in circumference, his 
other exhibits being in proportion. He began at 
the stump to make his farm and has, by industry 
and economy, accumulated a comfortable compe- 
tency. He was born in this county in September, 
1847, to William and Elizabeth (Raskin) Reynolds, 
both natives of Arkansas, their marriage taking 
place ia Johnson County. The father was a farmer, 
and reared his sons to that occupation. The fam- 
ily born to himself and wife is as follows: Five 
sons and three daughters, three sons and one 
daughter being now alive, Thomas H. being the 
eldest of the family. His father died in 1864 and 
his mother the following year. The paternal 
grandfather was born in Tennessee, and at a very 
eaily day came to Arkansas, being pioneers of this 
section of the country, and among its most suc- 
cessful and substantial citizens. The maternal 
grandfather was born in Ireland. Thomas H. 
Reynolds was married in Arkansas, to a daughter 
of Blunt Wood of Johnson County, their union 
taking place in 1868, and to them twelve children 
have been born: Fanny E., William B. , Abri.m 
N., Oscar L.; Lou E., Altona, Millie M., Cora M., 
Etliel H., Ada E., and two that died in infancy 
unnamed. Fanny married George Moore, a 
farmer of this county. William B., Abram N. , 
O.-scar L. and Altona are deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Reynolds are members in good standing of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is 
a libeial contributor to schools and churches, and 
to the welfare of the public. 

S. H. Robins is a planter, living in Pittsburg 
Township, Johnson County, Ark., but was born in 
Murray County, near Dalton, Ga., April 11, 1840, 



to W. A. and Mary (Allred) Robins, who were born 
in Georgia, May 5, 1810, and in South Carolina, 
July 28, 1819, respectively, their marriage taking 
place in Hall County, Ga., and resulting in the 
birth of six children, four of whom are living: 
Sarah J. (wife of J. C. Bayley), S. H., W. E. and 
Mary L. (wife of J. P. Sebastian). Henry A. and 
Martha T. are deceased, the former dying at 
Hampton prison hospital, July 18, 1865, and the 
latter in early childhood. The father was a volun- 
teer in the Florida War, was a farmer and land 
trader, and died in Whitfield County, Ga., May 3, 
1874, being a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and the Masonic order. His widow 
survives him, and is a resident of Texas, her home 
being with her yoiingest daughter, Mrs. Sebastian. 
She is also a member of the Methodist Ejaiscopal 
Church South. S. H. Robins was principally edu- 
cated in the common schools of Georgia, and was 
married in Tilton, Whitfield County, of that State, 
October 21, 1866, to Miss Mary A. Osborn, a na- 
tive Tennesseean, born October U, 1848, a daugh- 
ter of J. K. and Eleanor (Kinneman) Osborn, 
natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respect- 
ively. Mr. and Mrs. Robins have two living chil- 
dren: Artho L. and Ettie. Edgar A., Olin K., 
Lula and Ella are deceased. In 1861 Mr. Robins 
left school, and enlisted in Company B, Phillips 
Legion of Georgia, Volunteer Infantry, and was 
under Gen. Floyd in the Sewel Mountain and 
Hawk's Nest campaigns, after which he was sent 
to the coast of South Carolina, soon to join Gen. 
Longstreet's corps in Virginia, and was in the bat- 
tles of Second Manassas, Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Brick Church, 
Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Knoxville and the 
Wilderness. In the last named engagement he 
received a gunshot wound in the left knee. After 
seven months he rejoined his command, and was 
captured April 6, 1865, near Appomattox. He was 
then carried a prisoner of war to Newport News 
prison, and after two months he was sent to Hamp- 
ton, where he was finally released, July lU, of the 
same year. He then returned to his home, and 
embarked in the timber business in Tilton, Ga. 
He then finished his education, married, and emi- 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



315 



grated to Arkansas in 1872, and settled in John- 
son County, where he taught school two years, 
having followed that occupation in Georgia. He 
is the owner of 123 acres of land, with 50 un- 
der cultivation, a portion of which is underlaid 
with coal. He has a good house, outbuildings, 
three acres of orchard and four acres in tine 
meadow. He and Mrs. Robins are earnest mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
The characteristics of the original Virginia stock 
seem to be well defined in posterity. They are of 
English-French and Irish blood, fearless and frank 
in speaking what they believe to be the truth, zeal- 
ous in any undertaking. None have been im- 
mensely rich, none have died extremely poor. It 
has been more their mission to build church and 
society than to acquire wealth. Few have been 
aspirants to office, many have filled important 
posts. The most prominent in State are of North 
Carolina, and the most prominent in church are 
of Georgia. Their political affiliations, have ever 
been Democratic; their religious creed is about 
equally divided between Methodist and Baptist. 
No matter what their employment, they love the 
farm and books, and after the age of sixty years 
the men die very suddenly, though they may live 
to be old. In youth agile, of medium weight, and 
will not sacrifice principle for friendship or popu- 
larity. Some of the same family spell their name 
with two b's, while the others prefer only one. 

W. W. Rogers is a young gentleman who has 
rapidly and surely made his way to the front among 
the energetic business men of this community, and 
although only thirty-six years of age he has, by 
attending strictly to each minor detail of his call- 
ing, built up a trade that is second to none in this 
section. He was born in this county January 16, 
1854, being one of fourteen children — six sons and 
eight daughters — born to Josiah and Harriet 
(Smith) Rogers, the former a native of Illinois and 
the latter of Missouri, their marriage taking place 
in Arkansas. In 1861 they removed to Texas, where 
Mr. Rogers engaged in stock-raising, but in 1867 
returned to Arkansas and settled in Johnson 
County (now Logan), where he bought a good farm 
on the Arkansas River and followed tilling the soil 



until his death, which occurred in July, 1878, his 
wife's death occurring two years earlier. Mr. 
Rogers was captain of a company of Home Guards 
in Texas during the war, and was a man whose 
reputation during a long and varied career remained 
unblemished. W. W. Rogers was married Novem- 
l)er 12, 1874, to Miss Anna Truscott, a daughter of J. 
J. Truscott, of Illinois, and in time a family of six 
children gathered about their board: Aries A., Vera, 
EscurE., Durand D , Burns B. and Zeral Z. The 
eldest five are attending school near their home. 
During the years 1876-77 Mr. Rogers was in the 
mercantile business with Rogers & Hunt at Clarks- 
ville, and during this time they did a yearly busi- 
ness of $18,000 on a capital stock of 18,000. In the 
last named year Mr. Rogers sold out and became a 
traveling salesman for the firm of ScharfF, Bern- 
heimer & Co., of St. Louis, Mo., remaining in their 
employ during the spring and summer of 1888. In 
September of that year he bought out the firm of 
A. A. Burleson & Co., at Hartman, the stock at 
that time being worth $1,500, has since increased 
it to $6,000, and is now doing a very prosperous 
business, in connection with which he also buys 
and ships cotton, and will in this year, in all prob- 
ability purchase from 350 to 400 bales. He and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and he belongs to Palatine Com- 
mandry No. 7, of the A. F. & A. M. , at Russellville. 
He is one of the county's most highly esteemed 
citizens, and as a business man has been exception- 
ally prosperous. His brother Emanuel is a clerk 
in his store, and besides this he has another brother 
and five sisters living. 

William R. Rogers is a well-known and suc- 
cessful planter of Johnson County, Ark., and by 
hard work and good management has become the 
owner of a fertile farm of 320 acres, 200 acres 
being under cultivation, one-half of which is river 
bottom land and very fertile. On this land he 
also has a good cotton gin and grist-mill, the 
income fi-om each being quite liberal. Mr. Rogers 
was born in this county on October 10, 1842, being 
a son of John and Elizabeth (Collier) Rogers, who 
were born in North Carolina and Dickson County, 
Tenn., October 4, 1805, and 1813, respectively, 






f 



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316 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



their marriage being consummated in Clarksville, 
Ai'k., in 1839. Five sons and two daughters were 
born to them: R. A., William R., John, Thomas 
H., Wintield S., Rebecca F. and Isabel. The 
mother of these children passed from life March 6, 
1S73, after which the father married Aliss Salina 
Johnson, who had been previously married to 
William Collier, being at the time of her marriage 
to Mr. Rogers the widow of this gentleman, by 
whom she had become the mother of four children, 
two living: Rev. H. C. (a minister of the Christian 
Church, living in Sebastian County), aiid W. F. 
Collier (a farmer of Johnson County). Her union 
with Mr. Rogers was not blessed with any chil- 
dren, and of the latter's family only R. A., Will- 
iam R. and W. S. are living, the latter being mar- 
ried to Rutilla Tigart, of Logan County, where he 
is engaged in farming. R. A. was married in 
February, 18G8, to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, a 
daughter of Josiah Rogers, of Logan County. He 
is the owner of 440 acres of land in Prairie Town- 
ship, Johnson County, but is employed as a clerk 
in the store of J. W. Mays of Clarksville, Ark. 
He and his wife have .six children. AVilliam R. 
Rogers was married in 1887 to Mrs. M. J. Aggus, 
widow of Isaac Aggus, her maiden name being 
Alterson, and when she married Mr. Rogers she 
was the mother of two daughters: Mary and Mag- 
gie. She has one daughter by Mr. Rogers, Pearl. 
In July, 18f)'2, Mr. Rogers enlisted in the Confed- 
erate Army, Company B, Col. Morgan's regiment, 
and did service in his own State altogether, a por- 
tion of the time being imder Gen. Price and the 
rest of the time under Gen. Cabel. In July, 
1865, he was discharged at Little Rock, after 
which he returned to Johnson County, where he 
resumed the occupation of farming. He and his 
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and be.sides being a liberal contrib- 
utor to schools and churches he gives of his means 
to everything pertaining to the general welfare of 
Johnson County. 

W. C. Ross is an Ohioan by birth and possess- 
es in an eminent degree the intelligence, pluck 
and perseverance characteristic of the natives of 
the Buckeye State. He was born in 1824, and his 



early education was received in Miami County, but 
in 1838 he came with his parents, David and Eliza 
(Carter) Ross, native Pennsylvanians, to Arkansas, 
and settled with them in Johnson County on the 
Little Piney. From here he volunteered for serv- 
ice, in the Mexican War, but before being mustered 
into service received injuries which incapacitated 
him for duty. In 1847 he began farming for him- 
self, and as he had obtained an excellent start in 
life, he was married in 1854 to Miss Jane Love- 
lady, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of 
Joseph and Mary Lovelady, both native Missis- 
sippiaus. The same year of his marriage he 
went to California, where he was engaged in 
mining for four years, then returned to Arkan- 
sas, and purchased eighty acres of land from the 
Government, which he improved with buildings, 
and by clearing twenty-five acres. He then sold 
this property and purchased eighty acres on Big 
Piney in Pope County, but after he had erected 
thereon a good house and barn, and had cleared 
ten acres, he disposed of this also. He next made 
a purchase of 80 acres, and homesteaded 160 acres, 
upon which he cleared about 70 acres, fenced the 
entire tract, and erected new buildings of all kinds. 
His principal crops are corn, cotton, wheat and 
oats, and will average twenty bushels of the former, 
one half bale of the second, and average crops of 
wheat and oats. He also raises fruits in abund- 
ance. Not only is his farm a valuable one for 
agricultural purposes, but it is underlaid with coal, 
three difPerent wells on the place showing veins 
from six to ten inches thick. Considerable of his 
attention is given to veterinary surgery, the study 
of this science being pursued under Prof. Flanni- 
gan, a graduate of that science. His practice ex- 
tends over four counties: Johnson, Pope, Logan 
and Van Buren, also a part of Conway, and in his 
practice he has been very successful. He served 
first in the Confederate Army during the Rebellion 
in Col. Lemoine's regiment, being in the battles 
of Fort Pillow and the Gunboats. His regiment 
was afterward disorganized, and he returned home, 
where he was captured by Hunter and pressed into 
the Federal service, in which he remained until 
the close of the war. He was wounded at Memphis 






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4. 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



317 



and Farmersville. Of a family of sis children 
born in his parents, he is the only one that sur- 
vives, four of the eight children born to himself and 
wife are living: J. U. , J. B., Ellen (wife of 
Charles Vollever), and California (wife of John 
Boly). 

A. J. Snelson. Among the representative farm- 
ers of the county none are more favorably known, or 
more highly respected for his many noble qualities 
of mind and heart than Mr. Snelson. He was born 
in Pope County, Ark., in 1862, to John and Cynthia 
(Davis) Snelson, both of whom were born in Ten- 
nessee, and came with their parents to Arkansas in 
an early daj', their marriage taking place here in 
1861. The father enlisted in the Confederate Army 
in 1862, was stricken with paralysis while on the 
march from Camden, left behind his command, and 
soon passed from life. After the war his widow 
married L. W. Pitts, of Johnson County, but a na- 
tive of Tennessee, and bore him ten children. The 
subject of this sketch was the only child born to 
his parents, and has always followed farming as an 
occupation; but in connection with this has also 
given his attention to teaching school for the past 
ten years, and is one of the successful and popular 
educators of the county. In February, 1885, he 
was married to Miss Frankie Laster, a daughter of 
Gen. Robert Laster of Johnson County, and by 
her has three children: Arthur, Airy Laster and 
Robert M. Mr. Snelson is the owner of one-half 
of the old homestead of Gen. Laster, his wife's 
father, the place being equally divided between 
his wife and her sister, who is the wife of J. 
M. McPherson, they being the only heirs of the 
General. The land of which Mr. Snelson is the 
owner comprises 128 acres, and on the 100 acres 
that are under cultivation, he raises cotton and 
corn. He is a wide-awake and pushing gentleman, 
and has won a reputation for thoroughness that is 
second to none in the county. He and his wife 
are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and are liberal in the giving of their 
n)eans to worthy causes. 

F. G. Srygley is a memlier of the general mer- 
cantile firm of Srygley Bros., of Coal Hill, which 
com'pany is also engaged in the real estate business. 



Mr. Srygley was born in Alabama in 184:7, and was 
the second of nine children born to J. H. and 
Sarah J. (Coats) Srygley, both of whom were born 
in Alabama, the father a farmer by occupation. 
He came to Arkansas in 1887, and now resides at 
Coal Hill. F. G. Srygley was reared on a farm, 
and after attaining his majority followed that oc- 
cupation for two years for himself, and in 1871 
began merchandising at Falkville, Ala., and has 
been an active business man ever since. Since 
1885 he has been a resident of Coal Hill, Ark., and 
is already identified with the interests of the place. 
His brother, F. D.. came here at the same time as 
himself, but the firm when first established was 
Oden & Srygley. The gentlemen composing the 
firm erected a large store-house, 22x80 feet, and 
filled it with a large stock of general merchandise, 
which they began disposing of at such reasonable 
rates, and in such an honest manner that they now 
command a large trade. In January, 1890, Mr. 
Oden retired, and the firm now comprises the two 
above mentioned brothers also another brother, F. 
W. Srygley. Their stock of goods is valued at 
about $8,000, their annual sales amounting to 
$30,000. They own four good farms, and have 
about 150 acres of cleared and cultivated land. 
They also own Oden's addition to Coal Hill, origi- 
nally about 400 lots, but have sold 100 lots and still 
own the balance. They have erected many build- 
ings, some of which they have sold and some rent. 
F. G. Srygley was married in 1871 to Miss Susan L. 
Oden, a daughter of Elias Oden, of Alabama. To this 
union five children have been born: Leander, Edna, 
Dora, Delia and Ethel. Mi. Srygley was called 
upon to mourn the death of his wife in April, 1 890. 
He is a member of the Christian Church, as are 
also his eldest two children. He is a Mason and 
a member of the K. of P. He has been active in 
school work, and has been a school director at Coal 
Hill since his residence here. 

J. S. Utley is the tenth child of eleven children 
born to his father and mother, Seth and Bathsheba 
(Woods) Utley, and first saw the light of day in 
Benton County, Tenn., in February, 1833, his 
parents being born in North Carolina and South 
Carolina, respectively. They were married in 



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k. 



318 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Tennessee, where they lived for a number of years, 
coming to Johnson County, Ark., in 1847, and 
here resided until their deaths in 1860. J. S. 
TJtley was married to Luvenia A. Collier in 1868, 
she being a daughter of Jerry Collier, of Johnson 
County. A family of eleven children has been 
bom to their union, and of the sis sons and five 
daughters, one son and the four daughters are living: 
John W. (deceased), Seth (deceased), Thoma (de 
ceased), Josie E. , Lou V. , Austin W. (deceased), Tha- 
lia B , Mary,Edna, and twins that died in infancy not 
named. In June, 1861,Mr.XJtley enlisted in the Con- 
federate Army, in the First Battallion of Arkansas 
Cavalry, under Col. Brooks, and did service west 
of the Mississippi River, being in the fight at Wil- 
son Creek, where he saw Gen. Lyon after he was 
killed. He was also at Pea Ridge, Poison Springs 
and Jenkins' Ferry, and was discharged at Fulton, 
Ark., in June, 1865, after which he returned to 
his home in Johnson County, where he resumed 
his occupation of farming, and has followed that 
ever since, being now the owner of 160 acres of fine 
farming land, of which 100 acres are under culti- 
vation, this land being situated on the Arkansas 
River, at the mouth of Piney. He owns and operates 
the ferry across the mouth of Piney. He is a member 
of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., and both he 
and his wife are members of the Missionary Bap- 
tist Church. He has been a citizen of Johnson 
County for forty-one years, and is one of the most 
prosperous men in this section, and extremely lib- 
eral in giving of his means to causes pertaining to 
the general welfare of the community. 

William H. West has been following the occu- 
pation of merchandising at Coal Hill for some 
time, and by honest dealing with his patrons he has 
built up a patronage second to none in this section. 
He is a native of the county, born in 1853, being 
the fourth of sis children born to Joshua and 
Eliza (Quire) West, who were born in Alabama, the 
father a farmer by occupation. He came to Ar- 
kansas early in 1850, and for a time resided in 
Franklin County, then settled in Johnson County 
and here died in the month of February, 1806, 
his widow still surviving him. William H. West 
was reared on the farm and after the death of his 



father the management of the farm fell to him as 
he was the eldest son. In 1878 he opened a mer- 
cantile establishment at Coal Hill and although he 
at first kept groceries he later added a general 
stock of goods, and here in 1883 erected his large 
store building, 42x64 feet and has now in it a stock 
of goods worth $5,000, his annual sales being large. 
He has erected and owns eighteen residences in 
town and his own home is handsome and commo- 
dious. He was married in 1878 to Miss Louisa 
McPherson, of this county, a daughter of Lewis A. 
McPherson, an old settler from Alabama. Mr. 
West is in every respect a self-made man, having 
made what property he now has by his own exer- 
tions. He has been one of the aldermen of Coal 
Hill for a long time, and in his political views is a 
stanch Democrat, supporting at all times the men 
and measures of that party. 

W. A. Whitemore is one of the rising young 
business men of Coal Hill, Ark. , and is progressive 
and enterprising in his views and industrious in 
his habits. He is the present efScient book-keeper 
for the firm of J. R. Brown, of this place. He 
was born in the city of Memphis, Tenn., Novem- 
ber 4, 1858, his early educational advantages being 
good, and in that place he resided until he attained 
man's estate. His father, J. P. S. Whitemore, 
held the commission of captain during the Rebell- 
ion, and died while serving the Confederate cause, 
having been a successful practicing physician while 
a civilian. His wife was a daughter of Abraham 
Smith, and upon the death of her husband was 
left with two children, both sons, the elder being 
W. A. , and the younger, Edward S. , who has a 
good property at Hartman, in this county. W. 
A. Whitemore began business for himself in 1876, 
in partnership with his brother, under the firm 
name of Whitemore Bros., bait after a short time 
W. A. entered his grandfather's hotel as clerk, 
and later became collector in the Brownsville Sav- 
ings Bank; in 1879 he became a clerk in his grand- 
father's store in Memphis. May 20, 1880, he 
moved to Johnson County, Ark., and settled at 
Hartman, there being in the employ of J. D. 
Houston, then in railroad oifice, then in charge of 
A. B. Burleson's store, then with the Cravens & 



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JOHNSON COD NT Y. 



319 



Co. , where he remained for seven years, aud iu 
that time was twice appointed notary public. He 
next went to Coal Hill, where he entered the serv- 
ices of Mr. J. R. Brown in his present capacity 
as book-keeper. His marriage, which occurred on 
December 28, 1887, was to Miss Lois E. Oliver, 
and has resulted in the birth of two children, — a 
son and a daughter: Mary Lois and William 
Thomas. Mrs. AVhitemore is a daughter of Prof. 
W. K. Oliver, of Hernando, Miss., and she as well 
as her husband is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. Mr. Whitemore belongs 
to the K. of L. , and is liberal in his support of 
churches, schools, etc. He has accumulated a 
good property near Hartman, of well-improved 
land. Mr. Whitemore' s gi-andfather lived at Hart- 
man up to the time of his death, which occurred 
in his seventy-eighth year. He has been an active 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he held the position of presiding elder. The 
name of Eev. Z. H. Whitemore will long be re- 
membered throughout this section of the country, 
and he was also widely known in Tennessee. His 
wife is still a resident of the town of Coal Hill, 
and makes her home with her grandson, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. She was born in 1812 or 
1813, but still retains the use of all her mental 
faculties. Mr. W. A. Whitemore became ac- 
quainted with his wife in Hartman, when she was 
a girl of twelve years. She afterward went back 
to her native State of Mississippi, where he entered 
Grenada College and afterward became one of the 
successful teachers of her county. About six 
years after her return to Mississippi, Mr. White- 
more visited her, and on his second visit, she came 
with him as his bride to Arkansas. Mr. White- 
more is the inventor of a shot and show case which 
was patented in 1889, and by the sale of territory 
he hopes to receive a good return for his labors. 
He is at present engaged in the hotel business at 
Coal Hill, being admirably assisted by his estimable 
and intelligent wife, who is a pleasant, accommodat- 
ing hostess. Mr. Whitemore is one of the wide- 
awake and progressive business men of the county. 
Darius Willett has won his way to the front 
ranks among the energetic farmers of Johnson 



County, and owing to the attention he has always 
paid to each minor detail of his work he has accu- 
mulated a fair share of this world's goods. He 
was born on Blue-Grass soil April 15, 1824, to 
Griffith and Rhoda (Styles) Willett, the former a 
native of Maryland and the latter of New Jersey. 
Darius Willett was reared to a farm life in his 
native county of Nelson, and although his advan 
tages were quite limited, he yet obtained sufficient 
knowledge of the "world of books" to enable 
him to teach school. At the age of twenty-one 
years he began working for himself for wages, 
which life he continued until he was twenty-three 
years of age, at which time he went to the Lone 
Star State and engaged in farming and distilling. 
In 1862 he came to Lawrence County, Ark., 
where he purchased a farm of 300 acres, but upon 
this he resided for only eight months, when, on 
account of the unsettled state of the country he 
returned to Nelson County, Ky. , where he re- 
mained during the remainder of the war. In 
1865 he returned lo his farm in Arkansas, and was 
actively engaged in its cultivation for twelve years, 
at the end of which time he sold out and came to 
Johnson County, settling on the farm where he is 
now living, one and one half miles west of Clarks- 
ville, which now amounts to 241 acres of fertile 
and vahiable land, 175 acres being improved with 
a good frame house, excellent barn and other 
necessary farm buildings, and is now making 
arrangements to erect a new barn in the spring of 
1891. His principal crops are oats, corn and cot- 
ton, all of which can be raised in abundance, and 
he also has a small strip of tame-grass meadow 
which yields well, timothy and red top doing 
exceptionally well. Mr. Willett was born April 
15, 1824, as above stated, and when twenty-eight 
years of age was married to Miss Mary A. Carter, 
of Marion County, Ky., who died about three 
years after her marriage, leaving two children: 
Mary Ann and Henry David. In 1803 Mr. Wil- 
lett' s second marriage was consummated, his wife. 
Miss Virginia Kirlley, being a native of Taylor 
County, Ky. About four years after their mar- 
riage this wife also departed this life, leaving a son 
and daughter: Robert H. and Virginia. The third 



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320 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



union was to Miss Mary Wadley, of Lawrence 
County, Ark. , formerly of Tennessee, a daughter 
of Dr. D. S. Wadley. They have live children: 
Susan, Maggie, Lewis, Callie and Bascum. The 
family worship in Christ Church, in which Mr. 
Willett holds the office of elder. He has always 
been a man of progressive views, and is justly 
considered a man of sterling worth and strict 
integrity, striving at all times to "do as he would 
be done by." 

Eugene Witt is a farmer, artesian-well driller 
and makes a specialty of prospecting, being ex- 
ceptionally well fitted to follow these occupations 
with success. He was born in Conway County, 
Ark., July 17, 1859, to George C. and Nancy A. 
(Trousel) Witt, the former born in Lincoln County, 
Tenn. , in^lSlo, and the latter in Alabama about 
1830. /The father was a farmer by occupation, and 
in Cdnway County, Ark. , was married in 1857, his 
union resulting in the birth of three children: Flora 
(deceased), one child that died in infancy, and Eu- 
gene, the subject of this sketch. The father was 
an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and in this county passed from life May 3, 1887, 
his wife, who was also a member of the above-men- 
tioned church, dying in 1863. The subject of this 
sketch received a common business education in 
the schools near his father's home, and being a 
young man of good parts, excellent moral habits 
and industrious, he stands high in the estimation 
of the community in which he lives. In 1882 he 
purchased a good steam well drill and a one horse- 
power drill, the cost of the former being about 
$1,200. He can drill from ten to forty feet per 
day and since starting in this business has done 
work in nearly all the counties included in this 
work. His prices are most reasonable — about 
$1.50 per foot for the first 100 feet, with a slight 
additional charge for greater depths. That Mr. 
Witt's work gives the greatest satisfaction is proven 
by his many indorsements from jiatrons. He has 
one from Judge Rose, of Little Rock, which is here 
given. 

December 17, 1889. 

Mr. Eugene Witt, Lamab, Ark. 

Dear Sii- — Yours of the 14th received. I would 



say to any one enquiring about the matter that you 
bored a well for me at Mt. Nebo and several wells 
for friends of mine, and that in every case your 
work gave satisfaction in every respect. 

Very truly, 

U. M. Rose. 

He also has other testimonials too numerous to 
mention from well-known and prominent citizens 
of this and other States. He has been quite ex- 
tensively engaged in prospecting for various com- 
panies in Northwestern Arkansas — for the Clarks- 
ville Coal & Iron Company (the Ouita Coal Company 
of Coal Hill, and drilled the well that supplies the 
water for the Ouita coal mine. He has done much 
work in Yell County, and has drilled thirty-three 
wells in Mount Nebo, all of which stand greatly to 
his credit. He is the owner of a good river-bottom 
and upland farm' of 456 acres of land, and has 200 
acres under cultivation, on which are seven tenant 
houses with good barns and outbuildings attached. 
He has two good orchards of apple and peach trees 
and an excellent vineyard. He has also six head 
of good mules, two head of horses, and by good 
management and industry is the owner of other 
property also. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
holding a membership in Cane Hill Lodge. 

A. W. Woolf is a prominent planter residing 
in Howell Township, Johnson County, Ai'k., but 
was born in the State of Kentucky, December 27, 
1840, being a son of D. W. and Anna (French) 
Woolf, they being also born in that State, the 
former in 1812. They were married in Caldwell 
County, and in 1846 removed from their native 
State to Missouri, and in 1802 to Arkansas, settling 
in Johnson County, where the father followed the 
occupation of farming, having been justice of the 
peace while a resident of Missouri, for eight years. 
He died on June 9, 1887, and his wife in 1885, 
both members of the Primitive Baptist Church. 
Their family consisted of two sons and five daugh- 
ters, of which family the following members are 
living: Charity E., Mary J. (widow of S. R. Man- 
ning), and A. W. , the immediate subject of this 
sketch. Those deceased are: Polly J., Martha E., 
William H. and M. A. A. W. Woolf was married 
in Stone County. Mo., in 1861, to Miss Elizabeth 



*7^^ 



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55 



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O 



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2; 



a 

5 









^ 



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JOHNSON COUNTY. 



321 



Manning, a native of Alabama, and to this marriage 
six children have been born: T. A., M. E., M. A., 
Ora V. and S. P., and J. D. (deceased). Mr. 
Woolf was a soldier during the Rebellion, serving 
in Company C, Fourth Missouri Infantry, and was 
in the battles of Oak Hill, Prairie Grove, Dril- 
wood, Helena, Marshiield, Pleasant Hill and others, 
serving until the close of the war, receiving his 
parol at Shreveport, La., in 1865. He returned 
home to resume merchandising, but in 1888 also 
engaged in merchandising at Knoxville Station in 
this county, which establishment he continued until 
1890, when he sold out. Ho erected a large steam 
cotton-gin, grist-mill and saw mill combined in 
1875, the capacity of the gin being fifteen bales 
per day, and of the latter 6,000 feet of lumber. 
He is also the owner of 405 acres of good land, 
with 225 under cultivation, on which are good 
buildings of all kinds and Ave acres of orchard. 
He, his wife and children are members of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church, and he is a deacon in the 
same. He is a member of the Masonic onler, 
Knoxville Lodge No. 370, and also belongs to 
Knoxville Lodge No. 30, of the L O. O. F., and in 
both orders is holding prominent positions. 

M. M. Wyatt needs no special introduction to 
the inhabitants of Johnson County, Ark. , for he is 
the well-known proprietor of an excellent saw mill 
at Silex. He was born in the Hoosier State, be- 
ing one of live childi-en, two of whom are living — 
himself and William T. —born to James A. and Ma- 

21 



linda (Shien) Wyatt, they being also born in that 
State. The subject of this sketch came to Arkan- 
sas with his parents when about nine years of age, 
and after the father had been engaged in cutting 
timber in Clay County, Ark., for about one \ear 
he removed to Pope County and homesteaded 160 
acres of land, on which he remained about tive 
years, clearing, during this time, about twenty 
acres, upon which he built a good residence and 
other necessary buildings. He then purchased 
eighty acres adjoining his home tract and eighty 
acres in Hickory Township, Johnson Countj', and 
at the time of his death on November 22, 1887, he 
was the possessor of a good patrimony. He was a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. When about 
nineteen years of age M. M. Wyatt began farming 
for himself in Kansas, where he remained one 
year, returning to Johnson County, Ark., at the 
end of that time and engaging in operating a saw- 
mill, being a joint owner with J. J. Colwell. This 
mill is an excellent one, and has a capacity of 8,000 
feet of lumber per day, for which they find a ready 
sale. Mr. Wyatt is polite in his manners to all, is 
devoted to his friends, and is one of those gentle- 
men who is seldom duplicated in any community. 
He belongs to Silex Lodge No. 47-t, of the A. F. & 
A. M. He is a man on whom one can rely at all 
times, and his friends are many and his enemies 
few, for he is warm-hearted and true as a magnet 
to the pole. 




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322 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



[Iff It X¥{ll. 



Logan County — Location — Area— Lands — Topography —Mountains— Streams — Derivation of 
Names— Timber— Minerals— Agriculture— Hoi:ticultuke—Urapes and Native Wines— Paris 
Nursery- Raising or Live Stock— Transportation Lines — Settlement— De Soto's Expedi- 
tion — Mounds Containing Human Bones— Supposed Fight with Indians— Early Settlers 
Mentioned- An Ancient Grave— County Organization— Boundary Lines— First 
County Seat— Second and Final County Seat— Burning of Court-houses— County 
Buildings— Change of Name of County from Sarber to Logan— County Of- 
ficers—Political Aspect— Election Returns — Circuit Court— ;Logan 
County Legal Bar— Criminal Executions— Civil War— Haguewood 
Fight — Attack on Roseville— Towns, Villages and Post-offices- 
Press— Education— Christianity— Views FROM Short Mountain. 




i Vf *~i — Q Q — r^ '^ 

"Build yet, the end is not, build on; 
Build for the ages unafraid. 
The past is but a base whereon 
These ashlers, well hewn, may be laid. 
Lo, I declare I deem him blest 
Whose foot, here pausing, findeth rest!" 



HE county of Logan in the 
west-central part of Arkan- 
sas, is bonnded by Franklin, 
Johnson, Pope, Yell, Scott 
and Sebastian Counties, and 
along the northern boundary 
flows the Arkansas River. It lies in 
latitude 36° north, and in longitude 
94 west from Greenwich, En- 
gland. The area of the county is 
OT'i square miles or 430,080 acres. 
Of this originally about 12,800 
acres were prairie, and 417,280 
were timber-lands; 341,109 acres 
constitute the assessed acreage of 
the county on deeded lands, as 
shown by the tax books; there are over 100,000 acres 
of Government and State lands subject to pre-emp- 
tion and homestead entry, of which about one-half is 



covered with inchoate homestead and pre-emjition 
claims, leaving the balance still subject to entry. 
The following table indicates the natural divis- 
ions and distributions of the Logan County lands 

in a topographical view: 

Acres. 

Arkansas River, bottom 25,000 

Si.x Mile Creek, bottom 10,000 

Short Mountain Creek, bottom 9,200 

Cane Creek, bottom 6,400 

Shoal Creek, bottom 10,000 

Delaware Creek, bottom 4,500 

Petit Jean River, bottom 22,400 

Sugar Creek, bottom 3,840 

Uplands 200,000 

Hill lands 108,740 

Mountainous and unfit for'cultivsitioii 30,000 

Total area of Logan Couuly 430.080 

The county is somewhat mountainous, but the 
greater portion of its area is bottom, table and hill 
lands, as shown above. Short Mountain, a magnif- 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



323 



icent and nearly round mountain, covering about 
two sections of land, lies northwest of Paris, its 
base being one mile distant from the court-house. 
Its summit is about 500 feet above the surround- 
ing country, or 800 feet above sea level. The top 
is nearly level, and contains some very productive 
farms. West of this, with only a narrow val- 
ley intervening, lies Upper Short Mountain, 
similar in size and formation. These are fi'e- 
quently called Twin Mountains. Pine Eidge, a 
range of dignified hills or low mountains, extends 
east and west clear through the county in Town- 
ship 7 north. It averages from one to two miles 
in width, and its base is about a mile south of 
Paris. Flattop and Calico Mountains lie south of 
Pine Ridge in the central part of the county. 
These are benches of the Magazine Mountain, ly- 
ing still farther south, its western extremity being 
about two miles west of the line dividing Ranges 
25 and 26 west. A spur of this mountain, some- 
times called Blue Mountain, extends in a north- 
easterly direction east of Flattop Mountain. The 
dividing Ridge between Yell and Logan Counties 
in Ranges 23 and 24 west, is commonly called 
Spring Mountain. Along the southern boundary 
of the county south of the Petit Jean, is another 
mountain range. Of all these mountains the Mag- 
azine is the largest and most important. 

Its highest point, which is in Sections 22 and 
23, in Township 6 north, Range 25 west, is 3,275 
feet above sea level. This is claimed to be the 
highest point in the State.* From this point, 
it is said, upon good authority, that the most ex- 
tended and most picturesque view of the surround- 
ing cou.ntry of the State is obtained. 

The Arkansas River, on the northern boundary, 
gives to the county forty-two miles of river frontage, 
and the advantage of a navigable stream for small 
vessels the year round, and for larger vessels from 
six to nine months in the year. The tributaries of 
this river, flowing from Logan County, are Short 
Mountain, Cane, Shoal, Delaware, and some smaller 
creeks. Short Mountain Creek rises from springs 

* There is somecontrovpi-sv about tlie liigliest point in tlie State, 
it lieing claimed for Hieli ;\Iountain in I'ollc County, Imt tlie writer is 
of opinion tliat Ma.gazine lias the liigliest elevation. 



on Magazine Mountain, in Township (> north, 
Range 25 west, being in the south- central part of 
the county, and flows thence in a northwesterly 
direction, between Flattop and Calico Mountains, 
and by way of Paris and Short Mountain to the 
north side of the latter, where it turns to the east- 
ward and northeastward, and empties into the Ar- 
kansas near the middle of Range 25. There are 
several important tributaries of this creek, the 
principal one being Six Mile Creek, which rises 
near the southwest corner of Township 7 noith, 
Range 27 west, and flows thence in a northeasterly 
direction to its junction with the main stream, on 
the north side of Short Mountain. Cane Creek 
rises in the northeast part of Township 7 north, 
Range 25 west, and flows thence in a general north- 
easterly direction to the Arkansas, in the south- 
west part of Township 9 north. Range 23 west. 
Shoal Creek rises from springs on Magazine Mount- 
ain, near the southern boundary of the county in 
Range 24, and runs thence in a northeasterly di- 
rection between Blue and Spring Mountains, and 
through a gap in Pine Ridge, and finally empties 
into the Arkansas in the eastern part of Township 
8 north, in Range 23 west. Delaware Creek drains 
the extreme eastern portion of the county, and 
empties into the Arkansas near the northeast cor- 
ner of the county. 

The Petit Jean River enters the county about 
four miles north of its southwest corner, and flows 
easterly through the southern tier of townships. 
Its principal tributary is Sugar Creek, which flows 
into it from the south. The IMagazine Mountain, 
with the territory west of it in Township north, 
forms the dividing ridge, or watershed, between 
the Ai-kansas and Petit Jean Rivers. 

According to tradition this river derived its 
name from the following circumstances: When the 
Territory was under the dominion of the French, 
a party of explorers or hunters visited the head of 
the stream, having with them a small man whose 
name was Jean in French, or John in English. 
Petit means little, in French, and being a small 
man they called him Petit Jean (Little John). 
While there they had a fight with the Indians, 
and Petit Jean was wounded, and afterward died 



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324 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



from the effects of the wound as the party was re- 
turning down the river, hence the name Petit Jean 
River. Cane Creek took its name from the abun- 
dance of cane along its route, and Shoal Creek 
took its name from the many shoals in its course. 

One of the most valuable resources of Logan 
County, when developed, will be its timber. At 
least one-half its area is yet covered with virgin 
forests, containing vast quantities of the most val- 
uable woods. In the bottoms are walnut, white 
oak, the red and black oaks, gum, mulberry, hick- 
ory, white ash, Cottonwood, box elder, and a vari- 
ety of others. On the uplands are post oak, hick- 
ory, cherry, pine, red and black oak, etc. On the 
north side of Magazine Mountain are found im 
mense quantities of wild cherry and black walnut, 
of immense size, from three to five feet in diam- 
eter, and straight as an arrow for many feet with- 
out limbs. There is perhaps a larger quantity of 
oak than of any other timber; the pine is not abun- 
dant. The demand for lumber is only local yet, 
very little being cut for shipment. Pine and oak 
lumber can be bought for building purposes almost 
anywhere in the county at $10 to $12.50 per thou- 
sand feet. 

The mineral wealth of Logan County is very 
great, though as yet undeveloped. The whole 
northern side of the county is underlaid with coal 
of the finest quality, and coal has also been dis- 
covered on Cauthron Prairie, in the southwestern 
part of the county. In the immediate vicinity of 
Paris, coal to supply the local demand is mined. 
The veins vary in thickness from twenty- eight 
inches to four feet, and lie near the surface. A 
much thicker deposit has been reached at a depth 
of about eighty feet, but it has never been developed. 
The area of the coal fields is estimated at 75,000 
acres. 

Iron ore is found in large quantities in several 
localities. Near Paris are extensive deposits of 
brown hematite, and the same ore is found in the 
ridges south of the Petit Jean River. Some lands 
on which deposits of iron are found have recently 
been purchased by eastern parties for the purpose 
of developing the iron. 

Building stone of the finest quality, and in in- 



exhaustible quantity, is found in the ridges all 
over the county. It is chiefly a gray sandstone, 
easily dressed and very durable. Granite of fine 
quality is abundant in the southern range of 
mountains. 

Fire clay and brick clay are found in great 
abundance, and of excellent quality. 

Gold has been found at Golden City, near the 
southern line of the county, and a mining camp 
has been established there. Considerable work has 
been done there in the way of sinking shafts etc. , 
but at this writing it has not been disclosed whether 
or not the "find" will prove a profitable one. 
Copper and galena have also been found in the 
same locality, but they are yet undeveloped. 

The alluvial soils along the rivers and creeks 
are as fertile as any in the world. The uplands 
are of various grades in different sections of the 
county, but consist mainly of hematitic clay, with 
a substratum ranging in de2:ith from two or three 
to fifteen feet. The new grounds are overlaid 
with a mold from a few inches to a foot in thick- 
ness. Most of the upland is highly productive in 
its natural state. A remarkable feature of the 
mountain lands is that on many of them, particu- 
larly on the Magazine Mountain, the vegetation 
and the soil present the same characteristics as the 
alluvial river bottoms. 

As to the agricultural products of the county, 
cotton holds the first place. The average yield 
per acre of the fleecy staple is higher in Arkansas 
than in any of the other cotton-producing States, 
and Logan County will compare favorably with 
any section of the State. The yield may be 
counted with reasonable certainty to average about 
a half bale per acre on uplands, and a bale on bot- 
tom lands. It is not uncommon to see a bale per 
acre from the uplands in many sections of the 
county. 

Corn i.s the next crop in point of acreage, and, 
of course, first in importance. Ttie yield is from 
twenty-five to seventy-five bushels per acre. Since 
corn is the life of the farmer and of the farm, it 
will be a source of gratification to those in search 
of homes to' know that with early planting and 
good cultivation, the corn crop never fails in this 



%' 



LOGAN COUNTY. 



325 



section. In the two protracted drouths that have 
visited this region in the last fifteen years, all who 
had planted early crops and cultivated them well, 
had corn to s])are to their less fortunate aeighbors. 

Wheat is another crop which yields reasonably 
well. More attention has been paid to the growth 
of wheat of late years than formerly, and the 
yield has been materially augmented by the intro- 
duction of better methods of cultivation. The 
yield of wheat is from seven to thirty bushels per 
acre ; 

Oats, rye and barley are all cultivated, and 
make good crops. Oats is an important crop, and 
recently the acreage has been largely increased. 

The great abundance and variety of native 
grasses, which the "public range" furnished 
while the country was sparsely settled and but 
little fenced, obviated to a very large degree the 
necessity for cultivating the tame grasses; but 
where tried many of them have done well. Clover, 
timothy, red top, orchard grass and millet, all yield 
large returns, while some native grasses yield line 
pasturage and good hay. Clover will yield two 
crops of hay per year, but as yet only a little has 
been raised. It ought to be extensively raised, both 
for pasturage and for fertilizing the soil and killing 
out the weeds which grow so luxuriantly here. 
Farmers would find their milk and biitter of much 
better quality if they would keep their milch cows 
off the wild range and pasture them on clover 
fields. This will be an excellent grazing county 
when the tame grasses are generally introduced 
and raised to the proper extent. A valuable addi- 
tion to the range of late years is the wide distri- 
bution over the county of the Lespidesa, or " Ja- 
pan clover, ' ' which now covers a large j)ercentage 
of the open land. 

The attention of the whole country has been 
attracted by the wonderful display of fruits made 
by Arkansas at New Orleans, Boston and other 
places. Logan is not behind her sister counties in 
the production of fruit, though she has as yet no 
very extensive orchards. Peaches, apples and all 
the small fruits grow to the greatest perfection, 
the uplands being the best for their production. 
Grape culture, while yet in its infancy, has been 



tried sufficiently to demonstrate its success. The 
hills and mountains abound with wild grapes of 
several valuable kinds, many of them being equal 
in size and flavor to favorite varieties of cultivated 
grapes. One variety is aboiit the size of the well- 
known Concoril, and equally as good. Another 
variety is a large and excellent white grape, and 
another is larger than either of these, but it has a 
tough skin and is not so good in quality. The 
native grapes, being very abundant, are extensively 
gathered by the citizen and manufactured into 
wine of excellent quality. " 

One of the enterprises to which the people of 
Logan County can point with pride is the Paris 
Nursery, located on Short Mountain, two miles 
northwest of Paris. It was established in 1871), by 
J. W. Ayers, who was its principal manager until 
his death, which occurred but recently. Mr. E. G. 
Butler purchased an interest in the business some 
years ago, and it now belongs to him and the Ayers 
estate. Mr. Butler a practical nurseryman, lives 
upon the farm and superintends the business to- 
gether with the administrator of the Ayers estate, 
the Hon. J. H. Wilkins. Commencing with a small 
stock, and a business confined almost entirely to 
Logan County, this nursery has steadily grown 
until it is now one of the largest in the State, em- 
ploying canvasers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas 
and the Indian Territory. Mr. Butler devotes 
his whole time to the business and understands it 
thoroughly, and will continue the business. Every 
bill of trees sent out from this nursery is just as 
represented, a fact to which the many customers 
willingly testify. The elevation, and the character 
of the soil on Short Mountain, make it one of the 
best locations in the State for a nursery. There 
are now in the Paris Nursery a fine stock of 
healthy young trees, many of the one year old ap- 
jjle trees being from four to six feet in height. 

The compiler of this work has had experience 
in the fruit-tree nursery business in another 
State, and sincerely recommends the patronage 
of the home nursery, not alone for the purpose 
of fostering a home institution, but for self pro- 
tection, for the purpose of getting acclimated trees 
and plants, that will succeed in growing and be 



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326 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



true in name of variety'. Buy trees of kinds of 
fruit the success of wliicli has l)een proven in your 
latitude. 

The Logan County Bureau of Immigration, in 
a pamphlet published recently, speaks as follows 
concerning the raising of live stock: 

' ' In the old ante belluni days the energies of 
the South were entirely concentrated on cotton, and 
every other enterprise sank into insignificance be- 
fore the one absorbing idea that "cotton is king." 
So it was, that iintil a very late day no attention 
has been paid to stock-raising. Our mountain 
sides are covered with deer, and hogs unclaimed 
fattened in our forests; our prairie lands furnished 
a pasture in summer, and the canebrakes in the 
bottoms were a never-failing winter pasture for 
cattle. But the march of immigration has caused 
cities to spring up in our midst, and the demand 
for beef and meats of all kinds has greatly augu- 
mented, and there can be no doubt that stock rais- 
ing can be made very profitable here, especially by 
those who understand how to handle stock. We 
have only a few citizens who have turned their at- 
tention to graded cattle, and they find the business 
very profitable. Our meats are at this time to a 
great extent furnished us from the north, and in 
the towns of much consequence they buy from the 
north large amounts. After a glance at our list of 
grasses and never- failing supply of the purest 
water, we see no reason why stock-raising could 
not be made largely profitable here. The northern 
markets would have their freight to pay in order 
to compete with the home producer, and there is 
no qiiestion about the local demand here. People 
who understand stock-raising are especially invited 
to come and be with us, they will receive a sf)ecial 
welcome; they would be useful to us, and we will 
encourage their enterprise. We would rather 
spend our money at home. 

" Horse and mule raising would also be a good 
Imsiness here. As large farms are being opened an 
animal is in demand here that can pull a heavy plow. 
The mustang pony must go. As yet there have 
been very few good g.meralpurpose horses raised 
here; they are purchased from the north, and are 
now in great demand. Money invested in a stock 



farm in one of the fertile valleys, watered by a 
mountain stream, in Logan County, would be a 
paying investment. In this we are sure no mistake 
can be made, no money lost ; and he who embarks 
first will get the cream of the enterprise; though 
this business is bound to last and prosper in this 
country while water runs and grass grows. 

' ' Until the last few years the wolves and other 
wild animals have kept the sheep pretty well 
thinned out, but now, as our country is filling up 
very fast, these destructive animals, like the buf- 
falo, are seeking a more congenial clime. Sheep 
can be raised here now with certainty, and from 
under the eye of the shepherd, with very little ex- 
pense to the farmer, and would yield a large profit. 
Our mountain sides could be especially utilized in 
this enterprise, and a pleasanter or more profitable 
business could not be embarked in. It is an es- 
tablished fact that sheep are not so susceptible to 
destructive diseases here as in many localities 
where their culture is an acknowledged success. 
The wool fiber is finer and longer and the yield 
greater than in less healthy localities; hence, in- 
ducements, from every point of view, preponderate 
in favor of this locality, with its short, mild winters, 
early springs, temperate summers, and late falls, 
for this particular industry." 

The following statistics will show what has 
actually been done in the county — numerically at 
least — in the way of live-stock raising in the last 
few years. In 1886 there were 4,710 horses, 1,900 
mules and asses, 19,212 head of cattle, 4,070 sheep, 
and 24,784 hogs, listed for taxation in Logan 
County, and the number of these animals listed for 
taxation in 1889 was as follows: Horses, 4,357; 
mules and asses, 1,988; cattle, 23,331; sheep, 
5,934; hogs, 31,611. This shows a decrease in the 
number of horses during the three years of 353, 
and a gain of 88 mules and asses, 4,112 cattle, 
1,864 sheep, and 6,827 hogs. These figures are 
taken from the county records and are therefore 
reliable. There was a fair gain in the number of 
mules and asses, and large gains in the number of 
cattle, sheep and hogs, but it seems strange that 
there should be such a falling off in the nu^mber of 
horses as shown by the figures. 



9 w. 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



327 



The territory composing Logan County was 
formerly dependent upon the Arkansas River, and 
latterly upon the Little Rock & Fort Smith Rail- 
road for transportation facilities. But little is now 
transported by way of the river. The line of the 
proposed Fort Smith & Dardanelle Railroad passes 
east and west through the county by way of Paris. 
This road has been chartered, the route surveyed 
and the right of way secured, and some work on 
the west end at Fort Smith has been done. 
Nothing is being done at present, but the pros- 
pects for business along this line will p)i"obably 
cause the road to be constructed at no distant day. 
This line, eighty miles in length, passes through 
the richest coal fields in the southwest, and as fine 
an agricultural region as can be found in the coun- 
try. There is talk of building a branch railroad 
from Coal Hill in Johnson County, on the Little 
Rock & Fort Smith line, to Paris. In all proba- 
bility it will not be long before the county will 
have a railroad. 

It is most probable that the first white men 
who ever visited the territory now composing 
Logan County belonged to the exploring expedi- 
tion of Hernando De Soto, who, in 1541, crossed 
the Arkansas River, going southward, at some 
point between the present cities of Dardanelle and 
Forth Smith. The following facts are circum- 
stances in evidence of his having stopped here with 
his men for a time. At the crossing of Six Mile 
Creek on the Fort Smith road, eight miles west of 
Paris, are five mounds supposed to have been con- 
structed by Indians. The mounds stand on the west 
bank of the creek. Three have been opened, and in 
two of them the bones of individuals belonging to 
a giant race of Indians, probably the Big Osages, 
and in the other the bones of white men of ordinary 
size have been found. Evidently a fight has oc- 
curred here some time between the Indians and a 
band of white men, and it is believed that the lat- 
ter belonged to De Soto's expedition, though his- 
torians do not place his line of march quite so far 
to the west. The evidences of a fight are, that in one 
place near the mounds flattened bullets, and in an- 
other place numerous flint arrow heads have been 
found, which circumstances lead to the conclusion 



that the Indians fought from the place where the 
flattened balls were found, and the whites from the 
point where the arrowheads were found. Many 
of the bones and skulls found in the mounds were 
broken, indicating that the contending parties 
finally closed in and had a hand-to hand encounter. 
In another place, not far from the mounds, round 
bullets have been found, and here it is supposed 
that the whites had their camp. Bars of lead and 
pieces of iron bars, probably cudgels and other 
warlike implements have also been found. Hemis- 
pherical iron balls, about a dozen in number, that 
would fit a three-pound-ball cannon, were also 
found here. The bones of the Indians would in- 
dicate that they were from six to seven feet in 
height. 

Subsequent to De Soto's explorations, and prior 
to 1800, the Arkansas River and the territory ad- 
jacent thereto were frequently explored by the sub- 
jects of France and Spain in their search for val- 
uable metals. Many marks made by them still 
remain upon the rocks in Logan County. The 
permanent white settlement, however, did not be- 
gin here until about the beginning of the present 
century. It seems to have begun here earlier than 
at many points farther down the river. 

A man named Noaks settled as early, perhaps, 
as 1806, at a point one mile southeast of Roseville, 
and Noaks Creek was named after him. Soon 
thereafter a Polish Count Don Stein, an exile from 
his country, settled just north of Short Mountain, 
and led a wild and reckless life, hunting and sport- 
ing with the Indians, fighting duels, etc. After 
the lands were surveyed in 1825, he entered the 
tract on which his cabin stood, and soon thereafter 
sold out and left. Col. John Tittsworth settled 
near Short Mountain about the year 1814, his sons, 
David and Gabriel, having settled here some time 
earlier. John Fort came from Missouri in 1826, 
and settled in McClain's bottom. His mother came 
the next year with the balance of her large family 
including her son William, who still survives and 
resides about three miles west of Paris. Among 
other prominent citizens who located here in the 
twenties, some of them perhaps a little later, were 
George Hicklin, who settled on or near the present 



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328 



HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 



site of Paris; a Mr. Davis and Mi. McClain (or 
McLeau) who settled on McClain' s bottom; Mr. 
HisKon, Anthony Brown, James Carpenter, Samuel 
Rose, John Drennon (who afterward owned a 
steamboat on the river), and George Gill, all of 
whom settled at and in the vicinity of Roseville; 
William Raney, Mr. McClain and a Mr. Scott, all 
of whom settled on McClain' s bottom; the Nesbits 
who settled in the lower end of the county; Mark 
Cravens, who settled near Morrison's BluflP, also 
Lorenzo Clark, a very noted and wealthy man and 
politician. Thomas Cochran settled and named 
Cochran's Prairie south of Boone ville as early and 
not later, perhaps, than 1810. About 1830 Col. 
James Logan settled on Sugar Creek south of the 
Petit Jean River, and about the same time a Mr. 
Scott settled on the river. A number of persons 
came from the New Madrid country soon after the 
earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, and settled in what 
is now Logan County. 

The persons named in the foregoing were 
among the most noted early settlers. There was 
a class of settlers here before them, some of whom 
remained but a short time, and none of whom 
gained notoriety. There were rough times here in 
the "early days." Fighting duels was a common 
practice, and the notorious John A. Murrell, with 
his gang of counterfeiters and robbers, made this 
coixnty one of his places of rendezvous. 

The first steamboat that ascended the Arkansas 
River as high as this county is said to have been 
the " Cotton Plant, ' ' which came up in 1 847. The 
items pertaining to the permanent settlement of 
the county have been furnished the writer by 
Judge Theodore Potts, who in some instances gave 
only approximate dates. For further particulars 
and more definite dates pertaining to individual 
settlers the reader is referred to the biographical 
sketches of the leading citizens. 

While a number of citizens were cleaning up 
the Rane3' graveyard in Clark Township in August, 
ISyO, an old grave was discovered that attracted 
unusual attention. On examination the grave was 
found to be nine feet long with head and footstoues 
of hard sandstone. The head stone was taken 
down and closely examined, and upon it was the 



following inscription, which was covered over with 
moss: "John McDaniel, Ju. 4. 1S17." The old- 
est inhabitants have no tradition about the grave, 
save that some of them remember having seen the 
grave when they were boys. It is supposed that 
his death occurred in June or July of that year. 

Logan County, originally call Sarber, was or- 
ganized in accordance with the provisions of an 
act of the General Assembly of the State, ap- 
proved March 22, 1871, and was called Sarber in 
honor of Gen. J. N. Sarber. The first three sec- 
tions of the act reads as follows: 

Section 1. Be it enacted by tTie OeneraZ Assembly of 
the State of Arkansas, That all that portion of the coun- 
ties of Yell, Johnson, Franlilin and Scott includeJ with- 
in the following boundaries, to wit: Commencing at a 
point in the channel of the Arkansas River where the line 
dividing Ranges 21 and 22 crosses said river; thence run- 
ning south on said line to the line dividing Townships 6 
and 7; thence running west on said line to the boundary 
between Yell and Johnson Counties; thence west and south 
with said boundary line to theline dividing Townships 24 
and 25; thence south on said line to the line dividing 5 and 
6; thence west on said line to the boundary line between 
Yell and Scott Counties; thence south on said boundary 
line to the line dividing Townships 4 and .5; thence west 
on said line dividing 4 and .5 to the boundary line between 
Scott and Sebastian Counties: thence north on the line 
dividing Ranges 28 and 29, to northwest corner of Town- 
ship 6, Range 28; thence east on said line dividing 6 and 
7, to the line dividing Ranges 28 and 27; thence north on 
said line dividing Ranges 28 and 27, to the line dividing 
Townships 7 and 8; thence east on said line dividing 
Townships 7 and 8, to the line dividing Ranges 2.5 and 26; 
thence north on said line dividing Ranges 25 and 26, to 
the channel of the Arkansas River, thence with the chan- 
nel of said river to the plane of beginning. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the temporar3' 
seat of justice of said county shall be at Reveille. 

Sec 3. Be it further enacted, That the Governor 
shall appoint all county and township officers m said 
county of Sarber hereby established, who shall hold their 
respective offices until their successors are elected and 
qualified, as provided for by the constitution, at the next 
general election for the same class of officers in other 
counties. 

Section 4 appoints C. P. Anderson, James M. 
White and James L. Garner as a board of com- 
missioners to locate the seat of justice for the 
county, purchase the site thereof and perform cer- 
tain other duties. Then follow sixteen other sec- 






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LOGAN COUNTY. 



329 



tions pertaining to the organization of the courts, 
the diities of officers, etc. 

It will be observed that the first section of the 
act bounds a certain tract of territory, but fails to 
say that it shall be formed into a separate county, 
and fails also to name the county. Section 3 
speaks of " said County of Sarber " the same as 
though it had been named. Thus it is seen that 
the county was not really named at all, but was 
called Sarber by implication. However, it was or- 
ganized under the act, imperfect as it was. As 
soon as the commissioners appointed to locate the 
seat of justice were informed of their duties, they 
met and selected a site on Eed Bench*, of Fhittoi) 
Mountain, about six miles southeast of the present 
town of Paris, and here the county seat was first 
located. The place was named Anderson, and a 
small frame court-house and a small log jail were 
erected there. The temporary seat of justice re- 
mained at Eeveille but a short time. 

The county seat remained at Anderson until 
after the passage of the following act entitled, " An 
act to amend an act to establish and organize the 
County of Sarber, and for other purposes," ap- 
proved February 27, 1873. Section 1 of this 
amendatory act reads as follows: 

''That all that portion of the counties of Yell, 
Johnson, Franklin and Scott included within the 
following boundaries, to wit: Commencing at a point 
in the channel of the Arkansas Eiver, where the 
line dividing Ranges twenty-one (21) and twenty- 
two (22) west, crosses said river; thence running 
south on said line to the line dividing Townships 
six ((3) and seven (7) north; thence west on said 
line to the boundary line between Yell and Johnson 
Counties ;thence west and south on said boundary line 
to the range line dividing Ranges twenty-fovir (24) 
and twenty-five (25) west; thence south on said line 
to the line dividing Townships five (5) and six (6) 
north; thence west on said line to the line dividing 
Ranges twenty-five (25) and twenty-six (26) west; 
thence south on said line to the dividing line be- 
tween Townshijas four (4) and five (5) north; thence 

* Eed Bench derived its name from the tradition tliat the Oov- 
ei-nraent surveyors marked trees along one of their Unes tiiereon 
with red elialk. Flattop Mountain is a bench of the Magazine Mount- 
ain Range. 



west on said line to the line dividing Ranges 
twenty- eight (28) and twenty-nine (29) west; thence 
north on said line to the line dividing Townships six 
(0) and seven (7) north ; thence east on said line to the 
line between Ranges twenty-seven (27) and twenty- 
eight (28) west; thence north on said line to the 
line between Townships seven (7) and eight (8) 
north; thence east on said line to the line dividing 
Ranges twenty-six (26) and twenty-seven (27) west; 
thence north on said line to the channel of the Ar- 
kansas River; thence with the channel of said river 
to the place of beginning, be and the same is hereby 
formed into a separate and distinct county, to be 
known and designated the county of Sarber, to 
have, enjoy and exercise, as a body politic and cor- 
porate, all the rights, priviliges and immunities of 
a separate county. " ■ 

By the second section of this act James R. 
LafFery, Daniel R. Lee and James A. Shrigley were 
appointed commissioners to locate the seat of jus- 
tice for the county, to purchase lands for the same 
and lay it out into town lots, to sell the lots to 
secure funds to be applied toward the erection of 
public buildings, and to perform other specific 
duties. 

This act gave a more definite description of the 
boundary lines of the county, named it Sarber (as it 
was originally intended to be named), and enlarged 
its area by adding thereto all that jsart of Townshijis 
8 and 9 north, in Range 26 west, which lies south of 
the Arkansas Riyer. The new commissioners ap- 
pointed by this act to locate or relocate the seat of 
justice, met and selected Ellsworth, a place on the 
old Little Rock & Fort Smith military road, about 
ten miles east of the present county seat. Here a 
small, frame court-house, or clerk' s ofiSce, was erect- 
ed, to which the county records were removed in 
1873, and for the time being Ellsworth became the 
county seat. The people were not satisfied, how- 
ever, and much contention now arose about another 
location for the county seat, and strenuous efforts 
were made by the party in power to locate it at a 
point three miles west of where Paris now stands. 
The new site was selected and a contract for the 
building of a new court-house was let and the 
county court was about to issue bonds for a large 



T 






S W. 



4 



lA 



330 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



sum of money to secure funds for the improve- 
ments at the proposed new county seat, but was 
prevented from so doing by tbe armed ujH-ising of 
the citizens opposed to such measure. 

Early in 1874 an investigation of the county 
records was ordered, and on the night of Febru- 
ary 17 the court-house and all the public records 
excepting the register of county scrip and the 
county seal were consumed by fire. It is claimed 
by the parties favoring the investigation that the 
court-house and records were burned to prevent 
such investigation. To settle the contention about 
the permanent location of the county, the Legislature 
of 1874 passed an act authorizing an election to be 
held whereby the electors of the county might, by a 
majority vote, select a site for the seat of justice. An 
election was accordingly held, and the site of Paris 
was selected by a majority of the electors. A one- 
story frame court house, containing four offices and 
a court-room was erected, and in September, 1874, it 
was occupied by the county officers, and Paris be 
came the permanent seat of justice, and as such it 
still remains. This first court house at Paris stood 
on the public square, directly southwest of the pres- 
ent court-house. It was consumed by fire in Oc- 
tober, 1877, having been fired by (;ne Biggs, who 
at the time was resting under an indictment for 
larceny. Biggs was afterward indicted for the new 
offense, was tried, found guilty, and sent to the 
penitentiary for a term of years. In the burning 
of the court-house at this time tbe newly accu- 
mulated records were also destroyed. The present 
court-house, which stands in the center of the pub- 
lic square, was erected in 1879-80, at a cost of 
about ifS.OOO. It is a plain and sulistautial two- 
story brick structure, 50x50 feet in size, with the 
hall and county offices on the first floor and the 
courtroom on the second. 

The first jail at Paris was built of logs. In 
about 1886 it was replaced with a two-story stone 
jail which is still standing. 

The county was organized in reconstruction 
times, and as many citizens were not satisfied with 
the name, a pressure was afterward brought to 
bear upon the Legislature, which resulted in the 
passage of an act approved December 14, 1875, 



which changed the name from that of Sarber to 
Logan— the latter name being selected in honor of 
James Logan, one of the pioneer settlers of this 
part of the State. The boundary lines of the 
county remained tbe same as described in the act 
of 1873, aforesaid, until an act was passed and 
approved March 21, 1881, the first section of 
which reads as follows: 

" That the boundary line between the counties 
of Scott and Logan, in the State of Arkansas, be, 
and it is hereby changed, and all that portion of 
Scott County comprised within tbe following 
limits, to wit: Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, Tovra- 
ship 4 north. Range 26 west; and Sections 1, 2, 
3, 4, 5 and 6, Township 4 north, Range 27, west; 
and Section 1, Township 4 north. Range 28 west, 
be, and the same is hereby detached from the 
county of Scott, and attached and added to the 
county of Logan. ' ' 

No other changes have been made, consequently 
the territory included within tbe boundaries de- 
scribed in the act of 1873, together with the sec- 
tions attached by tbe act of 1881, constitute tbe 
whole area of tbe county, amounting to 672 square 
miles. 

The following is a list of the names of tbe 
county officers of Logan County with dates of their 
terms of service annexed, from tbe organization of 
tbe county to the year 1800: 

.Judges. — Nathan Ellington, 1871-72; board of 
supervisors, 1872-74; Theodore Potts, 1874-78; 
J. H. Luman, 1878-80; T. C. Humphrey, 1880- 
82; M. P. Blair, 1882-86; E. B. Casey, 1886-88; 
C. R. Sadler, 1888-90. 

Clerks.— J. A. Sbrigley, 1871-72; W. E. Grif- 
fith, 1872-74; Thomas Cauthron, 1874-76; C. B. 
Harley, 1876-78; H. G. Sadler, 1878-86; J. W. 
Poyner, 1886-88; W. R. Cherry, 1888-90. 

Sheriffs. — J. S. Garner, 1871-74; A. S. Cabell, 
1874-80; W. C. McCubbin, 1880-82; J. P. Grady, 
1882-84; A. S. Cabell, 1884-86; Richard Garner, 
1886-88; O. C. Wood, 1888-90. 

Treasurers.— D. R. Lee, 1871-72; W. C. Mc- 
Caslin, 1872-74; Silas Shirley, 1874-78; T. L. 
Fuller, 1878-86; W. H. Pearson, 1886-88; T. L. 
Fuller, 1888-90. 



■^; 



nr 



LOGAN COUNTY. 



331 



Coroners. — Henry Wilson, 1872-74; G. Humph- 
rey, 1874-70; W. H. Fort, 1876-78; Lowery, 

1878-80; P. M. Clark, 1880-82; VV. R. Lee, 1882 
-84; J. L. Moffit, 1884-86; W. A. Heartsill, 1886- 
88; John Carr, 1888-1)0. 

Surveyors.— W. E. Griffith, 1871-72; L. Wear, 
1872-76; H. M. Youngblood, 1876-78; G. R. 
Brown, 1878-84; G. J. Harvey, 1884-86; J. F. 
Billingsly, 1886-88; G. R. Brown, 1888-90. 

As.sessors.— R. B. Chitwood, 1871-74; S. R. 
Low, 1874-78; F. J. Plunkett, 1878-80; T. R. 
Low, 1880-82; E. J. Plunkett, 1882-84; H. T. 
Hampston, 1884-88; E. Schneider, 1888-9(1 

State Senators. — District composed of Newton, 
Johnson, Yell and Sarber, Thomas A. Hanks, 1873 
-74; district composed of Yell and Sarber Coun- 
ties, J. W. Toomer, 1874-76; district composed 
of Yell and Logan, B. B. Chism, 187(5-80; same 
district, J. T. Harrison, 1880-84; Theodore F. 
Potts, 1884-88; Dr. W. A. Clement, 1888-92. 

Representatives in Legislature. — District com- 
posed of Newton, Johnson, Yell and Sarber Coun- 
ties, John N. Sarber, P. H. Sf)ears and James A. 
Shrigley, 1872-73; same district, A. D. King and 
M. Hixson, 1873-74; tlie county alone after 1874 — 
Seth Spangler, 1874-76; B. Priddy, 1876-80; J. 
J. Boles, 1880-82; B. Priddy, 1882-84; M. C. 
Scott, 1884-86; E. C. Burehette, 1886-88; H. 
Stroup, 1888-90. 

The count}' was represented in the Constitu- 
tional Convention held July 14 to October 31, 1874, 
by Ben B. Chism, delegate. 

The political aspect of the county is shown by 
the following: At the September election in 1888, 
James P. Eagle, Democratic candidate for gover- 
nor, received 1,945 votes, and his opponent, C. M. 
Norwood, candidate of the Union Labor party and 
combined opposition, received 1,553 votes, the 
whole number of votes cast being 3,498, and Gov. 
Eagle's majority being 392. At the presidential 
election in 1888 the several candidates for the 
presidency received votes as follows: Cleveland 
(D.) 1,799, Harrison (R.) 1,034, Streeter (U. L.) 
120, Fisk (Pro.) 7 — whole number of votes cast, 
2,960; Clevelanjl's majority over all, 638. This 
shows that a light vote was cast at this election. 



At the September election in 1890 James P. Eagle, 
Democratic candidate for re-election to the office of 
governor, received 2,055, and his opponent, N. B. 
Fizer, received 1,468 votes — whole number of 
votes cast, 3,523; Eagle's majority, 587. This 
shows a gain in the Democratic majority over that 
of 1888 of 195, while the gain in the whole num- 
ber of votes cast amounted only to 25. 

The following gives the number of the votes 
cast in each municipal township of thn county for 
the candidates for the office of county judge. 



TOWNSHIPS. 



Delaware 

Shoal Creek. . . . 

Cane Creek 

Kiver 

Logan 

Ellsworth 

Clark 

Roseville 

Six Mile 

Washburn 

Boone 

Cauthron 

Sugar Creek. .. . 

Petit Jean 

Reveille 

ni-iggs 

Mountain 

Johnson 

Bear Wallow. . . . 

Short Mountain. 

Totals 



G. J. Harvey. 



63 

124 

103 

107 

67 

46 

106 

127 

142 

98 

228 

99 

108 

120 

171 

47 

47 

21 

13 

250 



W. H. H. Harley. 



2,088 



72 
81 
80 
19 
62 
87 
92 
92 
54 
94 
81 
30 
25 
22 

161 
99 
47 
57 
47 

164 



1,466 



All the other candidates for county officers re- 
ceived nearly the same number of votes in each 
township. The following persons, all Democrats, 
were elected to the office mentioned with their 
names, by majorities indicated by the figures an- 
nexed. H. F. Thomason, circuit judge, 455; W. 
B. Jackson, representative, 431 ; G. J. Harvey, 
county judge, 622; C. P. Trimm, circuit clerk, 
621; H. Stroup, county clerk, 783; O. C. Wood, 
sheriff, 605; T. L. Fuller, treasurer, 475; E. 
Schneider, assessor, 529; J. H. Carmichael, sur- 
veyor, 599; J. C. Jewell, coroner, 558. A few 
townships gave a majority in favor of liquor license, 
but the whole number of votes cast in the county 
for such license was 1,385, and the number cast 
against such license was 1,750, a majority of 365 
opposed to the ' ' traffic. ' ' 

Logan county belongs to the Twelfth Judicial 
District, composed of the cou^nties of Scott, Sebas- 



:nC 



.u 



332 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



tian, Crawford and Logan. Hon. John S. Little, 
of Greenwood, in Sebastian County, was elected 
judge of this district in 1886, his term expiring 
October 30, 1890. His successor. Judge H. F. 
Thomasou, was elected at the September election, 
1890. Prosecuting Attorney J. B. McDouough, of 
Fort Smith, was elected in September, 1888, his 
term expiring also October 30, 1890. His successor, 
Prosecutor O. L. Miles, was elected at the Septem- 
ber election, 1890. The Logan Circuit Court con- 
venes on the twelfth Monday after the last Mon- 
day in February and August of each year, and the 
length of term allowed by law is three weeks. 
From the organization of the county to the fall of 
1890, the same individual held the offices of county 
and circuit court clerk. At the September elec- 
tion, 1890, C. P. Trimm was elected circuit court 
clerk, and on October 30, 1890, if living, he will 
open his office, taking from the county clerk's 
office all records pertaining to and belonging to the 
circuit court. 

The Logan County legal bar consists of the fol- 
lowing named attorneys: C. B. Fountain and W. B. 
Jackson of the firm of Jackson & Fountain, Theo. 
F. Potts, Anthony Hall, J. H. Wilkins, J. H. 
Evans, W. H. H. Harley, G. S. Evans, E. Hiner, 
James Cochran, J. F. Keith, C. P. Trimm (clerk 
elect), O. L. Miles (prosecutor elect), H. Stroup, 
T. P. Manning and B. B. Chism, the latter being 
now the Secretary of State. Several of these men 
are young "limbs of the law" just entering the 
profession. 

In the prosecution for crimes only one man has 
suffered the death penalty in Logan County, and 
that one was James Tucker, colored, who was ex- 
ecuted on the gallows in 1884, for the murder of 
Barker, also colored. In 1878, one Smith, a white 
man, committed suicide in the jail while under sen- 
tence of death for the murder of a young man. 
The criminal record of Logan County is similar to 
that of other counties of its size and age. The 
people are very civil, and good order prevails. 

At the beginning of the Civil War of 1861-65 
a very strong Union sentiment existed with the 
y)eople of the territory now comprising Logan 
County. Men were not so enthusiastic and eager 



to join the Confederate Army as in many other 
parts of the State. When the Confederate con- 
script act was enforced several Union men were 
forced into the Confederate Army; others fled the 
country and enlisted in the United States armies 
at different points, and others, with their families, 
hid away in the mountains. During the early part 
of the war, and as long as the territory was wholly 
within the lines of the Confederate armies, it was 
overrun by guerrillas and bushwhackers, who preyed 
upon and severely piinished the Union people wher- 
ever they could be found. After the Union armies 
advanced, and the territory fell within their lines, 
it was overrun, to some extent, by marauding 
parties, guerrillas and scouts from both sides. Re- 
taliatory measures were resorted to in some in- 
stances by Union troops, and the families of those 
favoring and assisting the " Southern cause," be- 
came the sufferers. In this way — this system of 
guerrilla warfare — much damage was done, untold 
and indescribable suffering was caused, and lives 
were sacrificed. 

The action known as the Haguewood Fight took 
place in September, 1863, at a point one-half mile 
east of the present town of Paris. On this occa- 
sion Company H, of the First Arkansas (Federal) 
Infantry, commanded by Capt. Parker, was escort- 
ing a wagon train returning from Dardanelle to 
Fort Smith, from which place it had previously 
gone to Dardanelle with a load of supplies for the 
Federal troops at that port. It was attacked by 
Joe Shelby with his regiment of Confederate Cav- 
alry. Company H of the First Arkansas was 
largely composed of men whose homes were in the 
immediate vicinity of the jilace where the fight oc- 
curred, and a number of them had left the camp of 
the train and escort to visit their homes, and were 
absent when the fight occuiTed. Many of the com- 
pany engaged in the action had previously been 
prisoners of war in the hands of the Confed- 
eracy, and, knowing the hardships of prison life, 
they fought with unusual desperation, secreting 
themselves behind the wagons as best they could. 
Although fighting against great odds, they held the 
enemy at bay for nearly two hours, and then were 
completely routed. Two Federal soldiers, B. F. 



^-. 



iku 



LOGAN COUNTY. 



333 



Wilkias, father of Hou. J. H. Wilkins, now of 
Paris, whose home was only about, four miles from 

the scene of action, and Hawkins, were 

killed; others, together with a few wounded, were 
captured, and others escaped. Several Confederates 
were killed and wounded, their number not now 
being known. The train of wagons, of course, was 
captured. 

A Federal force was stationed at Eoseville to 
guard that post and landing, and on one occasion, 
in the fall of 1863, the jiickets stationed on the 
Tittsworth farm below the post, were driven in by 
Confederate scouts and one Union soldier was 
killed. The scouts then retired. Some time there- 
after the post at Eoseville was attacked by a force 
of Confederate cavalry. The latter was repulsed 
and compelled to retire with considerable loss. It 
is claimed by persons whose homes have been here 
since a time before the war, that the territory now 
embraced within the county, furnished nearly an 
equal number of soldiers to the contending armies. 
As soon as the war closed, and the smoke of its clouds 
cleared away, the soldiers returned from the con- 
tending armies, buried the hatchet of warfare, re- 
sumed their avocations of life, have lived in peace, 
and now entertain kind feelings one for the other. 
There are at this writing four posts of the G. A. 
R. within the county, one at Paris, one at Corley, 
one at Booneville, and one at Ellsworth, and by the 
time this work reaches the reader there will prob- 
ably be a camp of S. of V. at Ellsworth. The Con- 
federate ex soldiers have an organization at Paris. 

The town of Paris had its origin when its site 
was selected for the seat of justice, in 1874. It 
has all been built since that date, and it has now 
a population of about 800. It is situated about 
five miles south of the Arkansas River, and twelve 
miles liy wagon road from Altus, the nearest station 
on the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad. It has 
general stores, 4 family groceries, 2 drug and 2 
iiarness stores, 2 fiirniture and 2 millinery stores, 

2 livery stables, 3 blacksmith and wagon shops, 1 
meat market, 1 shingle and planing-mill, 1 flour- 
ing-mill and cotton-gin, 1 corn-mill and cotton-gin, 

3 hotels, 3 church edifices — Methodist, Baptist 
and Catholic — one school- house — Paris Academy — 



3 resident ministers, several lawyers, 4 physicians, 
a lodge each of Masons and K. of P. , a post of 
the G. A. R., an association of ex-Confederate sol- 
diers, 2 weekly newspapers, etc. Paris is connect- 
ed with Altus and Fort Smith by daily hack and 
mail lines. From four to five thousand bales of 
cotton are handled here annually. Paris was in- 
corporated February 18, 1879. At this writing its 
corporate ofiicers are as follows: William M. Green- 
wood, mayor; C. B. Gray, recorder; T. J. Connel- 
ley, Jr., treasurer; Z. P. Pillgreen, marshal. 
There are five aldermen. The town is out of debt 
and has some money in the treasury. 

The Paris Express, an eight-column folio, pub- 
lished by William M. Greenwood, is now in its 
eleventh volume, having been established in 1880. 
The Paris Tribune, a six-column folio, now in its 
sixth volume, is published by its proprietor, L. B. 
Gamble, and edited by W. H. H. Harley. Both 
of these papers are neatly printed and well edited, 
the former advocating Democratic and the latter 
Republican principles. 

Roseville, an old steamboat landing, and the 
oldest town in the county, is situated on the 
Arkansas River, at the ferry on the Altus and Paris 
mail line road. It contains 2 general stores, 1 
drug and 1 grocery store, a grist-mill and cotton- 
gin, 2 blacksmith shops, and a school-house and 
church combined. Prior to the Civil War, and 
up to the completion of the Little Rock & Fort 
Smith Railroad, Roseville was a place of consid- 
erable importance, doing a large amount of busi- 
ness, having the river for its transportation. 

Booneville, with a population of about 500, is 
situated in the southwest part of the county, on the 
Petit Jean River. It is a good business point, and 
ships annually from 1,500 to 2,000 bales of cotton. 
It has 8 general, 4 grocery, 1 drug and 1 millinery 
store, 1 livery barn, 2 blacksmith shops, a school- 
house, the Fort Smith District High School, 1 
church, 1 grist-mill, planing-mill and cotton gin 
combined, the Booneville Enterprise, 5 lawyers and 
5 physicians. The Booneville Enterprise was es- 
tablished in 1878, being the first newspaper pub- 
lished in the county, by Moore & Co., who still own 
it. It was suspended from 1880 to 1884, when its 



^k 



1- 



» Ki 



.t 



334 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



publication was renewed. It is edited by J. F. 
Keith, is a seven-column folio, and labors in the 
interest of the people and the Democratic party. 
Booneville is one of the oldest towns in the county. 

Magazine, twelve miles southwest of Paris, with 
a population of about 400, is beautifully situated 
on a high plateau, just west of the Magazine 
Mountain, in the center of a fine farming country, 
and does a large business. It is connected with 
Paris by telephone and a daily mail line. It has 
5 general stores, 2 drug and 1 grocery store, 
a grist- mill, cotton-gin and woodwork establish- 
ment combined, 3 blacksmith shops, 1 school- 
house, 2 churches (Baptist and Methodist) and 
5 physicians. The finest residence in the county, 
that of Mr. E. D. Hooper, merchant and farmer, is 
at this place. 

Chismville, in the western end of the county, 
sixteen miles from Paris, has two general and two 
drug stores, a grist-mill and cotton-gin, a blacksmith 
shop, school-house, and 3 physicians, and does a 
a considerable amount of business. 

Caulksville, eight miles west of Paris, contains 
two general and three grocery stores, a grist-mill 
and cotton-gin, blacksmith shop and a school-house, 
the latter being used also as a chiirch. 

Driggs is a small village consisting of two gen- 
eral stores, a grist-mill and cotton-gin, blacksmith 
shop, a school -house and two physicians. 

National Springs, ten miles west of Paris, is 
noted for its mineral springs. 

Corley (Burnett Springs) on Flattop Mountain, 
about eight miles southeast of Paris, is a pleasure 
or summer resort. 

Ellsworth, ten miles east of Paris, has one gen- 
eral store, a blacksmith shop, ]\Iasonic hall, a grist- 
miJLand cotton-gin and one chui'ch — Methodist. 

Prairie View, three miles northeast of Ells- 
woi-th, contains three general stores, a drug, gro- 
cery and milliner store combined, a blacksmith 
shop,- ft aehooMiouse and Masonic hall and a grist- 
mill and cotton-^in. 

Shoal Creek, situated in the eastern end of the 
county, has a general store and a grist and saw-mill 
and cotton-gin. 

Morrison's BlufP oiJ^he Arkansas River in 



Range 24 west, is an old steamboat landing. It 
has two general stores, a drug and grocery store, 
a grist-mill and cotton-gin, blacksmith shop, school- 
house and Catholic Church. 

Patterson's BlufP is a steamboat landing on the 
Arkansas River in Range 25 west. It has a general 
store, a grist-mill and cotton-gin and a school house. 

At each of the forogoing places there is a post- 
office in addition to what is mentioned, and the 
other post-offices of the county are Blaine, Briar 
Creek, Carolan, Delaware, Dublin, Flat, Golden 
City, Hobart, Idell, Money, Patsie, Revilee, Spie- 
lerville and Sugar Grove. Some of these are ham- 
lets, consisting of the post office, a store, black- 
smith shop, etc. 

In regard to the public schools and the work- 
ing of the free-school system in Logan County, 
but little more need be said than what was so well 
said two years ago by the school examiner of the 
county in his letter to the State superintendent of 
public instruction accompanying his annual report. 
The following is a copy of the letter. 

"Paris, Ark., September 20, 1888. 
" Hon. W. E. Thompson, State Superintendent, 

"Dear Sir — The figures below are from the 
reports of directors for the year ending June 30, 
1888. The reports are incomplete, nine districts 
making no annual report and many others only 
partial ones. The following is as nearly correct 
as can be made from data so inadequate: 

Amount expended for schools $7,964 90 

Amount paid teachers $7,7-41 77 

Average wages paid teachers per month, male... $38 74 
Average wages paid teachers per month, female. . $34 89 

Number of teachers employed, males 63 

Number of teachers emplo.yed, females 13 

Number of teachers employed, total 76 

Number of teachers employed, white 70 

Number of teachers employed, colored 6 

Average term of schools, months 3j 

Numl)er of districts 86 

Number of districts voting tax .50 

Number of districts voting no tax 27 

Number of districts not reporting vote on tax. ... 9 

Average tax voted, mills $0.00486 

Number of school-houseB 93 

Value $17,095 

Number of private and denominational schools 11 

Number of children not attending public schools 3,747 



r 



a 4^ 



£. 



LOGAN COUNTY. 



335 



" The free-school system is gaiuing iu favor with 
the people, notwithstanding the loss of the local 
school fund, more than $10,000, by robbery of the 
county treasury, which greatly crippled the oper- 
ation of the schools for the year herein reported. 

"Three prominent defects in our school system 
are: 1. The employment of untrained and incom- 
petent teachers because they are cheap. 2. The 
shortness of terms. 3. Non attendance of pupils. 

' ' In regard to the first, there has been decided 
improvement in the last few years, due largely to 
the good results of teachers' institutes. If the oi3fice 
of the county examiner were replaced by that of 
county superintendent the etificiency of the schools 
could be doubled. ' As is the teacher so is the 
school. ' An efficient county superintendency would 
in a few years develop a corps of trained teachers in 
every county. 

" A second great need is more money. Last 
year our schools averaged only three and two-thirds 
months in duration. The State school tax ought 
to be at least 5 mills, with another 5 mills at the 
option of the electors. It is cheaper to educate 
than to punish. Schools are better protection 
than courts, school-houses better than jails. 

"Lastly, of 7,682 persons of school age, but 
3,935 were enrolled in the public schools, and of 
these the average attendance only 1,926. Thus of 
100 scholars only fifty- one are enrolled, and the 
average attendance is but twenty- five; so that the 
benefits of our free schools reach effectively only 
one in four of our school population. A reasonable 
compulsory attendance is no more oppressive than 
compulsory taxation. If the one is right for 
property holders, the other is equally right for 
parents, and so large a proportion of children 
growing up in ignorance demauds it. 

' ' Respectfully submitted, J. S. Shiblet, 

" Count ij Examiner, Logan County." 

The State superintendent's report for the years 
of 1889 and 1890 has not been published at this 
writing, but the writer is informed that an increas- 
ing interest is being taken in educational matters. 
County and district normal institutes have been 
held and attended by teachers. 

There are two chartered schools in the county 



having a collegiate course of instruction — the Fort 
Smith District High School, at Booneville, with a 
building valued at $4,000, and the Paris Academy, at 
Paris, with buildings valued at $10,000. Both these 
schools have a good patronage from this and the 
surrounding counties, and are doing excellent work 
iu the cause of education. Good schools are also 
maintained for from nine to ten months at Magazine, 
Ellsworth, Prairie View and other places in the 
county, and the German Catholics maintain paro 
chial schools at Paris, and at St. Benedict's, seven 
miles east of Paris. 

The various religious denominations have 
churches withiu easy reach of every neighborhood 
in the county. The Methodist Episcopal Church 
So)ith has five circuits in the county, the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church has two, and the Baptist, 
Cumberland Presbyterian and Christian Churches 
have a large organization and regular preaching in 
all parts of the county. The German Catholics 
have churches and regular services at Paris, Shoal 
Creek, Morrison's Bluff, and St. Benedict's. 

Sunday-schools are maintained in the churches 
at the towns and villages and the closely settled 
neighborhoods. The church organizations are doing 
good work in the cause of Christianity, the people 
are generally moral and Christian in character, and 
no home-seeker need fear that he will not find here 
both church and school facilities, and a kind and 
hospitable people to live with. The county has 
voted "no license" for the last eight years. 

A splendid view of the county and surrounding 
territory is obtained from the top of Short Mount- 
ain. Facing northward the beholder first sees the 
valley of the Arkansas, the winding of the river and 
villages thereon. Beyond the river in a direction 
about eighteen degrees west of north, the town of 
Ozark, county seat of Franklin County, is plainly 
visible, and in a direction about seven degrees west 
of north the college and elevated portion of Altus, in 
the same county is in plain sight. Looking farther 
to the right, other towns on the Little Eock & Fort 
Smith Railroad can be seen, and as a background 
to this picture are the Boston Mountains in the dis- 
tance. Looking eastward the valley of the Arkan- 
sas can be seen for many miles, and in a direction 



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k 



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336 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



about ten degrees south of east, Mount Nebo in 
Yell County is in plain view. Just to the right of 
this appear the Blue and Spring Mountain ridges 
in Logan County. Facing southward the beholder 
first sees the beautiful valley and its neat little 
farms at the foot of the mountain, and in a south- 
east direction, and near by he looks down upon the 
town of Paris. Just beyond the first valley he 
sees the extensive Pine Ridge, and from a point 
due south to southwest he beholds the Petit Jean 
Mountains beyond the river and valley of the same 
name. Looking southeastward over and beyond 
Pine Ridge, Calico to the right and Flattop 
Mountain to the left, being divided by Short Mount- 
ain Creek, are plainly seen. Looking south and 
east of south over and above the mountains just 
mentioned, the viewer sees the highest and most 
magnificent mountain of all — the Magazine — its 
most elevated point being south about thirty de- 
grees east. To the we.st the mountains ia Sebas- 
tian County can be seen, and a little north of west 
the city of Fort Smith shows its steeples and tow- 
ers. About fifty degrees west of south Pilot Mount- 
ain in Scott County is plainly seen. 

The varied scenes are grand, magnificent, awe- 
inspiring. 

" God hath infinite power. 
And that ye may see 
In the fold of the flower, 
The leaf of the tree, 

" In tlie wave of the ocean. 
The furrow of land, 
In the mountain of granite, 
The atom of sand. 

'■ Ye may turn your face 

From the sky to the sod ; 
And where can ye gaze 
That ve see not God?" 



J. M. Agnew, merchant and postmaster at 
Roseville, is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth 
Agnew, of Walker County, Ga. The parents emi- 

Acknowleiljniieuts— The writer and compiler of tlie liistory of 
I.ogan Couuty lias recehrU mucli assistance aiul vaUialile informa- 
tion from Jndge Theodoie I'otts and other individnals, the county 
olllceis, and the Jixprcssand Tribune officers, to all of whom proper 
acknowledgments are due. 



grated to this State in the fall of 1869, and here 
the father died in the summer of 1871, when oiu- 
subject was twenty-one years of age. The latter 
was reared to the arduous duties of the farm, and 
on account of the breaking orit of the war he re- 
ceived a rather limited education. After the death 
of his father he remained with his mother, working 
the farm, until twenty-eight years of age, and then 
bought and located upon a tract of land which he 
cultivated for two years. He then moved to Rose- 
ville and embarked in the grocery business which 
he still continues. In 1 888 he was appointed post- 
master at this place, and has since discharged the 
duties of that office in a creditable and satisfactory 
manner. Mr. Agnew was born on August 30, 
1850, and has been in public life for several years. 
He has gained for himself a reputation as a solid 
and reliable tradesman, and one whose energy and 
enterprise must of necessity materially develop 
this enterprise. His mother still lives in Clark 
Township, this county, and although sixty years of 
age she is strong and hearty. She is the mother 
of eleven children, eight of whom grew to matu- 
rity, and she now resides with her youngest son on 
the homestead. Mr. Agnew is a member of the 
A. F. & A. M. lodge at Roseville, and he is also a 
member of the K. of P. of this place. He has re- 
mained single. He is a hard worker, is honest and 
upright in his dealings with the public, and gets a 
good share of the trade. 

John B. Bailey, liveryman, Booneville, Ark. 
Among the active enterprises of a city like Boone- 
ville the business of liveryman occupies, necessa- 
rily, an important place, contributing, as it does, to 
the pleasure, convenience and actual necessities of 
the community. Among the most notable establish- 
ments of this class in the city is that conducted by 
Mr. John B. Bailey. Though but recently estab- 
lished, this stable is becoming very popular, and 
is one of the best in the city. Mr. Bailey was born 
in Tennessee, May 4, 1847, and is a son of Stephen 
and Nancy (Jones) Bailey, both natives also of the 
Big Bend State. The parents were married in 
Hawkins County of that State, in 1828, and of the 
eight children born to this union (three sons and 
five daughters) seven are now living: Louisa Ann 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



337 



(wife of Cregg Brown), Sarah (wife uf Riley Kill- 
day), Jane (wife of William Minard), Orville, James 
(deceased), Francis and Bales. The father was 
justice of the peace for a number of years. The 
parents both died in Tennessee, the father in 1856 
and the mother in 1853. Both were members of 
the Baptist Church. John B. Bailey attained his 
growth in Greene County, Tenn., and in ISfiGwas 
married to Miss Nannie Murph3^ a native of Ten- 
nessee, and daughter of James and Jane (Crawford) 
Murphy, the father a Methodist minister. Her 
parents are both deceased, the father on February 
28, 1879, and the mother in 1889. They were the 
parents of these children: Mahaley, Kate, William, 
Elber, Andy, Betty, Ike, George, Becky and Chap 
lin. To Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have been born an 
interesting family of six children: Thomas G. (mar- 
ried Miss Minty Gideon, March 17, 1889, and 
have one child, Gusey), James E., Georgia, Or- 
ville, Maggie and Lula M. Mr. Bailey has been 
a farmer all his life, and is now the owner of 520 
acres of land, with 250 acres cultivated. He moved 
to Booneville in 1890, and in June of the same 
year he built a livery barn, which business he 
has since carried on, his main object in moving to 
town was to educate his children. Politically he 
is a Republican. He is a member of the Baptist 
and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church South. 

Henry Bangs, planter, Booneville, Ark. For 
a number of years, or since his residence in this 
county, the reputation which Mr. Bangs enjoys has 
been not only that of a substantial and progressive 
agriculturist, but of an intelligent and thoroughly 
posted man in all juiblic affairs. He was born in the 
Old Dominion on January 6, 1828, and is a son of 
Jacob and Abigail (Lawrence) Bangs, both natives 
of Virginia. The father was a soldier in the 
Florida War, in which he was killed by the Indi- 
ans. The parents were married at Fortress Mon- 
roe, and to them were born three children, of whom 
our subject is the eldest. The other two, Benja- 
min and Stephen, are both farmers, and are living 
in this township. The mother died about 1843. 
Henry Bangs, at the age of thirteen years, joined 
the Florida troops, and was in service for five 

22 



years. He came to Arkansas, and was married in 
what is now Logan County, in 1850, to Miss Sarah 
Walton, a native of Kentucky. Of the twelve 
children born to this union — six sons and six daugh- 
ters — seven are now living, viz. : George, Emily 
(wife of John Basinger), Levenia (wife of Andrew 
Smith), Adelia (wife of A. Starns), Elizabeth (wife 
of S. Sattles), Franklin and Robert. The mother 
of these children died in the year 1882. She was a 
member of the Christian Church. Mr. Bangs 
married his second wife, Mrs. E. C. Barlow, in 
1886, she being a widow with five childi-eu, viz. : 
Alonzo, Ida (wife of Joseph Stanfield), Looney 
(wife of B. Foster), Callie and Asa. Mr. Bangs has 
240 acres of good land, has 80 acres of this under 
cultivation, and raises corn and hogs principally. 
He is a member of the Christian and his wife a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

J. W. Barnett, farmer and ginner. Magazine 
Ark. Mr. Barnett's parents, J. W. and Elizabeth 
(Yearout) Barnett, were natives of Tennessee, in 
which State their nuptials were celel)rated, and 
there they resided until 1869, when they moved to 
Arkansas. Their son J. W. Barnett, the subject 
of this sketch, was born in the Big Bend State 
also, in 1832, and like the average country boy of 
that day, his educational advantages were limited. 
He was partly reared in that State, and when twenty- 
one years of age he began farming on his own ac- 
count, that having been his principal occupation 
up to that time. Agricultural pursuits have since 
continued to be his chosen calling, and his advanced 
principles and progressive ideas have had much to 
do with the success that has attended his efforts. 
Aside from this he is the owner of a good gin 
valued at about $3,000 and in this occupation he 
has also been quite successful. He entered the 
army in 1803, and was for the most part in active 
service until the close of the war. He was capt- 
ured at Jenkins' Ferry and was kept a prisoner 
at Tyler, Tex., for ten months. He had his nose 
shot in two while in service. Mr. Barnett has been 
twice married, his first union being with Miss Mary 
Fitzgerald, who bore him two children: Tennes- 
see and John. His second marriage, which occurred 
in 1867, was to Mrs. Permelia Underwood and to 



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388 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



this union were born six interesting children, all 
living and in the enjoyment of the best of health. 
They are named, Candonia, Arrenna, Lillie, AVy- 
oma, Edna and Ora. Mr. Barnett is a Repub- 
lican in his political preferences, and he and wife 
are members of the Baptist Church. 

Isaiah Beck was born in Lumpkin County, Ga., 
in December, 184(), and is one of the prominent 
farmers and stock-raisers of Logan County, Ark. 
He began life for himself at the age of twenty 
years, and as he had been reared to farm life, it 
was but natural, perhaps, that he should choose 
agricultural pursuits as his occupation in life. He 
has since closely applied himself to this calling, 
and with what success, may be inferred from a 
glace at his present place. In 1869 he was 
wedded to Miss Lucinda C. Fox, daughter of 
Henry Fox of Logan County, and they are the 
parents of eight children : Josejah M. , Marion J. , 
Charles P., Leona Etter, Benjamin M., Archie G. 
and John H. and Maggie (twins). Joseph M. (mar- 
ried Josephine Brice, daughter of Martin Brice). 
Mr. Beck owns 100 acres of land and has 80 acres 
under cultivation. His land is well adapted to the 
raising of cotton and grain, and he is also in- 
terested in stock-raising. He and Mrs. Beck have 
been members of the Christian Church for fourteen 
years, and are substantial supporters of all worthy 
movements. They are highly esteemed in the 
commimity and have many warm friends. Mr. 
Beck's parents, JefFery and Sallie (Sism) Beck, 
were natives of North Carolina. They were mar- 
ried in Walker County, Ga. , resided there for a 
great many years and reared a family of eight chil- 
dren, our subject being next to the youngest. 
They are named as follows: Andrew, John W. , 
William J., Sarah E., Caroline, Ira, Isaiah and 
Adal-ine. The mother died in Georgia, in 1859, 
and the father then married the Widow Nicholson. 
In 1802 he removed to Montgomery County, Ark., 
and there his death occurred in 1870. 

Alexander S. Bennett, a prominent citizen of 
Roseville Township, was born in Bradley County, 
Tenn., August 20, 1845, and is the son of Henry 
K. and Mary A. (McDonough) Bennett, the father 
a farmer by occupation. Alexander S. was trained 



to farm labor from an early age and received his 
education in the common country schools. He re- 
mained under the parental roof until sixteen years 
of age (1861) and then enlisted in Company B, 
Sixth Georgia Regiment Infantry, and served 
until the close. He was jsaroled at Greenville, 
N. C, after which he returned to his father's 
home in Georgia, whither the latter had moved in 
1857, and there attended school for one year. 
After this he worked on the farm until 1869, and 
then came to Arkansas, locating in Roseville Town- 
ship, which has been his home until the present. 
On his arrival here he rented land for two years 
and then clerked in a general merchandise store 
for James Sewell until 1875. The same year he 
entered into partnership with C. F. Wood, and 
they bought out the business of Mr. Sewell, his 
former employer. After continuing this business 
for two years, Mr. Bennett sold out his interest 
and again engaged as clerk for Mr. Sewell, who 
had again established himself in business. Here 
he worked for two years. He then began clerking 
for S. M. Qviiun, of Paris, and became general 
manager of his general merchandise store at that 
place, continuing one year. He then returned to 
Roseville and entered business in the firm name of 
A. S. Bennett & Co., and thus continued for three 
years, or until the close of 1882. At that date he 
sold out, entered the service of C. F. Wood at 
Caulksville, this county, and acted as general man- 
ager in his store for a year. Previous to this, in 
1874, he was married to Miss Emma Wood, of 
Roseville, and they have two children: Mary W. 
and Joseph D., both of whom are attending the 
public schools of Roseville. In 1877 Mr. Bennett 
purchased a tract of land containing 200 acres 
lying n^ar the village of Roseville, and of this he 
has 110 acres under a good state of cultivation, 
three good dwelling-houses on it, substantial out- 
buildings, etc. On October 1, 1889, he entered 
the employ of the railroad company as their agent 
at Roseville as receiving and forwarding agent 
from this place to Altus, the nearest point on the 
road. Mr. Bennett and his wife are deeply inter- 
ested in educational matters, and are determined 
that their children shall have the best that is to 



^\^ 






LOGAN COUNTY. 



339 



be obtained. The daiigliter ba.s attended the Paris 
High School, and both the son and daughter are 
receiving instruction in music. Mr. Bennett has 
been a member of the school board at Roseville 
since his first arrival in this county. The family- 
are memViers of the Methodist Episcopal Ohurch, 
and Mr. Bennett is secretary of the board in this 
conference. He has also been steward in the 
chinch for some time. He is a member of the A. 
P. & A. M. , Roseville Lodge No. 83, and in poli- 
tics is Democratic. He is one of the best business 
men of the place as well as one of the most re 
spected citizens. 

W. K. Sevens, groceryman, Booneville, Ark. 
The grocery trade constitutes a leading feature of 
the commercial fabric of the town of Booneville, 
being extensively engaged in, and conducted with 
ability and success. Prominent among those iden 
tified with it is Mr. W. E. Bevens. This gentle- 
man was born in Fulton County, Ark., June 17, 
1851, and was one of four children born to Andrew 
and Mary (James) Bevens, the father a farmer by 
occupation. The father and mother both died in 
Missouri, in 1856, on the same day, and of pneu- 
monia. They were buried in the same coffin. Of 
their four children, only one besides our subject is 
now living, Hester (wife of James A. Dihel). Those 
deceased were James and Houston. The maternal 
grandfather, James S. James, came to Arkansas in 
1849, and brought our subject with him, when the 
latter was but a small boy. W. R. was reared to 
the arduous duties of the farm, and was married in 
Jackson County, of this State, in 1873, to Miss Jen- 
nie Patrick, who bore him nine children, four now 
living: Latha, Oscar M. , Boswell M. and Chand- 
ler. Those deceased were Hattie, Luther, Archie 
C, Nellie, and one died unnamed. Mr. Bevens 
owns forty acres of well-improved land, and is one 
of the thrifty, enterprising men of the county. In 
1888 he engaged in the grocery business, and this 
he has since followed successfully. He is upright 
and honorable in his dealings, and has achieved 
by positive merit a high position. 

George W. Biggs, farmer, Paris, Ark. Lo- 
cated in the midst of one of the finest agricultural 
portions of Logan County, the farm that Mr. 



Biggs owns and occupies is conceded to be anioig 
the best in this vicinity. This is saying not a lit- 
tle, for on every hand may be seen superior places, 
whose ownership indicates thrift and prosperity. 
Mr. Biggs inherits his natural ability for agricult- 
ural [)ursuits, for his father before him followed 
that calling, and is prosperous and progressive. 
The parents, Preston and Priscilla (Betts) Biggs, 
were both born in Jefferson County, Tenn., and 
there they grew to mature years. They were mar- 
ried, however, in Hamilton County, and the fruits 
of this union were seven children — six sons and a 
daughter. The parents removed from Tennessee 
to Logan County, Ark., in 1870, bought land, and 
there the father tilled the soil. He is still living 
and engaged in the same pursuit. The mother 
died on January 22, 1887. George W. Biggs, the 
eldest of the family, was born in Hamilton County, 
Tenn., in February, 1848, and when twenty years 
of age was married to Miss Mary E. Barboe, 
daughter of Lewis Barbee, of Tennessee. She 
was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., but reared in 
Hamilton Coimty, where she remained until 1870, 
when Mr. Biggs removed to Arkansas. He located 
on land bought in Logan County, and is the owner 
of 160 acres with 100 acres under cultivation. 
His union resulted in the birth of eleven children: 
Sarah J., Louisa C, William S., Mary E., Calvin 
A., Tilden, Martha (died in November, 1887), 
George W., Ader M., James S. and Benjamin. 
Sarah married John S. Storts, a farmer, and they 
have two children, viz. : Aria May and Delmer D. 
Louisa C. married Thomas Wear, a farmer, and 
they have an infant son. Mr. Biggs is a member 
of the Farmers' Alhance, and he and wife are 
both members of the Baptist Church. He gives 
liberally of his means to schools, churches and 
everything pertaining to the general welfare of the 
community, and is one of Logan County's most 
highly respected and successful farmers. 

M. J. Bowers, postmaster at Paris, Logan 
County, Ark., and a representative citizen of the 
same, was born in Johnson County, of this State, 
in 1853, and of the seven children born to his 
jiarents, he was ne.\t to the youngest in order of 
V)irth. His father, William Bowers, was a native 



l^ 



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340 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of the Old Dominion, and was a farmer by jaursuit. 
He came to Arkansas at an early day, and was 
married in Newton County, to Mrs. Sahary Barnes, 
nee Christy, a native of Tennessee, who came to 
Arkansas in 1835. She was a widow, and the 
mother of two children by her iirst marriage, she 
being a descendant from Cherokee Indians. The 
family moved to Johnson County, Ark. , about 
1845, and there the father died when M. J. Bowers 
was a small child. The latter was reared by an 
elder sister, after the death of his mother in 1862, 
who moved to Logan County, Ark., in 1858. He 
was well educated in the common schools of the 
county, and in 1874 entered the high school at 
Magazine, where he remained for three years. 
Then in connection with farming, he began teach- 
ing school and continued at this until 1880. In 
1887 and 1888 he was deputy sheriff of the county, 
and for two years he was half owner and manager 
of the Paris Serpent, which he made a vigorous 
Repulilican paper. On July 25, 1880, he was ap- 
pointed postmaster at Paris. He was married in 
1877, to Miss Ellen S. Anderson, a native of this 
State and county, and a daughter of Capt. C. P. 
Anderson, of Magazine. This union resulted in 
the birth of seven children: Etta, Lillie June, 
Ezra James and Ellen Edna (twins), Charles Den- 
nis, Freda May and Powell Clayton. Mr. Bowers 
owns a farm adjoining the town of Paris, in which 
he resides, and he is one of the county's best citi- 
zens. He is a member of the Paul McCobb Lodge 
No. 65, K. of P. 

Henry P. Bowerman, merchant, Booneville, 
Ark. Among the names which have acquired 
prominence on the wings of Booneville' s prosperity, 
is that of the subject of this sketch, who is one of 
the prominent business men. He was born in the 
Lone Star State, Hunt County, in May, 1850, and 
was the son of J. P. and Matilda M. (Grady) Bow- 
erman, the father a native of Tennessee and the 
mother of Marshall County, Ky. The parents 
were married in Kentucky, in 184'2, and the fruits 
of this union were ten children — six sons and four 
daughters — the daughters all deceased, two dying 
in Texas, one in Kentucky, and one in Arkansas. 
The names of the six sons, in order of birth, are as 



follows: John J., William H., Henry P., David L., 
Elijah F. and Peter Lee., all now living. The 
parents removed from Tennessee to Kentucky at 
an early day, and from there to Texas, in 1847. 
In 1866 they moved from the last named State to 
Sebastian County, Ark, and the father died in 
Logan County, of that State, in 1886. The mother 
died in Fannin County, Tex., in 1889. When 
eighteen years of age Henry P. Bowerman started 
out for himself as a farmer and blacksmith, and in 
1871 was married to Miss Maggie Meek, daughter 
of John S. and Naomi Meek, of Sebastian County, 
where our subject and wife were married. To 
this union were born ten children: Mary E., Sarah 
T., Ellen S., Alice J., Ida A., William H., James 
L., Mittie Lee, Bessie Pearl and Amos B. , all 
single and living with their parents. Mr. Bower- 
man is the owner of residence property in Boone- 
ville, worth about 1300, and he is now engaged in 
merchandising in that city, carrying a stock of 
goods valued at about SI, 200. He is also a har- 
ness and saddle maker by trade, and runs this in 
connection with his store. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 247, and he and 
wife are both members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. He has always been a liberal contributor 
to schools, churches and all laudable public enter- 
prises. 

H. C Brown, farmer and carpenter, Paris, Ark. 
Mr. Brown, a man well known and highly esteemed 
in the community where he makes his home, was 
originally from Georgia, his birth occurring in that 
State in 1854. His father, Danason Brown, was 
born in the Palmetto State, and the mother was 
born in Georgia. H. C. Brown received his early 
educational training in his native State, and in 
1869 he moved to Mississippi. At the age of 
twenty-one years he began for himself as a tiller 
of the soil, and this he continued until 1879, when 
he removed to Paris, Ark., and there was engaged 
in the carpenter business. From there he removed 
to Waldron, Scott County, where he continued the 
last named occupation for about four years. 
Returning to Paris in 1885, ho remained there 
until 1889, and was one of the prominent citizens 
of that community. In 1876 he was married to 



"^in-E- 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



341 



I 



Miss Susan Raybury, by whom he had three chil- 
dren: Viola, John H. H. and Ethel. Mrs. Brown 
died in 1887, and Mr. Brown was married the sec- 
ond time, in 1889, to Mrs. Martha McVeigh, a na- 
tive of Georgia, and daughter of B. T. Freeman, 
who was a native of Georgia. Mr. Freeman was 
an ex-lieutenant in the Confederate Army, and a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. He died on 
February 21, 1873. His wife, Jane (Whitlock) 
Freeman, was a native of South Carolina. She 
died on September 30, 1875. Mrs. Brown's first 
marriage occurred in 1877 to Mr. J. B. McVeigh, 
a native of Arkansas, by whom she had four chil- 
dren, only one, Addie M. , now living. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church South, and he is also a member of the 
Farmer's Alliance, but has never affiliated with any 
other secret organization. His father, Danason 
Brown, with his wife, Mary Brown, are yet living 
in La Fayette County, Miss. , the former a member 
of the Masonic fraternity, and both members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

Rev. ^\'illiam Bunch, a pioneer jjlanter living 
ing Boone Township, was born in Dickson County, 
Teun., on November 14, 1817, and is one of the 
honored and esteemed citizens. His father, Tarle- 
ton Bunch, was a native of Virginia, born in 1783, 
and he was married in South Carolina to Miss Mary 
Beaver, a native of South Carolina also born in 
1 783. Six children were the fruits of this union, 
one besides our subject now living: Mary who was 
born in Perry County, Tenn., April 23, 1820, 
and who is the wife of James Simons. The father 
was a farmer by occupation and also carried on 
the blacksmith's trade. He died in Tennessee on 
August 26, 1852. He was a member of the Bap- 
tist Church for forty years, as was also the mother 
whose death occurred on September 10, of the 
same year. William Bunch was principally reared 
on a farm, and in 1843^he began learning the tan 
ner's trade, which he continued to follow until 1857. 
He was married in Decatur County, Tenn., in 1838, 
to Miss Jane Mays, a native of Tennessee, and the 
daughter of Abraham and Rebecca (Rhodes) Mays. 
Of the ten children born to that union seven are 
now living: Susan, Nancy J. Mary E., Julian, 



Martha I. , William H. and David H. Those de- 
ceased were Louvicy J., Tennessee and George A. 
The mother of these children died November 7, 
18(32, she was a member of the Baptist Church. 
On April 30, 1865, Mr. Bunch was married in Hop- 
kins County, Tex. , to Miss Mary E. Eledge, a na- 
tive of Cannon County, Tenn., born in 1838, and 
the result of this union was live children: Isaac 
S. J., Catherine P., Lucy A., Joseph E. J. and 
Eliza (deceased). Mr. Bunch has been a Bapti.st 
minister since December 19, 1859. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic order, Sugar Creek Lodge No. 
205, and is a liberal and willing contributor to all 
movements of imj^ortance. He is the owner of 
320 acres of good land, with 183 acres under cul- 
tivation. He emigrated from Tennessee to Arkan- 
sas in 1857, settled in this county, and here he has 
resided ever since, respected and esteemed by all. 
He is now a member of the National Farmers' Al- 
liance at Glendale, Boone Township, Logan 
County, and, although over seventy- three years of 
age, is enjoying comparatively good health. 

Rev. Sterling Burton, farmer, Chismville, Ark. 
Mr. Burton owes his nativity to Tennessee, his 
l)irth occurring in that State in 1832, and is a son 
of Squire and Rebecca (Roy) Burton, natives also 
of that State. The parents moved to Arkansas 
in 1852, and there passed the remainder of their 
days. Sterling Burton was reared in Tennessee, 
and received a rather limited education in the com- 
mon schools. In 1851 he began farming for him- 
self, and that he has made a success of this occu- 
pation is not for a moment to be doubted, when a 
glance is cast over his fine tract of land. He en- 
listed at the breaking out of the war, and was in 
service until peace was declared, at which time he 
found himself without means to start again. How- 
ever he was not discouraged, and went to work with 
renewed vigor, meeting with the success usually 
following hard and persistent efPorts. He was 
united in marriage to Miss Lillie A. Weaver, a na- 
tive of Arkansas, in 1866, and to this union were 
born the following children: Charles, John, Fran- 
cis A. , Rebecca J. , Sarah R. , Eugene, Price, Rob- 
ert L. and Ida. Mr. Burton has affiliated with 
the Democratic party ever since he first commenced 






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342 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



to vote, and is a strong adherent to the principles 
of that party. He and Mrs. Burton are members 
of the Charch of Christ. 

Dr. W. H. Butler, physician, Paris, Ark. One 
of the most familiar and welcome faces in the home 
of the sick and ailing of Logan County is that of 
Dr. Butler, who administers to the physical wants 
of his fellow- man, in a highly satisfactory and suc- 
cessful manner, as his many patients, now living, 
can testify. The Doctor was horn in Henderson 
County, Tenn., in 1829, and was the fourth in a 
family of eleven children born to Henry and Fran- 
ces Hopkins ^Webb) Butler, the parents natives, 
respectively, of Tennessee and Virginia. The pa- 
ternal grandparents were of English-German de- 
scent, and the maternal grandparents were natives 
of the Old Dominion and of English descent. 
Henry Butler, father of subject, was a farmer, and 
resided in Tennessee until his death, in 1845. The 
mother received her final summons in 1871. Her 
people were among the oldest settlers of Ruther- 
ford County, Tenn. Both parents were members 
of the Primitive Baptist Church. It fell to Dr. 
Butler's lot to grow up with a farm experience, 
and his early education was received in the common 
schools. At the age of twenty-four years he was 
elected bailiff of his county, and served for five 
years in that capacity. In 1858 he began mer- 
chandising, continued this for one year, and then 
began the study of medicine, reading with some of 
the prominent physicians. He began practicing at 
Camden, Tenn., in 1862, in partnership with Dr. 
R. B. Travis, continued with him for a year, and 
then went to Kentucky, thence to Illinois, where he 
remained until October, 1868, graduated in the 
the medical department, University of Nashville, in 
1869, then went back to Gibson County, and from 
there to Arkansas, locating in Logan County, at 
Ellsworth. He bought ISO acres of land, and 
farmed in connection with his practice; moved to 
Paris tlie spring of 1887, and is owner of property 
near this town. He was married in 1855 to Miss 
Susan J. Todd, of Tennessee, who died on May 
12, 1856. His second marriage was to Miss 
Amanda A., daughter of Silas Travis, of Tennes- 
see. She died in 1868, leaving three children: 



Lilly Irene, Flora Jane and Frances Josephine, all 
deceased. In 1869 Dr. Butler was married to 
Miss Louisa A. Walker, of Gibson County, Tenn., 
and twelve children were born to this union, four 
of whom are living: Sarah T., Susan Diana, Mar- 
tha Morton and Benjamin C. Eight died in in- 
fancy. The family are members of the Primitive 
Baptist Church, in which the Doctor is an elder. 
His farm is good valley land, with eighty acres under 
cultivation, sis acres in strawberries, two acres 
in vineyard, and two acres in apples. He has cleared 
and improved his place, and now has one of the 
best homes in the county. 

Edmond G. Butler, planter and nurseryman, 
Paris, Ark. Mr. Butler was born on July 21, 
1839, in Tennessee, and is the son of Henry T. and 
Frances (Webb) Butler, the former a native of Vir- 
ginia and the latter of North Carolina. The par- 
ents were married in Georgia, and to this union 
were born eleven children — five sons and sis daugh- 
ters — four of whom are now living: Martha (wife 
of Robert Taylor), Tabitha, William H., and Ed- 
mond G., who is the youngest. The father died 
in Tennessee in 1845, andthe mother died in 1871. 
Both were members of the Baptist Church. Ed- 
mond G. Butler was reared in his native State, 
and in 1864 was united in marriage to Miss Diana 
Sturdivant, who was also from Tennessee, her birth 
occurring in that State in 1842. Her parents, 
Jesse and Elizabeth (Smith) Sturdivant, were na- 
tives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. 
The father is now living in Paris, Logan County, 
Ark., but the mother died a number of years ago. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Butler were born fourteen 
children — sis sons and eight daughters — seven now 
living: Johanna (wife of S. R. Rodgers), Alice 
(wife of J. D. Hays), Francis, Eunice, Donna, 
Albert and Jesse. Those deceased were Thomas, 
Joseph, Edmond, Laura, Cleveland, Ruth, and one 
died in infancy. Mr. Butler was a soldier in the 
late war, enlisting in Company H, Twenty-seventh 
Regiment Infantry in 1861, and serving until 1864. 
He was taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, re- 
tained in St. Louis for three months, and was then 
permitted to go home. He never returned to the 
army. After the war he followed farming until 



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LOGAiSf COUNTY. 



343 



1885, when be embarked in the nursery business. 
He moved from Tennessee to Arkansas, and in 
1872 settled in Lawrence County, where he re- 
mained until 1873, at which date became to Logan 
County, farming until 1885. He moved to Short 
Mountain in December, 1886, and continued the 
nursery business, and has nine and one-half acres 
in all kinds of fruit. He is the owner of 4()0 acres 
of good land, and has 280 acres of this under cul- 
tivation. He has been school director six years. 
Mrs. Butler is a member of the Christian Church. 
Hon. Jacob Buttram, farmer, Sugar Grove, Ark. 
Mr. Buttram is one of the representative men of 
the county and is thoroughgoing and progressive 
in bis ideas. He was born in Tennessee in 1825, 
and in 1848 started out to fight life's battles for 
himself as an agriculturist. The following year 
he was wedded to Miss Josephine Wilson, a native 
of Tennessee, born in 1826, and the daughter of 
George Wilson. The same year of bis marriage 
Mr. Buttram removed to Scott County (now Logan) 
ancl bought eighty acres of land, to which he has 
since added until be now has 320 acres, 140 acres 
of which are under cultivation. Upon this he has 
erected six houses, dug wells, planted several or- 
chards and made many and vast improvements. 
To his marriage have been born eight children, only 
one of whom is now living: Margaret (wife of 
James Henderson). In 1863 Mr. Buttram was 
elected representative of Scott County, which office 
he held until the close of the war. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. Sugar Creek Lodge 
No. 205. He was made a Master Mason in Boone- 
ville Lodge in 1S59, and was one of the charter 
members of Sugar Creek Lodge in 1S6S, being 
worshipful master of the same for twelve years. In 
1878 Mrs. Buttram' s death occurred. She was a 
worthy member of the Methodist Episcoxaal Church 
South. In 1879 Mr. Buttram took for his second 
wife Mrs. Emma R. (Barnett) Logan, who was 
born in Alabama in 1842, and who is the daughter of 
Thomas and Nancy Barnett. Her first husband 
was James Logan, Jr., and by him she had one 
child, a daughter, J. E. Logan, who was born in 
1875. Mr. and Mrs. Buttram were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. About 



1868 Mr. Buttram erected a gin run by horse- 
power, but this was afterward changed to a steam 
gin, which he conducted until 1878. He secured 
the first post-ofSce in Petit Jean Township, and was 
appointed the first postmaster, which office be held 
for about six'years. This office took its name from 
the fine grove of sngar maple trees in the yard of 
Mr. Buttram. TLis gentleman has always been a 
liberal contributor to all public enterprises, was in- 
strumental in building two churches, schools, balls 
and other public buildings. In order to secure a 
trading point in the valley of Petit Jean, Mr. But- 
tram gave forty acres, in the year 1884, for the 
purpose of laying off a town, the nearest point at 
which goods of any kind could be bought being at 
Magazine, eight miles distant. Four stores now 
supply the wants of the people in the vicinity of 
Sugar Grove, as the little town is now called. Mr. 
Buttram has been steward in the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South for thirty years, and is a man 
well and favorably known all over the county. His 
parents, Noah and Ann (Huffaker) Buttram, were 
both natives of Kentucky, in which State they were 
married, and the father was a successful tiller of 
the soil. 

C. A. Callan, farmer and postmaster, Dela- 
ware, Ark. Mr. Callan, who is classed among the 
successful and enterprising citizens of Logan 
County, owes his nativity to Alabama, born in 
in 1845, and is the son of George A. and Matilda 
(Davis) Callan. Our subject started out to fight 
life's battles for himself in 1867, and in that year, 
was maiTied to Miss Elvira Johnson, a native of 
North Carolina, born in 1843, and the daughter of 
Robert A. and Nelvina Johnson. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Callan were born seven interesting children, viz. : 
Cicero A., Eugene, Matilda, Venia, Sarah, Caley 
and Albert. The mother of these children died 
in 1886. In 1869 Mr. Callan bought forty acres 
of land and afterward added, at one time sixty- 
five acres and at another twenty acres of railroad 
land, improving the whole tract by clearing fifty 
acres and fencing. His buildings are all of a 
first-class order, and bo has about six acres in or- 
chard. He has also erected a good house, barn, 
etc., for his tenants. His land will yield two- 



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344 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



thirds to tkree-foui'ths of a bale of cotton, or 
thirty-five to fifty bushels of corn to the acre. Mr. 
Callan was appointed postmaster in 1873, and he 
has continued to discharge the duties incumbent 
on this oflS.ce ever since. Under his management 
the business has increased to over four times what 
it was when Mr. Callan first took charge of the of- 
fice, receiving now, at each mail, about forty 
pounds. During the late struggle between the 
North and South, his sympathies were with the 
Confederate Cause and he enlisted in Company D, 
Col. Hill's regiment Cavalry, serving from 1863 
until the close of the war. He was in the battle of 
Mark's Mill, Poison S^jrings, and many minor en- 
gagements. During 1878 and 1879 Mr. Callan 
served as constable, and filled that position in a 
very satisfactory manner. He is a member of the 
Methodist E])iscopal Church South. In Novem- 
ber, 1889, Mr. Callan was married to Miss Annie 
McAllister, a native of Arkansas, born in 1865, and 
daughter of Larkin L. and Ninerva McAllister. 
She is a member of the Missionary Bai)tist Church. 
Dr. T. S. Cope, merchant, Driggs, Ark. Dr. 
T. S. Cope has been a resident of Logan County, 
Ark., since 1880, and not only enjoys an excellent 
reputation as a business man, but is held in high 
esteem as a citizen. He is straightforward and up- 
right in all his dealings, and his motto is ' ' Honor- 
able representations and fair treatment to all." 
Dr. Cope owes his nativity to Franklin County, 
Tenn., born in 1844, and his parents, John and 
Jane (Sargent) Cope, were natives of Kentucky, 
where they were reared. They moved from the 
Blue-Grass regions of Kentucky to Tennessee, re- 
sided there for a number of years, and then re- 
moved to Montgomery County, Mo., in 1849. There 
the father's death occurred in 1852 and the mother's 
in 1883. Dr. T. S. Cope chose Miss S. A. Bur- 
nett, daughter of John Burnett, a farmer of this 
county, as his life companion and they were mar- 
ried in 1879. One child, T. A. Cope, was born to 
this union. lu 1880 they removed from Osage 
County, Mo., to Logan County, Ark., and here 
Dr. Cope engaged in the practice of medicine, con- 
tinuing the same up to 1889, when he abandoned 
his practice to engage in merchandising. He has 



a good stock of dry goods and groceries, also cloth- 
ing, and is postmaster, the post-oflSce being in his 
store. He handles a $5,000 stock, and is doing a 
good business. Aside from this he is the owner 
of forty acres of land with good buildings, etc., 
and besides his store building and residence he is 
the owner of three lots in Driggs and property in 
Burnett Springs, the summer resort on the top of 
Flattop Mountain. He is the only one of his 
family now in Arkansas, as his brothers and sisters 
are all in Missouri. Dr. Cope is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and he and wife are members 
of the Free- Will Baptist Church. The Doctor is 
a liberal contributor to schools, churches, and in 
fact all worthy movements. 

S. T. Carolan, planter and merchant, Carolan, 
Ark. This prominent and enterprising citizen was 
originally from Alabama, his birth occurring in 
Lawrence County on January 19, 1852, and is a 
son of W. P. and Hannah A. (Sealey) Carolan, na- 
tives of South Carolina, the father born on March 
18, 1800, and the mother in 1807. Of their large 
family, eleven only lived to be grown: Will- 
iam B., J. H. T. , S. T., and the following are 
now deceased: Phillip, J. H., Elizabeth, Sarah, J. 
W., Thomas P., Hannah S. and Robert. The 
father moved from the Palmetto State to Alabama, 
and from there to Arkansas in 1854, settling in 
what is now Little River County. He was sheriff 
of Morgan County, Ala., one term. His death oc- 
curred in this county in 1875, and both he and 
wife were members of the Primitive Baptist 
Church. She died in 1877. S. T. Carolan passed 
the principal part of his youthful days on the farm, 
and was married in this county in 1874 to Miss 
Alice Edwards, a native of Mississippi born on 
September 24, 1852, and the daughter of Lewis 
Edwards. Her parents both died in Alabama. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Carolan were born four children — 
three sons and one daughter — Walter E., John W., 
Samuel E. and Mamie. Mr. Carolan owns 730 
acres of good land, and has 300 acres under culti- 
vation, his principal crops being corn and cotton. 
In 1878 he built a steam cotton-gin, and in 1889 
he built a new gin and corn-mill, in which he has 
put new machinery. The capacity of this gin is 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



345 



f 



eight bales per day. He also has a half interest in 
a cotton, saw and corn-mill combined with a Mr. 
Oliver, of this county. In 1877 Mr. Cardan em- 
barked in the mercantile business at Carolan, and 
carries a stock of goods valued at about $4,000. 
He was appointed postmaster in 1878. Mrs. Car- 
olan is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
J. C. Catner, farmer and merchant, Chismville, 
Ark. Owing to the fertility of the soil in Logan 
County, Ark., and by energy, industry and economy 
Mr. Catner has become one of the wealthy citizens 
of the county. He was born in Hot Springs Coun- 
ty, Ark., on April 22, 1846, and is the son of Mor- 
rison and Malinda (McCoal) Catner, natives of Illi- 
nois. The parents were married in Hot Springs 
County, and to their union were born eight chil- 
dren — six sons and two daughters — who are named 
in the order of their birth as follows: William, 
Joseph, Morrison, J. C. , Malinda, Grant, and the 
other two died in infancy. The parents removed 
from Hot Springs to Logan County, Ark., in 1848, 
and there they reside at the present time. Of the 
above-mentioned children J. C. Catner is the eldest 
now living. In 1864 he enlisted in the United 
States Army, Company I, Second Arkansas Cavalry 
as a private, and served until peace was declared. 
He then returned to his home in Logan County, 
engaged in tilling the soil, and was married in 
1S6S to Miss M. E. Stanley, daughter of G. W. C. 
and Adaline (Hudson) Stanley. Their eight children 
are named as follows: Georgian, Antonia, Mary, 
Sallie B. and Sydney B. (twins), James, Maret and 
Maset (twins). Georgian married V. L. Estes, a 
merchant of Greenwood, Sebastian County. Mr. 
Catner is the owner of 1,300 acres of land in Lo- 
gan County, and has about 400 acres under culti- 
vation. He has also been occupied in merchandis- 
ing at Chismville, where he has a stock of general 
merchandise worth $6,000, and he has a store at 
Greenwood. He does an annual business of about 
$30,000 at the first mentioned place, and he is also 
doing an immense business at Greenwood. He is 
one of Logan County's most successful business 
men and highly respected citizens. He is one 
among the heaviest dealers in the county. Socially 
he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He 



lost his wife in January, 18S4, and in 1889 was 
married to Miss Laura Baker, daughter of James 
Baker. 

Benjamin H. Caulk, farmer, Caulksville, Ark. 
In all communities and in every condition of life 
there are those who succeed in whatever they 
iindertake, whether of a professional, agricultural 
or commercial nature, and among this class is Mr. 
Caulk, who is one of the progressive and substan- 
tial farmers of the county. He is the owner of 
190 acres of land, and has 100 acres under cultiva- 
tion, all the result of his own industry and perse- 
verance. He is a native of this county, born in 
1833, and is the son of George and Nancy (Fort) 
Caulk, probably natives of Missouri. They moved 
from New Madrid, Mo., to what is now called 
Logan County, Ark., at a very early period and 
before the State was admitted into the Union. 
In 1834 they removed from Arkansas to Missis- 
sipf)i, and there the father died two years later. 
After this his widow returned to Logan County, 
Ark, with her children (1838), and there received 
her final summons in 1848. Of the seven children 
born to his parents — four sons and three daughters 
— Benjamin H. was the youngest in order of birth. 
He was married in September, 1859, to Miss 
Martha Davis, daughter of Ned Davis, and one 
child, a boy named George, was the only issue of 
this union. Mrs. Caulk died in January, 1861. 
The following year Mr. Caulk enlisted in the Con- 
federate Army in Capt. Tittsworth's company, 
under Maj. Gibson, and was in active duty west of 
the Mississippi. The princijsal battles in which 
he took an active part were Poison Springs and 
the Mark's Mill fight. He surrendered with Col. 
Bryant near old Fort Wichita in the Chickasaw 
Nation, after which he returned to his home in 
Logan County, resumed farming, and this has 
been his principal occupation since. He was mar- 
ried, the second time, in 1870, to Miss Nancy A. 
Ledgewood, daughter of Lansom Ledgewood, and 
to them have been born seven children — four 
daughters and three sous: Minnie Lee, Martha 
L., Robert, Hattie, Adaline, Archie and one child 
died in infancy. Minnie married Irk Riley in 
1888, and they are now residing in Logan County, 



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346 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



where Mr. Riley is engaged in tilling the soil. 
George, the son by the first wife, married Miss 
Lonisa Carpenter, daughter of Owen Carpenter, 
and they have three children. He is also engaged 
in tilling the soil. Robert Caulks, brother of the 
subject, fovinded the town of Caulksville, and was 
the first to begin work in the place. The Caulks 
family being the oldest settlers in the county, the 
town was named for them. Our subject being 
reared in Logan County during its pioneer days, 
his educational facilities were not of the best, but 
this he has improved very materially Ijy study and 
observation. In educational and all other worthy 
movements he takes great interest. He is a mem- 
ber of the A. F. & A. M. 

Thomas Cauthron, planter and ginner, Boone- 
ville. Ark. Mr. Cauthron is possessed of those 
advanced ideas and progressive ])rinciples which 
seem to be among the chief characteristics of those 
of Arkansas nativity. He was born in what is now 
Logan County, October, 16, 1836, was taught the 
duties of farm life in boyhood, and was married in 
1855 to Miss Nancy Anderson, a native of Arkan- 
sas, born in 1838, and the daughter of Pinkney 
Anderson, a pioneer settler of this State. Five 
children were born to this marriage: Charles C. 
Walter P., Edward, Thomas R., and Nancy H. 
(who is now the wife of R. E. Rorie, of McKinzie, 
Tenn.). Mrs. Cauthron died in 1804, and was a 
member of the Christian Church. la 1867 Mr. 
Cauthron was married to Mrs. N. J. Cornelius, 
widow of Austin Cornelius, who bore him five 
children, four now living: John E. (deceased), 
Robert M. , Eleanor S., Samuel S. and Joannah. 
During the late unpleasantness between the North 
and South, or in 1863, he enlisted in Company B, 
Second Arkansas Regiment, Infantry, and served 
in the Union Army until the termination of hostili- 
ties. In February, 1864, at an election held in his 
regiment, and also in a number of precincts in his 
county (Scott), he was elected to represent that 
county in the Legislature, and served under what 
was known as the Murphy Government. After re- 
turning home he resumed agricultural pursuits, 
which has been his occupation ever since. In 1873 
he was appointed by Gov. Baxter, president of the 



Board of Registrars of Sarber (now Logan) County, 
and in 1874 he was elected clerk of the circuit court 
of Sarber County, which ofiSco he tilled for two 
years. At the end of this term he declined to be- 
come a candidate for re-election, and returned to 
his farm. He built a steam cotton gin and corn- 
mill combined, the capacity of the gin being eight 
bales per day. His fine farm, consisting of 300 
acres, with seventy-five under cultivation, is kept 
in the best of condition, and everything about the 
place indicates to the beholder that an experienced 
hand has been at the helm, figuratively speaking. 
Mrs. Cauthron received her final summons in 1888. 
She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian Church, of which our subject is also a mem- 
ber, he being an elder in the same. He is a Ma- 
son, and a member of Blocker Lodge No. 247, 
of Booneville. His father, Col.. Walter Cauthron, 
was a native of Georgia, born in 1797, and was a 
farmer by occupation. He was- married in Red 
River County, Tex., in 1822, to Miss Bash iba Wil- 
son, a native of Tennessee, born in 1S03. They 
became the parents of nine children — five sons and 
four daughters — five of whom are now living: C. W., 
Charles, Thomas, Parthenia (widow of Rev. Mr. 
Burns of Hood County, Tex. ), and Lueindia (wife of 
Maj. M. T. Tatum, of Greenwood, Ark.). The 
father emigrated from Illinois to Arkansas in 
18'21, and settled on Walnut Prairie, Sevier 
County, Ark. While a resident of Scott County, 
Ark., he was county and probate judge, in 1852. 
He died in Logan County, Ark., in 1877, and was 
a member of the Christian Church, of which his 
wife was also a member. She died in 1841). 

A. M. Chitwood, farmer and miller, Prairie 
View, Ark. Mr. Chitwood is still another of the 
many prominent citizens of Logan County, Ark., 
who owe their nativity to Tennessee, his birth oc- 
curring in 1844, and is the son of Russell B. and 
Sarah (Moore) Chitwood, both natives also of the 
Big Bend State. The parents moved to Arkansas 
about 1851, entered eighty acres of land, erected 
a house and other necessary buildings, and here 
the father was engaged in tilling the soil for some 
time. He then sold out and started a tan yard, 
which he conducted for about six years. A. M. 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



347 



Chitwood began working for himself in the fall of 
1801, and made his first purchase of land in 1872. 
This he soon sold, and in 1877 he purchased eighty 
acres of railroad land, upon which he cleared about 
lifty acres, built a double house and other build- 
ings, and set out orchards, etc. In 1886 he ex- 
changed his land for a gin and grist-mill, which 
he ran for two years, when he sold it and purchased 
land, 106 acres at Prairie View, where he now re- 
sides. He also piirchased one-half interest in a 
saw-mill, which he ran one year, and then after 
selling that mill, purchased the mill he now owns 
near Blaine Post-office. In 1890 he purchased 
eighty acres of timberland, where his mill is lo- 
cated. The mill is equipped with a 30-horse 
power boiler and a 25-horse power engine, and is 
estimated to cut 10,000 feet of lumber per day. 
Mr. Chitwood has improved his home place by 
erecting good substantial buildings, and by mak- 
ing many other important changes. He raises 
from thirty to thirty-five bushels of corn, or one- 
half a bale of cotton to the acre each year. In 
1863 Mr. Chitwood was married to Miss Mary A. 
Tompkins, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter 
of Carroll Tompkins. To them were born three 
children, who are named as follows: Russell B. 
and Dora Isabel (twins) and Mary Luetta. Mrs. 
Chitwood died on January 13, 1874. Mr. Chit- 
wood was justice of the peace and constable of 
Ellsworth Township for six or eight years. In 
July, 1879, he was married to Mrs. Emily L. Grif- 
fins nee Wilkur, a native of Arkansas, and the 
daughter of B. T. Wilkur. Seven children were 
born to this marriage: Cora L. , Arthur, John A., 
Berry B. , Sarah M. , Wilbur N. , and one unnamed. 
In addition to his other enterprises, Mr. Chitwood 
is the owner of a shingle machine, which has an 
estimated capacity of 18,000 per day. 

John G. Chitwood, postmaster, Prairie View, 
Ark. In including in this work the sketches of 
prominent business men of Logan County, none 
are more deserving of recognition than that of 
John G. Chitwood. He was born in Hamilton 
County, Tenn., in 1846, and his parents, K. B. 
and Sarah (Moore) Chitwood, were natives of the 
same State. In 1851 the parents moved to Logan 



County, Ark., and there the father's death occurred 
in 1879. The mother is still living, is seventy- 
one years of age, and makes her home with our 
subject at Prairie View, Ark. John G. Chitwood 
was reared in his native county, and received his 
education in the common schools. He started out 
for himself as a school teacher in 1865, and this 
was his principal occupation for many years. In 
1875 he was married to Miss Mattie J. Bennett, 
daughter of Joseph and Mary (Hi:ehs) Bennett, 
and to this union were born the following children : 
Do Se, Zena, Russell G., Mary A., Utha, and 
Luna (who is deceased). Mr. Chitwood is a stanch 
Republican in his political views, and Mrs. Chit- 
wood is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which she has been a worthy member 
for many years. Four of the children are also 
members of the same church. Mr. Chitwood is a 
thoroughgoing business man, and with the correct 
business principles and efficiency with which this 
business is conducted, it can not fail to contribute 
largely to the convenience of a commirnity, and to 
its own established prosperity. 

J. A. Corley, a prominent planter of Johnson 
Township, is a native. of North Carolina, born on 
October 11, 1839, and is a son of James and 
Martha (Williams) Corley, natives also of North 
Carolina. The father was a farmer by occupation, 
and was married in his native State. Of the nine 
children born to this union, the following grew to 
maturity: J. A., William Y., James P., John E., 
George T., Pauline E. (wife of James R. Lee), 
and Susan F. Mobeley (wife of A. Mobeley). The 
father emigrated from North Carolina to Missis- 
sippi, and thence in 1856 to Arkansas, settling in 
Logan County, where he bought and improved a 
tract of land. He was a soldier in the late war, 
was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in 
Fort Smith in 1864. His widow died in 1868. She 
was a member of the same church. J. A. Corley 
was married in Logan County, Ark., on December, 
28, 1865, to Mrs. Mary A. Moore, a native of Ar- 
kansas, born on July 15, 1843, and five children 
are the fruits of this union: Lucy E., Lucinda C. 
(wife of L. C. Rodgers), John L., E. P. and Ves- 
tile A. On March 10, 1863, Mr. Corley enlisted in 



:f- 



348 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



the First Arkansas Infantry, Company H, and 
served until the close of the war. Afterward he 
returned to his home, began tilling the soil, and 
this he has continued successfully ever since. He 
is the owner of 120 acres of good land, and has 60 
acres under cultivation, his principal crops being 
corn, cotton, wheat and oats. He has a good frame 
house and barn, and everything about his place 
indicates a thrifty owner. Mrs. Corley's parents, 
John and Jllartha C. Johnson, were born in North 
Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. They were 
married in the last named State, and to them were 
born eleven children, nine of whom are now living: 
Luc}' A. (deceased), Henry C (deceased), Martha J., 
Maliuda, Armitta, Greene L., Angeline A., Clarissa, 
Arminta, Wadie E. and Samuel J. Mr. Moore 
emigrated from Tennessee to Arkansas at an early 
daj', settled in this county, and there followed farm- 
ing. He received his final summons on January 1, 
1862, and the mother in May, 1874. (There is 
something wrong with this sketch, but the publish- 
ers are not to blame, as the subject who tried to 
correct the sketch failed to clear up the discrepen- 
cies). 

J. V. Corley, ginner, miller and farmer, Paris, 
La. Mr. Corley, one of the substantial citizens of 
the county, whose name is almo.st too well known to 
need any comment, was born in Mississippi, on 
October 14, 1846. His parents, James and Martha 
(Williams) Corley, were natives, respectively, of 
Alabama and North Carolina. The father was a 
farmer by occupation, and was engaged in this 
pursuit in Mississippi until 1858, when he came to 
Arkansas, settling in Logan County. He died in 
1863-4, while a soldier in the army. The mother 
is also deceased. Both were members of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church. Of their children, eight 
in number, six are now living: J. P., Jesse A., W. 
Y., John E., Susan F. (wife of L. Mobeley), 
Pauline E. (wife of J. R. Lee), G. T., Leroy F. 
(deceased), and Mary E. J. P. Corley attained 
his growth principally in Arkansas, receiving his 
education in that State, and was married in Lo- 
gan County, Ark., in the year 1868, to Miss Mary 
F. Cunningham, a native of Mississippi, born 
in 1849. Seven children have been born to that 



union, six now living: James W., M. E. (wife of 
Frank Lee), Henry E. , Emma, Lena A. (deceased), 
Rufus A. and Winford A. The mother of these 
children died in 1882. She was a member of the 
Baptist Chuch, and an estimable lady. Mr. Cor- 
ley built a steam cotton-gin in 1889, with a capacity 
of eight bales per day, and he is the owner of sev- 
enty-seven acres of land with fifty acres under 
cultivation. His principal crops are corn and cot- 
ton, and last year he ginned 180 bales of the last 
named article. In 1882 he built a nice frame 
house, has a good barn and has a fine fruit orchard 
consisting of 100 apple and 50 peach trees, also 
fifty grapevines. He is a member of the Primi- 
tive Baptist Church, and donates liberally to all 
public enterprises of a laudable nature. 

J. H. Council, farmer, Ellsworth, Ark. No 
worthy reference to the affairs of this county would 
be complete without mention of Mr. Council, who, 
among others, is engaged in tilling the soil. His 
parents, Howard and Lucinda (Gallaherd) Council, 
were both natives of Tennessee, and of the five 
children born to their union, two besides our sub- 
ject are now living: Howard, residing in Sebastian 
County, Ark., and Benjamin S., of Logan Coiuity. 
J. H. Council was taught the duties of farm life 
when but a boy, and when twenty years of age he 
started out for himself as a farmer, continuing in 
that occupation until coming to Ai'kansas. He was 
married in 1846 to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, a native 
of Tennessee, born in 1832, and the daughter of 
James and Elizabeth Rogers. The fruits of this 
union have been ten children, seven now living: 
Howard, Cleopatra (wife of J. E. Bennett), Can- 
dacy (wife of Frank Selph), Charley, Virginia (wife 
of George Deen), Rufus and Ida. Mr. Council 
came to Arkansas in 1850, located in Clarksville, 
Johnson County, where he remained until 1852, 
and then removed to what is now Logan County, 
where he entered 160 acres of land. He cleared 
eighty acres, built a good house, stable, dug wells, 
and set out a good orchard. To the original tract 
he has since added forty acres. His land is un- 
usually productive, and he raises corn, wheat, oats 
and some cotton. In 1862 he enlisted in the Con- 
federate service. Company B., Sixteenth Arkansas 



*n^ 



j, \ 



A 



LOGAN COUNTY. 



349 



Infantry, and afterward, at the reorganization of 
the army, after the battle of Corinth, he was trans- 
ferred to the cavalry service. He was engaged in 
the battle of Elk Horn, Corinth, and in the Price 
raid through Missouri, during which time he was 
captured and sent to Rock Island, 111., where he 
was retained about five months. He was then sent 
to Richmond for exchange a short time previous to 
the evacuation of that city. He was wounded in 
the leg at Corinth. Mr. Council is a member of 
Pleasant Mound Lodge, A. F. & A. M. , of which he 
has been treasurer for several terms. Mr. Council 
lost his wife in 1882. She was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. In 1884 Mr. Council mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Self, a native of Tennessee, 
bom in 1826, and who has been a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church the greater portion 
of her life. Mr. Council is a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, of which he is elder, and he 
is a gentleman highly esteemed by all. 

B. F. Cowley, farmer and ginner, Booneville, 
Ark. Mr. Cowley was originally from Alabama, his 
birth occurring in 1835, and he is the son of Henry 
and Elizabeth (Renegar) Cowley, both natives of 
Tennessee, where they were married about 1831. 
Of the live children born to this union, two besides 
our subject are living: David M. and Margaret 
(wife of J. R. McLemore). Those deceased were 
Mary H. and James. When twenty-three years 
of age B. F. Cowley started out to fight 
life's battles for himself as an agriculturist. He 
was married at that age to Miss Margaret Boshart, 
a native of Alabama, born in 1837, and the daugh- 
ter of L. D. C. C. and Margaret (Barton) Boshart. 
To this union seven children were born, all of 
whom are living: Maud, Caledonia E. (wife of 
David Tiffin), David H., Robert G., Mary (wife of 
John Swint), George and Charley. Mr. Cowley 
followed tilling the soil in Alabama until 1881, 
when he came to Arkansas and settled first near 
Ozark, Franklin County, where he remained two 
years. In 1883 he came to Logan County, pur- 
chased 450 acres of land, on which he has since 
made many and vast improvements. In 1885 Mr. 
Cowley erected a steam gin, seventy saw stand, with 
an average capacity of six bales per day. His 



principal crops are corn and cotton. Iron of a 
good quality has been found on his farm, but no 
attempt has been made to develop the mine. Mr. 
Cowley is thorough in all that he does, and is a 
man of sound judgment and progressive ideas. 

George L. Craven, miller and ginner, Blaine, 
Ark. This prominent and very successful miller 
and ginner was originally from Georgia, in which 
State his parents, W. M. and Sarah (Dobbins) 
Craven, were also born. His birth occurred in 1857, 
and when eleven years of age he removed with his 
parents to Texas, they being at the present time 
residents of that State. In 1877 George L. came 
to Arkansas and engaged in the saw- mill business 
(without friends or money), which he continued for 
three years, when he purchased a third interest in 
a saw-mill in Yell County. In 1880 Mr. Craven 
was married to Miss Caledonia McAllister, a native 
of Yell County, Ark, born in 1858, and the daugh- 
ter of L. T. McAllister. To this union have been 
born three children: Liiella May (born in 1880), 
Claude Eugene (born in 1882), and Ruby Ruth 
(born in 1S85). In 1884, together with his part- 
ner, Mr. J. W. Blevins, Mr. Craven came to Logan 
County and erected a sawmill, planer and shingle- 
mill at Wild Cat Hollow, where they remained 
about two years. They then removed to Delaware 
Township and remained there also two years. In 
1889 they removed to Blaine, in Shoal Creek Town- 
ship and taking another partner, Mr. H. S. Cline, 
they added new machinery and divided their estab- 
lishment, placing a saw-mill one and one-half miles 
south of Blaine Post-oflice. To their planing-mill, 
they have added a gin and steam press and an- 
other planer, re-saw and corn-mill, and have con- 
nected the two establishments by a tram road one 
and one-half miles long, upon which they run an 
engine of their own construction. The capacity of 
their saw- mill is 25,000 feet per day, and is run by 
a sixty-horse power engine, having gang edgers, 
etc. The capacity of their flooring planer is about 
6,000 feet per day, and their surfacing planer 
about 20,000 to 30,000 per day. The capacity of 
the shingle machine is 18,000 per day, the capac- 
ity of the corn-mill is 120 bushels, and the gin 
12 bales per day (using direct steam press), and 40- 



Tp 



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350 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



horse power engine, and employ wLen running 
full force, about 20 men. This company has about 
2, 5(10 to 3,000 acres of timberland contracted for 
upon which there is timber to keep them supplied 
for four years or more. Mr. Craven and his part- 
ner, Mr. Blevins, are members of Bright Star 
Lodge No. 213, A. F. & A.M., at Dardanelle. Both 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. 

J. L. Cravens, farmer and justice of the peace, 
of Shoal Creek Township, is a man esteemed and 
respected by all acquainted with him. He was 
born in Arkansas, in 1829, and is the son of Jesse 
L. and Martha (Logan) Cravens [see sketch of 
parents elsewhere in this work]. Of the ten chil- 
dren born to this union, seven are now living, and 
our subject is fourth in order of birth: William, 
Mrs. Sallie K. Jamison, Mrs. Margaret Johnson, 
Jerry, Nehemiah and Jesse. During his boyhood 
J. L. Cravens' educational advantages were limited, 
as the county was very thinly settled, and neigh- 
bors were few and far between. There were only 
a few subscription schools at that time, and no 
church buildings at all, preaching being held in 
private houses or in the wood. When about four- 
teen years of age he was left an orphan, and he 
began doing for himself. At the age of tweuty- 
one years he went to California, engaged in min- 
ing, and there remained about three years. He 
then returned, and began farming on the land 
owned jointly by himself and brother. After the 
death of the latter he purchased his brother's half 
(80 acres), cleared and improved it, and later sold 
aljout 94 acres of the entire estate. Later he 
l)ought 160 acres, then 80 acres, and afteward sold 
120 acres, having now 105 acres. These tracts he 
improved, by building a hoiise, stables, digging 
wells, setting out orchard, and clearing about 20 
acres. Mr. Cravens was married in 1854, to Miss 
Emily A. Tobin, who bore him live children, only 
two of whom are now living: Cornelius K. and 
Jesse J. Mrs. Cravens died in 1864, in full com- 
munion with the Methodist Church. In 1861 Mr. 
Cravens enlisted in the Confederate Army, as cap- 
tain of the militia, and in 1862 joined the regular 
service, Gordon's regiment, and served until the 



close of the w^ar. He then resumed farming, be- 
ginning anew, as everything had been lost during 
the war except his land, and this has continued to 
be his chosen calling since. He was married, the 
second time, in 1866, to Miss Elizabeth F. Corban, 
a native of Tennessee, born in 1842, and the daugh- 
ter of Wilkins and Elizabeth (Coffee) Corban. 
Eight children were the fruits of this union, five 
now living, and named as follows: Alice L., Samp- 
son, Homer B., Nehemiah and Edith C. Mr. Cra- 
vens has served about twenty years as justice of 
the peace, and has discharged the duties incum- 
bent upon that office in a very satisfactory manner, 
as may be inferred from the length of time he has 
held the position. He is a Mason, a member of 
Elizabeth Lodge No. 215. He and Mrs. Cravens 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, of which he is class leader, and has been 
superintendent of the Sunday-school. 

W. L. Cravens, merchant and planter, Patter- 
son's Bluff, Ark. Mr. Cravens, one of the pioneer 
settlers of Logan County, Ark., was born in Wayne 
County, Mo., May 4, 1826, and of the four chil- 
dren born to his parents only two are now living, 
and he is the elder. His brother, J. E., is now 
residing at Clarksville. The parents, Nemehial 
and Sophia (Thompson) Cravens, were natives 
of Christian County, Ky. , the father born in 1803, 
and the mother in 1810. They were married in 
Wayne County, Mo. , and there, in connection with 
farming, the father carried on his trade of black- 
smith until 1831. He then settled in what is now 
Logan County, Ark., and took quite an active part 
in politics. He is still a resident of this county, 
resides live miles east of his son, AV. L., and, 
although in his eighty-seventh year, is still active 
for a man of his years. The mother was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and 
died in 1862. W. L. Cravens received a common 
business education iu the country schools, and was 
taught the duties of the farm when a boy. On 
May 30, 1847, he married Miss Nancy Haney, who 
was born in South Carolina in 1827, and who was 
the daughter of Timothy and Mary Haney. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Cravens were born eight childron — 
four sons and four daughters: Arkansas A. (wife 



-®i>y 



-Uu 



LOGAN COUNTY. 



351 



of Thomas Whitaker), Amelia J. (wife of J. J. 
Cravens), Fannie B. (wife of H. A. McKelney), 
Charles E., Adelaide G., Hanson W. and Nehe- 
miah H. (deceased). Mr. Cravens was a soldier in 
the late war, enlisting in Hill's regiment of Cav- 
alry in 1863, and acted as Hill's adjutant. He 
was in the army about only six months and was 
never in any regular battle, having been put on 
scouting diity. Returning home after the war he 
tilled the soil for one year and then embarked in 
merchandising in Clarksville. He then sold out to 
his partner and moved to this place, where he 
engaged in the same business, continuing at this 
ever since. He carries a stock of goods valued at 
about §10,000, and is also the owner of '2,000 acres 
of land, 1,000 acres being in Johnson County. 
He has about 500 acres in cotton this year, and 
has about 900 acres under cultivation. He has an 
excellent residence fronting the Arkansas Eiver, 
and everything about the place shows good judg- 
ment and excellent taste. In 1870 he erected a 
large cotton-gin, and this was burned down in 1887, 
but in 1889 he built a new one. The capacity of 
this gin is ten bales per day. Mr. Cravens owns 
a half interest in a gin and store at Hartman, and 
also has business at Prairie View. Mrs. Cravens 
died in 1886. She was a devout member of the 
Christian Church. Mr. Cravens is a member of 
the Masonic order, Franklin Lodge No. 9, Clarks- 
ville, Ark. 

S. A. J. Creekmore, farmer and ginner, Dub- 
lin, Ark. The subject of this sketch needs no in- 
troduction to the people of Logan County, Ark., 
for he is one of the most esteemed agi-iculturists 
and ginners of the same, and is one whose honesty 
and uprightness Lave never been que.stioned. He 
was born in Alabama in 1835, and was the son of 
Robert and Elizabeth (Germany) Creekmore, na- 
tives of North Carolina and Georgia, respectively. 
S. A. J. Creekmore had early instilled into his 
youthful mind all the details of farm life, and his 
educational advantages were rather limited. At 
the age of seventeen years he started out in busi- 
ness for himself as a farmer, miller and ginner, 
and these have since continued to be his chosen 
occupations. During the Civil War he enlisted 



and served the Confederacy faithfully and well 
until cessation of hostilities. His wife, who was 
formerly Miss Jane P. Davis, and whom he married 
in 1867, was the daughter of Ralph and Jane 
(Calhoun) Davis. To Mr. and Mrs. Creekmore 
have been born the following children: M. L., 
Lizzie M. , Nannie E. and E. M. , all living and 
having excellent health. Mr. Creekmore moved 
from Mississipj)i to Logan County, Ark. , in 187'2, 
and here he has since made his home, respected 
and esteemed by all acquainted with him. In his 
political views he is a strong adherent to Demo- 
cratic principles, and has never failed to vote with 
that party. He and Mrs. Creekmore are members 
of the Christian Church. 

J. B. Donathan, farmer. Magazine, Ark. Mr. 
Donathan is one of the many residents of Logan 
County, Ark., who were originally from Alabama, 
and who, since their residence in this State, have 
become prominent men in whatever calling in 
life their tendencies have led them. He was 
born in 1841, and moved with his parents, B. F. 
and Sarah (Lloyd) Donathan, to Arkansas in 1851. 
He was principally reared in the last named State, 
and here he received a limited education in the 
common schools. In 1861 he began business for 
himself as a farmer, and is now the owner of 800 
acres of excellent land in Logan County. With 
care and perseverance he has attended to his 
adopted avocation, and with energy and thorough- 
ness his successful results have been reaped uutil 
now he is in possession of a comfortable compe- 
tence. In the fall of 1861 Mr. Donathan enlisted 
in the army, and was in active duty until the close 
of the war. Previous to this, in 1860, he was 
married to Miss Mary Dunn, daughter of Josejjh 
and Catherine Dunn and a native of Arkansas. 
Her parents were natives of Tennessee. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Donathan were born the following chil- 
dren: William H, James L. (deceased), Martha 
L., Benjamin F., Eobert L. (deceased), Katie, 
John B. (deceased), Mary E., Margaret V., Emma 
and Laura J. Mr. Donathan is a Democrat in 
politics, and he and wife are consistent members 
of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Donathan 
is highly respected. 



^i^ 



Jacob Dorougb, planter, Paris, Ark. Mr. Dor- 
ougb's first impression was that of assisting on 
liis father's farm, and it is but natural, perhaps, 
that when it became necessary for him to choose 
some occupation in life, he should select the one 
to which he had been reared. He was born in 
Georgia, October 22, 1849, and his parents, Milton 

B. and Emily M. (Casper) Dorough. were natives 
of Georgia and South Carolina, respectively, the 
father born in 1820 and the mother in 1819. They 
were married in Carroll County, Ga., and to them 
were born ten children, five besides our subject now 
living: William T., Margy M., John R., Simeon H. 
and Nancy E. Those deceased were Louisa S., 
James P., Milton W. and George H. The parents 
died in Georgia, the father in 1890 and the mother 
in 1884. Both were church members. The father 
was in the Indian wars. Jacob Dorough attained 
his growth on his father's farm, and was married 
in Heard County, Ga., in 1865, to Miss Susan L. 
Mosely, a native of Georgia, born April 14, 1850. 
Twelve children have blessed this union, nine 
now living: James W., Milton M. , Charles F. , 
George S., Henry E., Robert S., Elbert R. , Sarah 

C. (died November 8, 1890), Rhoda J., Adolphus 
W. (deceased), Jacob H., and Emily R. (died No- 
vember 15, 1890). Mr. Dorough enlisted in Com- 
pany H, infantry, in 1864, and served until 1865. 
He was paroled at Athens, Ga. , and then returned 
home, where he engaged in tilling the soil. He is 
now the owner of 270 acres of land, and has 100 
acres under cultivation. He was elected justice of 
the peace of Mountain Township, in 1878, and has 
discharged the duties of that office ever since. He 
is a lilaeksmith, and works for the neighborhood. 
He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Dor- 
ough is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Truman Driggs, farmer and ginner, Driggs, 
Ark. Mr. Driggs, who has the reputation of be- 
ing one of the most thoroughgoing, wide-awake 
farmers and ginners of Logan County, was born in 
the Buckeye State, April 8, 1832. His parents, 
George and Abigail (Conant) Driggs, were both 
natives of New York State, but at an early age be- 



came residents of Athens County, Ohio, where they 
were married. The fruits of this union were three 
sons and four daughters: Riley, Jeremiah, Ar- 
villa, Aimedia. Catherine, Damris A, and Truman. 
The mother died in Ohio in 1837, and Mr. Driggs 
afterward married Miss Catherine Cornwell, who 
bore him one son. This child died in infancy, and 
the mother died a few days later. In 1842 Mr. 
Driggs married Elma Wood, and they became the 
parents of two children: Robert E. and Ruth 
Anna. Mrs. Driggs died in 1848, and Mr. Driggs 
took for his fourth wife the widow of Caleb Martin, 
her maiden name being Martha Chandler. She 
died without issue. His fifth marriage was to Miss 
Lavina Martin. All his marriages occurred in 
Athens County, Ohio. Mr. Driggs died in 1887, 
at the age of ninety years. He was a farmer all 
his life. His fifth wife is still living in Ohio. The 
paternal grandfather was a physician, and the ma- 
ternal a successful agriculturist by occupation. 
Truman Driggs removed from Athens County, 
Ohio, to Logan County, Ark., in 1879, and brought 
all his family with him. He bought land, and en- 
gaged in tilling the soil. He is now the owner of 
fifty acres of land, and he also owns a cotton-gin 
at Driggs. He was married in Ohio in 1853, to 
Miss Hannah J. Martin, daughter of Caleb Martin, 
whose widow married the father of our subject, 
the latter marrying his step-sister. Three children 
were born of this union — a son and two daughters : 
Barzilla'M. , Mary L. and Aimedia. Mary died in 
1881. She was the wife of Lewis Driggs. Bar- 
zilla married Sarah Chandler, in 1874, and Aimedia 
married William Funk. The last named couple 
have one child, a girl named Mary L. On Janu- 
ary 5, 1864, Mr. Driggs enlisted in the United 
States Army, Company H, Eighteenth Ohio In- 
fantry, and participated in the battles of Nashville 
and Franklin. He was discharged on October 12, 
1865. Mr. Driggs then returned to his family in 
Ohio, but subsequently removed to Arkansas, and 
has been a resident of Logan County, and of his 
present place for eleven years. He and Mrs. Driggs 
are members of the Universalist Church, in Ohio. 
Mr. Driggs contributes liberally to all worthy 
movements, and is a public-spirited citizen. Their 



►V 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



353 



son, Barzilla, was married twice. His first wife's 
name was Lucy Funk. She lived only a few 
months. His second wife's name was Sarah 
Chandler. Both were natives of Ohio. Caleb 
Martin, father of Mrs. Truman Driggs, was born 
in England, but came to Ohio with his father when 
a small boy. His brother Samuel started with 
them, but died on the way, and was buried at sea. 
Caleb settled in Pennsylvania, and married Marga- 
ret Baker. To them were born nine children — six 
sons and three daughters: John, James B., Caleb 
L., Hiram G. , Samuel H. , William J., Polly, 
Rachel and Emily. Their mother died when Emily 
was small. Some time afterward he married Mar- 
tha Chandler for his second wife, and in the year 
1840 they moved to Meigs County, Ohio. Of their 
union were born four children — two sons and two 
daughters: Margaret A.. Hannah J., Joel C. and 
George B. On March 20, 1850, the father died 
at the age of eighty-two, and some time later the 
widow moved to Athens County, Ohio, where .she 
married George Driggs in 1852, and died March 
25, 1854. The children all married. The sons, 
James and Caleb, became wholesale merchants in 
St. Louis, Mo. ; John and William became ma- 
chinists, and located in Cincinnati, Ohio; Hiram 
was a tailor, residing in Harrison County, Ohio; 
Samuel was a doctor, living in Meigs County, Ohio; 
Joel is a farmer in Pike County, 111. ; George B. 
owns a saw and planing-mill in Huntington, W. 
Va. , where he now lives. The last two were born 
of the second marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Driggs 
have an adopted daughter, Arlie E. Wood, who 
married John G. Jones, and has one child, a boy, 
named August Homer. 

W. H. Fort, hotel keeper, Paris, Ark. The 
town of Paris is to be congratulated on her good 
hotels, among which, that conducted by that pop- 
ular and genial gentleman, W. H. Fort, ranks 
prominent. This gentleman was born May 20, 
1822, and is a son of Spear and Margaret (Titts- 
worth) Fort, the father a native of North Carolina, 
and the mother of Tennessee. The mother was 
captured by the Creek Indians when ten years of 
age, and was released after a year" s captivity. She 
married Mr. Fort in the last named State, and to 



this union were born twelve children — sis sons and 
six daughters. At an early day the parents re- 
moved to Cooper County, Mo., entered land, and 
there the father tilled the soil until his death in 
1828. The same year his widow removed to Logan 
County, Aik. , with her children and there received 
her final summons in 1847. W. H. Fort, the next 
to the youngest child, was married in 1846 to Miss 
Nancy Sewell, daughter of John Sewell of Missis- 
sippi, she being a native of that State. Her father 
removed from Mississippi to Arkansas when Mrs. 
Fort was about ten years of age, and when she was 
sixteen years of age she was married to Mr. Fort. 
Eleven children were born to this union: Susan 
M., Mary T., Belle, James, Sallie, Harmon, Eudora, 
Isabella, Jefferson, Maud, and the next died in in- 
fancy. They have seven children now living. Mr. 
Fort is now the owner of the Paris Hotel in Paris, 
his property being worth about $5,000, and by his 
social, pleasant manners has won many patrons. 
Having followed the active duties of the farm for 
many years he became too old to follow the plow 
any longer, and so he gave his land, which amount- 
ed to aboiit 2,000 acres altogether, to his children, 
while he chose the hotel business for himself. He 
is a Mason and one of the oldest and most esteemed 
citizens of Logan Count}-, of which he has been a 
resident for sixty-two years. He and wife are both 
church members, he of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian and she of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. 

James H. Fort, planter, Paris, Ark. Located 
in the midst of one of the finest agricultural por- 
tions of Logan County, the farm which Mr. Fort 
owns and occupies is conceded to be among the 
best in this vicinity, and this is saying not a little, 
for on every hand may be seen superior places, 
whose ownership indicates thrift and prosperity. 
He was born three and a half miles west of Paris, 
Ark., in 1857, and was the fourth in a family of ten 
children born to William H. and Nancy A. (Sewell) 
Fort, the father a native of Missouri and the 
mother of Mississippi. The father came to Ar- 
kansas in 1828, has since resided in this county, 
and now resides at Paris, where he has made his 
home for about fifty years. It fell to the lot of 



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354 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



James H. Fort to grow np with a farm experience, 
and he was educated at Quitman and Magazine, 
this county, Ozark and Charleston in Franklin 
County and Dardanelle in Yell County. He re- 
mained at home until nineteen years of age, when 
he began farming for himself, investing in 805 
acres southwest of Paris in Short Mountain Creek, 
with fifteen acres cleared. He began making im- 
provements, and resided here for about eight years. 
He is now the owner of about 900 acres in various 
tracts lying near Paris, has 500 acres under ciilti- 
vation and 400 Jicres of which is creek bottom. 
The remainder is among the best uplands of the 
county. He has good buildings on his place and 
is one of the thrifty and successful planters of this 
region. Mr. Fort has recently removed to Paris, 
where he expects soon to erect a tasty residence. 
He was married in 187(5 to Miss Rosa Anna Huck- 
aby of this county. The family are members of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Fort 
is soon to enter the ministry. He is a member of 
the Farmers' Alliance, is progressive in all things, 
and is practically a self-made man. 

John V. Frost, farmer, Driggs, Ark. If, as 
is self evident, this work, would be incomplete 
without sketches of the more public-spirited of the 
successful agriculturists, and substantial, well-to- 
do citizens of Logan County, then the subject of 
this sketch justly finds a conspicuous place in the 
present volume. He was born in Alabama in 1835, 
and is the son of Jacob W. and Elizabeth (Corley) 
Frost, natives of North Carolina, where they were 
reared. They were married, however, in Alabama, 
and to them were born four children; Mary Ann, 
John v., William G. and Jesse A., all natives of 
the last mentioned State. They removed from Al- 
abama to Mississippi, remained there several years, 
and then in 1855 removed to Logan County, Ark. , 
where the father tilled the soil until his death in 
1886. The mother is still living. Of the four 
children mentioned above, only one besides our 
subject is now living, William G., who married 
Miss Kyle, the fruits of this union being four sons 
and two daughters. John V. Frost was married 
in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth James, who bore him five 
children, viz.: Robert N. , Martha A., Sarah F., 



Amanda A. and Mary E. (deceased). Mrs. Frost died 
in August, 18()(), and subsequently Mr. Frost mar- 
ried Miss Rachel Galor (December, 1806), by whom 
he has two children : Jacob W. (deceased), and Emily 
C. Mr. Frost owns 125 acres of land, and has 60 
acres under cultivation. He enlisted in 1862 in the 
United States Army, Company E, Fourth Arkan- 
sas Cavalry, was in the Pea Ridge fight, and also 
in the battle of Prairie Grove. He was discharged 
in June, 1865, at Little Rock, Ark., and afterward 
returned to his family, where he resumed the oc- 
cupation of farming. He and Mrs. Frost are both 
members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

Larken B. Gamble, business manager of the 
Tribune and a farmer of advanced and pro- 
gressive ideas, owes his nativity to Tennessee, his 
birth occurring in that State in 1839. His parents, 
Josiah and Elizabeth Gamble, were natives also of 
the Big Bend State. Larken B. Gamble was 
reared in his native State, and there received a 
limited education, although he has improved this 
very materially by observation and stud}'. He 
started out in business for himself in 1865, and 
from that date until 1870 he was engaged in rail- 
roading and steamboating. In 1883 he moved to 
Logan County, Ark., and here, in connection with 
other enterprises, he has been engaged in farming 
and merchandising. He is at present proprietor 
and business manager of the Tribune, a Repub- 
lican paper, published at Paris, and which is a 
welcome visitor in the numerous homes it enters. 
Mr. Gamble has ever been an earnest advocate of 
all public enterprises calculated to benefit Logan 
County, and through the columns of this paper 
has wielded no slight influence in directing the 
proper steps to be taken for a worthy movement. 
At the breaking out of the Civil War, or in July, 
1861, Mr. Gamble enlisted in the Third Tennessee 
Volunteer Infantry, U. S. A., for service, and was 
in active duty all of the time up to February 23, 
1865. He was wounded in the left hand and arm, 
the left knee and the right ankle. By the explosion 
of a shell his eyes and ears were very much affected, 
and so continue at the present time. On Decem- 
ber 14, 1876, his marriage with Miss Annie M. 
Shafe, daughter of John and Mary A. Shafe, was 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



355 



solemnized in Benton County, Ark. Mr. Gramble 
is a strong Republican from principle, and he and 
Mrs. Gamble are worthy members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He believes that man's first 
duty is to his family, if he has one, and next to the 
flag of his country, the stars and stripes, and in 
the discharge of these duties God's blessings will 
assuredly follow. 

D. T. Garner, farmer and ginner, Booneville, 
Ark. The parents of our subject, "William and 
Martha (Linnear) Garner, were natives of South 
Carolina and Georgia, respectively, and they were 
principally reared in the last named State. They 
were also married, and to their union were born 
nine children — seven sons and two daughters — 
George W., John S., Ellen J., D. T., James F., 
William N. , Richard H. and Daniel L. The ninth 
one died in infancy and was unnamed. The par- 
ents are still living in Georgia, where they reared 
their family and where they have resided for nearly 
sixty years. D. T. Garner was born in October, 
1841, in Gwinnett County, Ga., and there passed 
his youth and boyhood. In 1862 he enlisted in 
the Confederate Army, Company A, Forty-second 
Georgia Infantry, and was captured at Vicksburg, 
on June 24, while on picket. He was paroled when 
Vicksburg surrendered and returned to his home 
in Georgia, where he remained about a year, after 
which he entered the army again and served until 
the cessation of hostilities. He then made his way 
to Georgia again, and in 1865 was married to Miss 
Rhoda Carroll, daughter of the widow, Rhoda 
Carroll. They removed from Georgia to Boone- 
ville, Ark., in 1871, and remained there until the 
spring of 1877, when they removed to Mason 
County, Tex. In the fall of 1887 he returned 
to Logan County, Ark. , bought land and engaged 
in tilling the soil. He also bought one-half inter- 
est in a gin-mill with George R. Basinger, and 
still makes this his occupation. He is the owner 
of 137 acres of land, and has 40 acres of this 
under cultivation. He and wife are the parents of 
seven children — four sons and three daughters — 
Charles R., Lulu (deceased), Martha O., Dewitt, 
Carroll, Maud and Newton. Our subject is the 
only one of his father's family now living in Ar- 



kansas. His son Charles married Miss Ida Corlan, 
daughter of William Corlan, and is engaged in 
farming in Logan County. Mr. Garner and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and contribute of their means to all worthy 
enterprises. 

M. F. Goss, farmer and carpenter, Delaware, 
Ark. In addition to being a first-class agricultur- 
ist, Mr. Goss is also a carpenter and builder, and 
many evidences of his ability and skill are to be 
seen in this part of Logan County. His parents, 
Noah and Ann Eliza (Crittendon) Goss, were born 
in North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, and 
came to Arkansas about 1840. To their marriage 
were born three children who are named in the 
order of their births as follows: John W., Manfred 
F. (subject) and George E. The parents settled 
in Yell County, and there the father cultivated the 
soil for many years. He purchased 300 acres of 
land, improved 100 acres of this, and erected good 
buildings, etc. The mother died in December, 
1880, and the father in 1889. Both were members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the 
father was a steward of the same. M. F. Goss 
was born in Yell County, Ark. , in 1849, and tilled 
the soil in that county until 1875, when he made 
his advent into Logan County. He purchased 80 
acres of good land, cleared 40 acres of this, and 
has made many and vast improvements on the 
same. His principal productions are cotton, corn, 
wheat and oats, and as his land is rich and pro- 
ductive, his crops seldom fail. Mr. Goss was mar- 
ried in 1867, to Miss Isabel Johnson, a native of 
North Carolina, born in 1847, and the daughter of 
Robert and Melvina Johnson. Of the eight chil- 
dren born to this union, five are now living: Benny, 
Norah V., Manfred E. , Annie and Sammy (twins). 
During the late unpleasantness between the North 
and South Mr. Goss engaged in the Confederate 
service, in Capt. Orr's company of cavalry, when 
but fourteen years of age. He was deputy sheriff 
in 1879-80, and held the same position in 1884- 
85. He was elected justice of the peace in 1888, 
and when his school district was first formed 
he was made director, serving in that capacity for 
ten years. In addition to his occupation as farmer 



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356 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Mr. Goes is also a carpenter by trade, and con- 
tractor and architect, doing his own draughting 
and designing. He and wife are both members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. 
Goss is a steward in the same, also teacher in the 
Sunday-school. 

F. M. Gwaltney, merchant, Prairie View, Ark. 
The trade carried on in general merchandise is of 
very great importance and constitutes a leading 
factor in the commercial fabric of the smaller towns 
and villages. It is a line of business requiring 
special qualifications of a high order, and those 
possessed of these succeed in this somewhat pre- 
carious undertaking. Prominent among those en- 
gaged in this line in Prairie View is Mr. Gwaltney, 
who is an energetic, thorough man of business, and 
whose relations with the public are of an honorable 
and upright character. This gentleman was born 
in Smith County, Tenn., in 1842, and in 1858 he 
moved to Logan County, Ark. He received a rather 
limited education, and at the age of sixteen years 
began farming and merchandising for himself. 
These occupations he has continued to follow ever 
since. During the struggle between the North and 
South he enlisted in Company C, First Arkansas 
Mounted Riflemen, and in 1863 was severely 
wounded in the right ankle. He is still greatly 
troubled by this wound. Returning home after 
cessation of hostilities he continued his former pur- 
suits and was married in 1866 to Miss Nancy 
Cravens, daughter of J. and W. Cravens. The 
following children were the result of this imion: 
Jennie, Katie, Adalaide, Nina J., William, Rilla, 
Pearl L. , Ova J. and Boulanger. Those deceased 
are William, Rilla and Ova J. Two of the 
daughters are married and the others are at home. 
In his political views Mr. Gwaltnej' is a Democrat. 
Mrs. Gwaltney and some of the children are mem- 
bers of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

W. H. H. Harley, lawyer and editor of the Tri- 
bune, Paris, Ark. Mr. Harley is one of those men, 
too few in number, who fully recognize the truth so 
often urged by the sages of the law, that, of all 
men, the reading and thought of a lawyer should 
be the most extended. Systematic reading gives a 
more comprehensive grasp to the mind, variety and 



richness to thought, and a clearer perception of 
the motives of men and the principles of things, 
indeed of the very spirit of laws. This he has 
found not only most essential in the prosecution of 
his professional practice, but very useful in con- 
ducting the editorial policy of his paper. Mr. 
Harley was born at Holly Springs, Miss., in 1841, 
and is the second of ten children born to W. R. 
and Louisa J. Harley, both natives of the Old 
Dominion. The paternal grandfather, John Har- 
ley, was of English descent, and his ancestors came 
fi'om that country during the colonial period. The 
maternal ancestors, Thompsons and Bowens, were 
descendants of old Virginia families, and figured 
prominently in the Revolutionary War. Both 
families were of English descent, and were prom- 
inent in their day and time. W. R. Harley, father 
of W. H. H. Harley, was a merchant and banker 
in the early part of his career, and has held official 
positions nearly all his life. He was State Senator 
in Virginia and also from Marshall and De Soto 
Counties, Miss., and was Indian agent to New 
Mexico under Buchanan. He came to Arkansas in 
1859, settled at Princeton, Dallas County, and has 
served two terms in the Legislature from that 
county; has also been county judge of the same 
for four years. He is now living at the age of 
eighty-two years and does his own business as 
merchant and farmer. W. H. H. Harley was 
reared in Mississippi, and was fortunate in having 
good educational advantages. At the breaking out 
of the war he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Com- 
pany C, First Arkansas Regiment Infantry, from 
Dallas County, Ark., and was in active service until 
cessation of hostilities. He participated in many 
of the principal engagements, was wounded at 
Kenesaw Mountain, and after being disabled served 
in a civil capacity until peace was declared. After 
the war he taught school in Southern Arkansas for 
several years, and at the same time was engaged 
in reading law. About 1875 he was admitted to 
the bar in Dallas County, and there he began prac- 
ticing, and succeeded in establishing a good repu- 
tation. A few years later he came to Logan County, 
located at Paris, and there he has practiced ever 
since. He established the Paris Express in 1879 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



357 



and 1S80, aud had editorial charge for one year. 
He was then connected with the People's Friend 
for one year, and in 1S89 was engaged as editor 
and manager of the Paris Tribune. Mr. Harley 
was married in 1880 to Mrs. A. J. Harley, daugh- 
ter of G. W. Wolf, a native of Logan County. To 
this union four children were born: Edna Jane, 
Charles Bowen, Jessie and Benjamin H., the latter 
died in infancy, in 1889. Mrs. Harley is a worthy 
member of the Methodist Church. W. H. H. 
Harley is an Old School Presbyterian, and believes 
in the sovereignty of God. In his household is a 
step-daughter, Willie Ann, an amiable and good 
girl. As a citizen he has always favored the en- 
forcement of the laws, and has given to the churches 
and schools such help and support as his ability 
would allow. 

Dr. W. A. Heartsill, physician and druggist, 
Morrisons Bluff, Ark. It is to the skill and science 
of the druggist that suffering humanity looks for 
alleviation of pain. The physician may success- 
fully diagnose, but it is the chemist who prepares 
the remedy. When, thf refore, as in the case of the 
gentleman whose name forms the subject of this 
sketch, the two professions, namely that of the phys- 
ician as well as that of the druggist are combined, 
how doubly important becomes the establishment 
conducted by Dr. W. A. Heartsill. This gentle- 
man was born in Louisville, Blount County, Tenn., 
on December 7, 1852, aud his parents, Hiram and 
A. M. F. (Wright), were natives of Virginia and 
Tennessee, the father born near the Salt Works in 
Washington County, Va. , March 2, 1807. the 
mother at Mount Pisgah in Blount County, Tenn., 
September 21, 1813. She was the daughter of Dr. 
Isaac Wright of that county. They were married 
June 8, 1837. His parents moved to Georgia in 
1865, and there the father resides at the present 
time. The mother died on October 6, 1890. Dr. 
W. A. Heartsill remained in Tennessee until t"hir- 
teen years of age, and then in October, 1865, 
moved to Georgia with his parents. In 1871 he 
came to Arkansas, located in Logan County, and 
there remained until 1875, when he returned to 
Georgia. While in the latter State he read medi- 
cine under Dr. Charles P. Gordon of Dalton, Ga. , 



for three years, and iu 1876 went to Philadelphia, 
where he attended lectures at the Jefferson Med- 
ical College; in 1878 attended lectures at the Nash- 
ville Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., graduating 
in February, 1878. He then returned to Logan 
County, Ark. , where he has been actively engaged 
in his practice ever since. He was married on 
January 3, 1880, to Miss Sallie E. Edmondaon, a 
native of Spring Place, INIurray County, Ga., and 
the daughter of John L. and Kate (Sellick) Ed- 
mondson, natives also of Georgia. To Doctor and 
wife have been born the following children: Cleve 
R. , Isaac N., J. L. E. and William H. ; one child, 
Cleve E., died at the age of eight years and six 
months. The Doctor is a strong Democrat, and 
adheres closely to the principles of that party. He 
is a very successful practitioner and reliable drug- 
gist. Mrs. Heartsill is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church Soiith. 

J. S. Hixson, planter, Paris, Ark. The father 
of our subject, William Hixson, was a native of 
Tennessee and was an agriculturist by occupation. 
He was married in his native State to Miss Mary 
Ragan, a native of Alabama, and nine children 
were born to this union — five sons and four daugh- 
ters — seven of whom are now living: J. S., Nancy 
L. , John A. , William H. (deceased), Henry, Joseph 
A. , Caroline T. (deceased), R .J and M. I. The father 
emigrated from Tennessee to Arkansas in 1858, and 
settled in what is pow Logan County. He was 
killed in 1863, during the war, and was a worthy 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
mother was married in this county in about 1878 
to N. Miles. She is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. J. S. Hixson was married in 
Franklin County, December 22, 1872, to Miss 
Laura Fort, who was born in Franklin County in 
1848. The result of this union was the birth of 
eight children, seven now living, viz. : Orlando, 
Ada and Ida (twins), Oscar, Elmer, Cleveland, 
Rilla and Arthur (deceased). Mr. Hixson is one of 
the most enterprising and successful agriculturists 
in this township. He was born in Hamilton 
County, Tenn., December 1, 1848, and was fairly 
educated in the common schools. He has always 
followed the occupation of farmer, and is progres- 



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ft 



358 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



sive and thoroughgoing. He is the owner of 246 
acres of land, and has 115 acres in a good state of 
cultivation. He and wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South. In his polit- 
ical views he affiliates with the Democratic party. 
Hon. Matt Hixson, merchant, Shoal Creek, 
Ark. Mr. Hixson, a prominent business man of 
Shoal Creek, was born in Tennessee on Christmas 
day, 1842, and is the son of James and Milley 
(Wheeler) Hixson, both natives also of the Big 
Bend State. The parents came to Arkansas in 
1852, purchased, the same year, 160 acres of land 
and soon had 50 acres of this under cultivation. 
Matt Hixson was but ten years of age when he 
came with his parents to Arkansas, and during his 
boyhood he attended the subscription schools two 
or three months each summer, being obliged to go 
about three miles to get his education. In 1861 
he enlisted in the Confederate Army as corporal, 
and served in that capacity until the reorganization 
at Corinth, when he was promoted to the rank of 
second lieutenant, and afterward made first lieu- 
tenant. He took a prominent part in the battles 
of Elk Horn, Corinth, Port Hudson, and was in 
numerous minor engagements. At the battle of 
Port Hudson, after a siege of forty -two days, Mr. 
Hixson, with his command, was captured and taken 
to Johnson Island, Ohio, where he was kept about 
ten months, during which time he had small-pox. 
Later he was taken to Point Lookout, Md. , to be 
exchanged, but for some reason was not, but was 
taken to Fort Delaware. He was sent from there 
to South Carolina to be exchanged, but instead was 
put in a stockade, where he, with his comj^anions, 
were kept diu-ing the battle and subject to fire from 
both sides. He was kept in this stockade for forty 
days, and was then transferred to Fort Pulaski, 
where he remained for some time and then 
returned to Fort Delaware. There he was pa- 
roled at the close of the war and returned home. 
He was twice hit during the war, once on the 
breast by a spent ball, which did not penetrate 
the flesh, and again by a piece of bomb in the 
leg. While at Fort Delaware Mr. Hixson, with 
his companions, captured a dog belonging to 
a visitor, and after the owner had left they 



smothered the animal with blankets and cooked 
him in a tea kettle. His regular fare while at 
Fort Delaware was a small piece of corn bread, 
one-half pint of pickles per day, and occasionally 
a piece of light bread. Many laughable incidents 
occurred, notwithstanding their suffering, among 
which is the following: Some of the guards were 
ex-slaves, and frequently recognized their old 
masters among the prisoners who were allowed, 
just so often, to pass out through the gates to 
bathe. By diving to the bottom they could secure 
oysters. One of the negro guards, pacing along 
the parapet with all the dignity possible for a col- 
ored soldier in uniform to assume, called out to his 
old master, who was diving for oysters, "Hello. 
Massa, w' at yo' doin' down dar ? " to which the 
prisoner replied, explaining his occupation. The 
guard then exclaimed, while pointing to himself, ' ' I 
used to be bottom rail, now bottom rail on de top." 
Those oysters formed a very pleasant addition to 
the prison fare. After the war Mr. Hixson began 
clerking in a general mercantile store in Little 
Rock, continued there for about two years and then 
returned home, where he followed farming on his 
father' s land for one season. He then began clerk- 
ing in a dry-goods and grocery store at Spadra, in 
which place he remained for about four years, at- 
tending school in summer and clerking in the win- 
ter. In 1879 he embarked in business with J. A. 
and T. R. Sadler in general merchandising at Shoal 
Creek, and later Mr. Hixson purchased the entire 
stock of the firm with the store building. This build- 
ing has a basement and is 24x70 feet in dimensions. 
He carries a stock of goods valued at about $5,000, 
and is doing a good business. He is owner of 3, 000 
acres of land, and has expended between 115,000 
and $20,000 in improvements. Upon two of his 
farms coal has been found (outcroppings) which 
is used in the blacksmith forges of the neighbor- 
hood. No attempt has yet been made to develop 
these mines. Mr. Hixson' s principal crops are 
corn and cotton, and he also gives considerable 
of his time and attention to the raising of live stock, 
mules and cattle. On December 25, 1870, Mr. 
Hixson was married to Miss Belila A. Sadler, a 
native of Arkansas, born Christmas day, 1844, and 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



359 



the daughter of Rufus and Elizabeth Sadler. 
Three children were born to this union, two of 
whom are living: Gracie C. (born in 1872), and 
Matt. S. (born in 1878). Mr. Hixson represented 
what is now Logan County in the Legislature in 
1874-75. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
Lodge at Ellsworth, Ark. 

L. F. A. Holleman, planter, Paris, Ark. Mr. 
Holleman has been a resident of Logan County, 
Ark., for the past seventeen years, and his ex- 
ample of industry, and his earnest and sincere 
efforts to make life a success, are well worth the 
imitation of all. The condition of his farm, which 
consists of 120 acres, shows the thrift and energy 
which are among his chief characteristics, and all 
necessary buildings and fences form a prominent 
feature of the improvements. L. F. A. Holleman 
was born on October 15, 1831, and is a son of 
William H. and Emeline (Davenport) Holleman, 
natives of Tennessee, the father born on February 
22, 1812, and the mother on January 28, 1813. 
They were married in Smith County, in 1830, and 
of the eight children born to this union, only four 
besidesour subject are now living: OrvilleJ. , Will- 
iam C, Thomas H. and E. J. The father died in 
Alabama on April 18, 1852. He was a local preacher 
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother 
is now living in Alabama, and is a member of the 
same church. L. F. A. Holleman was educated 
in the Franklin Academy, and was married in 
Chattooga County, Ga. , on November 10, 1852, to 
Miss Narcissa Wyatt, who was born in Georgia, 
on January 11, 1832. They became the parents 
of one son, W. E., who was killed in a railroad 
disaster on July 17, 1890. Mrs. Holleman died 
on November 12, 1854, in full communion with 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. On October 14, 
1857, Mr. Holleman took for his second wife Miss 
M. E. Hendrix, a native of Alabama, born on De 
cember 16, 1840, and to this union were born eight 
children, six now living, viz. : O. B. , A. L., M. H. , 
W. H., S. S. (deceased), J. B., N. V. (deceased), and 
F. G. The second wife died on February 4, 1882, 
and on November 13, 1885, Mr. Holleman married 
Mrs. E. J. Daniel, a native of Alabama, born on 
December 12, 1841. Mr. Holleman enlisted as a 



private in the cavalry. Company G, in 1862, and 
at the end of eighteen months was promoted to 
the quartermaster department of his regiment. 
He participated in the battles of Stone River, 
Chickasaw Mountain, and was in a number skir- 
mishes, serving until peace was declared. He 
was paroled at Columbus, Miss., in 1865, and 
after the war he returned home, where he engaged 
in cultivating the soil. In March, 1873, he moved 
from Alabama to Arkansas, settled in this county, 
and has seventy-five acres of his fine farm under 
cultivation. He was elected justice of the peace 
of Short Mountain Township, in 1888, and in his 
political views is strictly Democratic. He and Mrs. 
Holleman are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and he is steward of the same, be- 
ing at the present time lay delegate to the Arkan- 
sas annual conference. 

Eli D. Hooper, merchant and farmer. Maga- 
zine, Ark. Mr. Hooper, who is classed among the 
successful business men and enterprising farmers 
of the county, was originally from Illinois, his birth 
occurring in that State in 1837. His parents, 
CI ay burn R. and Mary A. (Story) Hooper, were 
natives of the Blue-Grass State, the former born 
in 1813 and the fatter in 1819. The paternal 
grandparents of our subject were James and 
Jemima Hooper, and the maternal grandfather 
was Solomon Story. Clayburn R. Hooper was 
the father of eleven children, ten of whom are now 
living and named in the order of their births as 
follows: Eli D., Sidney J. (wife of L. P. Elling- 
ton), Mary J. (wife of John O. Hall), Peter W., 
Grace A. (relict of John Rankins), Martha E. 
(wife of N. L. Hardin), Eliza E. (wife of George 
G. Loyd), Josephine (wife of J. W. Worley), 
Nancy Caroline (wife of W. S. Blanton) and Cale- 
donia (wife of Henry Chappell). In 1849 Eli D. 
Hooper came with his parents to Arkansas, where 
the father took mp 200 acres of Government land. 
The latter enlisted in Company B, Third Illinois 
Infantry, and served during the Mexican War, par- 
ticipating in the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro 
Gordo. His death occurred on December 29, 1875. 
Eli Hooper began for himself at the age of seven- 
teen, working for wages and with the proceeds 



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360 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



attending college. He engaged in merchandising 
in 1866 in Illinois, and there he remained until 
the latter part of 1867, when he returned to Ar- 
kansas and brought goods from Illinois and St. 
Louis. He established himself in the same busi- 
ness at Long Ridge, and in connection carried on 
a gin, which he had erected soon after coming 
there. In 1870 he removed his stock to what is 
now Magazine, at that time the first store, biiilt a 
grist-mill and gin, and there he has been continu- 
ously in business up to the present time. He 
established a post-office at that point, and he also 
established a store at his farm in Petit Jean Val- 
ley. In the two stores he carries a general stock 
of about $5,000, and does an annual business of 
about $15,000. His farm in the Petit Jean Valley 
is considered one of the finest and consists of 756 
acres lying the full width of the valley, and is one 
and a fourth miles in length. He has also in 
Reveille Township 436 acres of land, upon a part of 
which the greater portion of the town of Magazine 
was built. Upon his farm and in Magazine Mr. 
Hooper has the finest residences in Logan County, 
and his other buildings are of a first-class order. 
He devotes his attention to the raising of corn and 
cotton, his farm in Petit Jean Valley being espe- 
cially adapted to that, and also gives considerable 
attention to the raising of horses, mules, cattle 
and hogs. Mr. Hooper was married in 1865 to 
Miss Martha J. Franklin, a native of Illinois, born 
in 1844, and the daughter of William B. Franklin. 
Mrs. Hooper died on July 16, 1866, leaving two 
children, twins, one of whom died when about six- 
teen years of age. The other, William F., is now 
a physician in Magazine, where he is earning for 
himself an enviable reputation in his profession. 
On December 25, 1867, Mr. Hooper was united in 
marriage to Miss Margaret E. Loyd, who was born 
in Alabama in 1840, and who was the daughter of 
Thomas and Sarah Loyd. The fruits of this union 
were eight children: Patsie (wife of S. D. San- 
derfer), Sallie (wife of W. M. Mclntrerf), Mary O. 
(wife of J. L. Gamble), Nellie W., Thomas P., 
Nancy L., Daniel W. and Henry G. In 1872 Mr. 
Hooper was made a member of the board of super- 
visors, and he filled the position of postmaster at 



Magazine for about fourteen years. For many 
years he has been a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. He has always been a man of great 
energy and perseverance, and although he has met 
with many reverses, he has always pushed forward 
again. He takes a prominent part in, and is a 
liberal contributor to, all worthy enterprises. 

Hon. VV. B. Jackson, a prominent lawyer and 
present representative of Logan County, Ark., 
owes his nativity to Mississipjsi, born in 1851, and 
is the eldest living child in the family of John L. 
and Elizabeth 0. (Pearson) Jackson, the parents 
natives of Georgia and Mississippi respectively. 
The paternal grandparents were natives of North 
and South Carolina respectively. W. B. Jack- 
son's early impressions were at once directed 
toward the channels of agricultural pursuits, and 
he received a good, practical education in the com- 
mon schools. In 1869 he began the study of med- 
icine at the University of Philadelphia and grad- 
uated from Washington University, Baltimore on 
February 22, 1871. He immediately began prac- 
ticing in Mississippi, but in 1874 went to New 
York, where he practiced in Bellevue Hospital for 
some time. He then returned to Mississippi 
and began the stxidy of law in 1876, being admit- 
ted to the bar the following year. In 1879 he 
came to Arkansas, located at Paris, and here he 
has since been engaged in the j)ractice of law. He 
is a businesslike and painstaking lawyer, is con- 
cise in argument and well read, and has a steadily 
increasing practice. In 1889 he formed a part- 
nership with C. B. Fontaine. He has been an 
active Democrat in politics and has ever voted with 
that party. His superior intelligence and tine 
ability became recognized by the numerous friends 
whom he had gathered around him, and he was 
elected to represent this county in the Legisla- 
ture in 1890. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. Though a young man he is one of the 
rising attorneys of this judicial district. 

P. J. Jansen, merchant, Prairie View, Ark. In 
including in this work the sketches of prominent 
business men of Logan County, none are more de- 
serving of recognition than that of Mr. Jansen, who 
for a number of years has carried on an extensive 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



3U1 



mercantile establishment at Prairie View. He is 
of German nativity, born in that country in 1844, 
and his parents, P. J. and Katherine Jansen, were 
natives also of that country. He passed his boy- 
hood and youth in Germany, and his educational 
facilities were more than usually favorable. He 
began business for himself as a miner in 1878, and 
this was his principal occupation up to 1884, when 
he emigrated to the United States. The same year 
he located in Logan County, Ark. Previous to 
coming to the United States, or in 1874, he was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Scherter, who bore him 
the following children: Clara, Mattie and Peter. 
In 1885 Mr. Jansen moved to Little Eock, Ark., 
and was book-keeper for W. J. Hutt for some time. 
Subsequently, however, he returned to Logan 
County, Ark. , and embarked in merchandising for 
himself, which business he carries on successfully 
at the present time. He carries a stock of goods 
valued at from between $5,000 to 16,000 dollars, 
and is a live, energetic business man. He is a 
strong adherent to the principles of Democracy, 
and has ever voted with that party. Mrs. Jansen 
and children are members of the Catholic Church, 
and the family is respected and esteemed through- 
out the community. 

John A. Johnson, planter, Paris, Ark. Mr. 
Johnson is one of the successful farmers of Johnson 
Township, and one of its pioneer settlers. Like 
many other prominent men of Logau County, he 
owes his nativity to North Carolina, his birth oc- 
curring in 1821, and is a son of Littleton and Lucy 
(Adkins) Johnson, natives also of that State. The 
father was born February 15, 1795, and was mar- 
ried December 11, 1816, to Miss Adkins, who was 
born July 30, 1799. Their family consisted of nine 
children — three sons and six daughters — only one, 
a sister, besides our subject, now living: Susan A. 
(wife of K. J. Nesbit, now residing in Texas). The 
father emigrated from Tennessee to Arkansas in 
1841, settled in what is now Logan County, and 
entered a tract of land on which he made large im- 
provements. His wife died in 1837 and he in 1857. 
John A. Johnson was reared in this county, and was 
married here in 1857, to Miss Mary Lee, who bore 
him five children, three now living: W. L., William 



C. and Emma. The wife of our subject died in 1866 
and he was married, the second time, in 1869 to Miss 
Margaret Guthrey. Mr. Johnson enlisted in the 
Confederate Army in 1863, and served as a private 
until peace was declared. He is the owner of 120 
acres of fine land, and has 100 acres of this uuder 
cultivation, his principal crops being corn and cot- 
ton. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. 

W. H. Jones, merchant, Prairie View, Ark. 
Among the prominent business houses of Prairie 
View, one deserving of special mention in connec- 
tion with the dry-goods line, is that conducted by 
W. H. Jones, who, notwithstanding the fact that 
he takes a lively interest in all public affairs, is at 
the same time a conservative and reliable business 
man. He is a native-born resident of this county, 
his birth occurring in 1853, and is the son of F. 
M. and C. L. (Swiney) Jones, the father born in 
Missouri, and the mother in Tennessee. W. H. 
Jones attained his growth in his native county, and 
secured a good practical education in the common 
schools. At the age of twelve years he started 
out for himself, and has lieen engaged in merchan- 
dising the principal part of the time since. He 
is now the owner of a stock of goods valued at 
from $5,000 to $6,000, and by his pleasant, agree- 
able manners has built uj) a good trade. He also 
owns considerable real estate, and a summer resi- 
dence on one of the peaks of the famous Magazine 
Mountain. Bear Wallow Springs are located here, 
which, with the heathful climate and beautiful 
scenery make it a delightful summer retreat. His 
wife, who was formerly Miss Eliza J. Sykes, and 
who was the daughter of Robert and E. Sykes, bore 
him the following children: Minnie B. , Clemen- 
tine O., Arnold, Roland V., James W., Ralph O. 
and Robert C, of whom Clementine O. and Ar- 
nold are deceased. Mrs. Jones was born in Ten- 
nessee in 1853, and moved with her parents to 
Kentucky when a child. In 1868 she came to Ar- 
kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are esteemed mem- 
bers of the Christian Church, as are also the chil- 
dren, and in politics Mr. Jones is a Democrat. 

Thomas Jones, farmer, Driggs, Ark. Mr. 
Jones is in every way worthy to be classed among 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



the successful agriculturists of this county, for by 
his own industry he has become the owner of a 
fine farm of 50-") acres, and 400 acres of this have 
been cleared. He owes his nativity to Chambers 
County, Ala., his birth occurring in March, 1846, 
and is the son of Thomas and Nancy (Davis) Jones, 
both probably natives of Alabama. Thomas Jones, 
the youngest of fonr children — two sons and two 
daughters — was left an orphan when quite young, 
and was reared principally in his native State. He 
left Alabama immediately after the war, came to 
Arkansas, and has since Ijeen a resident of this 
State. He was married in Logan County in 1871, 
to Miss Trency Galer, and to them have been born 
eleven children, ten of whom are living: John T., 
Jeremiah S., Charles W., Sarah J., William E., 
Marzela, ZebaA., Everett and Louisa (who died 
at the age of seven months). Mr. Jones is en- 
gaged in raising cotton and grain, and while he is an 
agriculturist of advanced ideas and tendencies he 
does not lose sight of the stock interest. The im- 
provements on his place are all of the best. (Mr. 
Jones did not correct and return this sketch and 
hence the publishers cannot give the names of his 
other children). 

Dr. J. A. Keith, physician and merchant, Boone- 
ville. Ark. Among the people of Logan County 
the name of Dr. Keith is not an unfamiliar one, 
for he has not only won an enviable reputation as 
a physician, but as a business man and citizen, he 
is respected by all. He owes his nativity to Bun- 
combe County, N. C, born December 16, 1824, 
and his parents. Rev. William and Sarah (Allen) 
Keith, were native Virginians, the father born in 
1777, and the mother in 1778. Their nuptials 
were celebrated in North Carolina, and of the nine 
children that blessed that union, only three chil- 
dren are the living representatives of this family: 
Nancy (wife of Alfred Murry), and Sarah A. (wife 
of O. H. Ramsey). Those deceased were named 
John, Henry, William M., A. F., R. C. and Jack- 
son. The father was a farmer by occupation, but was 
also an ordained minister in the Baptist Church. 
He WHS a soidier in the War of 1812. The parents 
both died in North Carolina, the father in 1853, 
and the mother in 1867. The latter was also a 



member of that church. Dr. J. A. Keith com- 
menced the study of medicine in Tennessee, in 
1853, attended lectures at Augusta, Ga., in 1858 
and 1859. and after graduating, commenced prac- 
ticing at Mars Hill, Yancy County, N. C. He has 
practiced his profession ever since, and is ever to 
be found at the bedside of the sick and afflicted. 
He was a soldier in the Mexican War, was also in 
the Confederate Army during the Civil War. and 
was brave and fearless in the discharge of his duty. 
During the last named war he enlisted (1862) in 
Company A, Sixty-fourth North Carolina Infantry, 
and was elected commander of his company in 
March, of that year, and lieutenant-colonel on the 
organization. He was in the battles of Chicka- 
mauga, Chickasaw Mountain, Perryville, Knoxville 
and a number of skirmishes, serving until 1865. 
Previous to the war, or in 1856, he was married, 
in Greene County, Tenn. , to Miss Margaret Jones, 
daughter of Thomas Jones, and a native of Greene 
County, Tenn., born January 6, 1831. Her father 
died in 1867, and her mother many years previous, 
or in 1849. Dr. and Mrs. Keith are the parents 
of five children, three now living: James F., 
Laura (wife of W.-D. Mclnturf), and Mattie E. 
The two children deceased were Laura (No. 1) 
and William B. After the war Dr. Keith engaged 
in the practice of his profession, and emigrated 
from North Carolina to Arkansas in 1869, locating 
in what is now Logan County. In 1869 he em- 
barked in mercantile pursuits, which he has since 
carried on. He is the owner of 2,100 acres of 
land, and has divided about 1,300 among his chil- 
dren. He has about 700 acres under cultivation. 
His principal crops are corn and cotton. He has 
a steam saw-mill, located on Sugar Creek, six miles 
south of town, and this has a capacity of about 
12,000 feet per day. He and Mrs. Keith are 
worthy members of the Baptist Church, and are 
liberal supporters of all worthy enterprises. The 
Doctor is a member of the A. F. & A. M. , Boone- 
ville Lodge No. 247. James Frank Keith, son of 
our subject, is a prominent attorney at law at 
Booneville, Ark., and was born in the Palmetto 
State, August 28, 1866. He was educated in the 
Arkansas University, Fayetteville, Washington 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



363 



County, and also attended school at Buckner Col- 
lege during 1882 and 1883. During 1883 and 

1884 he taught school in Logan County, and in 

1885 he was admitted to the bar. In 188U and 
1890 he was engaged in the newspaper business 
on the Booneville Enterprise, where he remained 
until October, of this year. He is not in the news- 
paper business at present, but has turned his at- 
tention entirely to the practice of law. He was 
married December 24, 1885, to Miss Alice Stan- 
ford, a native of Alabama, and the daughter of 
Joseph P. and Sarah Stanford. Two children are 
the fruits of this union; Ella and James. Mr. 
Keith is a member of the Baptist, and his wife a 
member of the Episcopal Church. 

George Kincannon, farmer, Magazine, Ark. 
This old and much-esteemed citizen of Logan 
County was originally from Georgia, born in 1823, 
and his parents, John and Rachel Kincannon, were 
natives of Tennessee and South Carolina respect- 
ively. The parents moved to Georgia in 1822, and 
one year later moved to Tennessee, where our 
subject was principally reared. The latter re- 
ceived a limited education in the common schools, 
and in 1843 he began farming for himself, having 
followed that occupation fi-om early childhood, at 
which time his services were brought into requisi- 
tion on his father's farm. He is now the owner of 
320 acres of land in Boone Township, Logan County, 
and is a prominent and very successful tiller 
of the soil. In 1863 he enlisted in the army, 
served one year and then was elected sheriff of 
Scott County, Ark., after which he left the army. 
In the year 1846 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Eliza Wallen, daughter of Stephen and Betsy (Igo) 
Walleu. Mr. Kincannon' s second marriage was with 
Miss Margaret Bowen in 1871. She was the 
daughter of E. and Margaret Bowen, natives of 
South Carolina. Mr. Kincannon' s present wife is 
a native of Tennessee and was born in 1833. They 
have three children who are named as follows: 
Martha, Sophronia and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kincannon are church members, he of the Presby- 
terian and she of the Christian denomination and 
they are liberal to all worthy movements. In 
politics Mr. Kincannon is a stanch Democrat. 



Frank Kinney, miller and ginner, Morrison 
Bluff, Ark. Among the foreign-born element now 
in Logan County, those of German nativity stand 
in the formest rank as honest, industrious citizens. 
Mr. Kinney was born in Germany in 1830, and his 
parents, Jasper and Farony (Honel) Kinney, were 
also natives of that country, the father born in 
1800. Frank Kinney was reared in his native 
country and his educational advantages were very 
good. He there learned his trade, miller, and in 
1856 he sailed for America, where he expected to 
make his future home. On March 10, 1862, he eu 
listed in the army and was in the fight at Darda- 
nelle, Ark. Mr. Kinney returned to his occupa- 
tion of miller after the war, and as he had all the 
characteristics of those of German nativity — 
honesty, industry and economy — he soon became 
one of the substantial men of the county. His 
mill is worth about $4,000, and he is the owner of 
six residences, besides other property. Mr. Kin- 
ney was married on January 1, 1866, to Miss Char- 
lotte Wilcox, daughter of Homer and Catherine 
Wilcox. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinney have been born 
the following children: Buddy, Frank G., Mary, 
Charlie, Florence, Lena and Edward, all living 
and enjoying good health. Mr. Kinney and his 
sons are stanch Democrats in their political views. 
While Mr. Kinney is a member of the Christian 
Church and his wife is a Baptist, the children are 
all members of the Methodist Church. 

Capt. James R. Lafferry. a prominent planter 
of Logan County, Ark., was born in Hall County, 
Ga., on February 7, 1824, and was reared ou the 
battle-field of Chattanooga, his father being the 
owner of the land on which both the battles of 
Chattanooga and Chickamauga were fought. Dur- 
ing the Mexican War Mr. Lafferry enlisted and was 
in most of the hard fighting of that war. In 1848 
he was married to Miss Martha Smith, who bore 
him the following children: George, Mary Ann, 
Margaret, Catherine, Nancy, Julia, Curley, Josiah, 
James, Reuben and Amanda (twins), Mattie and 
Virginia. Mr. Lafferry removed from Tennessee 
to Lawrence County, Ark., in 1851, remained there 
until the summer of 1851, and then returned to 
his old home in Tennessee, where he remained for 






IT 



364 



HISTOKY OF ARKANSAS. 



six years. In 1858 he again removed to Arkansas, 
and in 1862, enlisted in the United States Army, 
First Arkansas Cavalry, under Col. E. Harrison. 
He was captured in Missouri, in June, 1862, re- 
tained a prisoner until February 20, of the follow- 
ing year, and was paroled in February, 1863. 
After this lie enlisted in the United States Army, 
First Arkansas Infantry, was in the Fayetteville 
fight, and was with Gen. Blount in the actions at 
Fort Smith and Honey Springs. He was with Gen. 
Cloud, when Dardanelle was captured the first 
time, and was also in the Haguewood fight, where 
he was captured and exchanged. He was captured 
again at the second tight at Dardanelle, again ex- , 
changed, and was in the third tight at that place, 
January lf>, 1865. He was in the tight at Ozark, 
with Brooks on his retreat from Fayetteville, and 
was wounded in the knee at that place. He also 
had his horse shot from under him, and in the fall , 
his leg was broken. He was elected captain of 
Company B, Fourth Arkansas Cavalry, September 
10, 1863, and served in that capacity until the 
close of the war. Mr. Lafferry has been a partici- 
pant of forty battles, including those in the Mexi- ' 
can War, and was a brave and trustworthy soldier, j 
He returned home at the close of the war, and has 
been a resident of Ellsworth ever since. He has 
followed agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of 
318 acres of land with 50 "acres under cultivation. 
The Captain is one of the pioneer settlers of Ar- 
kansas, and is a man who has passed an unusually 
eventful life. He was appointed United States 
receiver in the land office at Dardanelle, by Presi- 
dent Grant in 1873, and was also one of the com- 
missioners appointed to appraise the Fort Smith 
Reservation. Mr. Lafferry is one of Logan County's 
most highly-respected citizens and oldest settlers. 
He is a member of the G. A. R., and he and wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
to which he is a liberal contributor, as, in fact, he 
is to all worthy^ movements. His father, George 
W. Lafferry, was born on the ocean as his parents 
came from France, and was reared in Lancaster 
County, Penn. The mother of our subject, Catherine 
(Rogers) Lafferry was a native of Georgia. After 
their marriage they removed to Chattanooga, 



Tenn. , where the mother died in 1840, and the 
father in 1842. They were the parents of seven 
children, Capt. Lafferry being the eldest. George 
W. Lafferry served in the War of 1812, and was 
with Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans; 
was in Texas with Maj. Fanning, and was a par- 
ticipant in removing the Cherokees to their pres- 
ent homes in the far west. He served under Gen. 
Wintield Scott, at the battle of Lundj^'s Lane. His 
great- great grandfather, Roger, was killed at the 
battle of King's Mountain. 

J. K. Lee, planter, Paris, Ark. This promi- 
nent agriculturist is a native of Arkansas, born in 
Johnson County, on September 1, 1844, and is a 
son of D. R. and Susan A. (Redden) Lee, and the 
grandson of William and Dicey (Ennis) Lee, who 
were natives of North Carolina. To the grandpar- 
ents were born eleven children, five now living: D. 
R., Britton, Winnie, Elizabeth and James H. 
William Lee emigrated from North Carolina to 
Tennessee, thence to Mississippi, and in 1837 
moved to Arkansas, where his death occurred in 
1863. He was a member of the Hard-shell Bap 
tist Church. His wife died in 1872. The father 
of our subject was born in North Carolina on De- 
cember 20, 1819, and he was married in 1840 to 
Miss Susan A. Redden, a native also of North Car- 
olina, born on November 3, 1820. The fruits of 
this union were eleven children, six now living: T. 
A., A. P., F. C, Jane and Sarah. The father was 
elected county treasurer in 1873, served one term, 
and previoiis to this, in 1868, he had represented 
Johnson County in the Legislature. He was also 
justice of the peace of his township for several 
years. He has killed at least 500 deer in this State, 
and killed as many as four in one hour. He is 
now living with his son, T. A., and is a blacksmith 
and wagon-maker by trade. The mother died on 
Atigust 30, 1887, and was a consistant member of 
the Baptist Church. J. K. Lee was reared on a 
farm, received a good practical education in the 
common schools, and was married here in 1871 to 
Miss Arminta Moore, a native of Logan County, 
born on May 29, 1848, and the daughter of John 
and Martha C. Moore. To our subject and wife 
were born eleven children, eight now living: John 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



365 



T 



D. , George D., Victoria, Genevra, Emma, Samuel, 
Lucy and Norman. William C, Henry and Ag- j 
ness are tlie ones deceased. Mr. Lee wa.s a soldier 
in the late war, enlisting in Company H, First Ar- 
kansas Infantry in 1863, and served until cessation 
of hostilities. He then returned home, engaged in 
tilling the soil, and is now the owner of 185 acres 
of good land with 90 acres under cultivation. His 
principal crops are cotton and corn. He is a mem 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, and Mrs. Lee is a 
member of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

Nick Lenz, miller and ginner, Morrison Bluff. 
Ark. Mr. Lenz has all the elements characteristic 
of those of German nativity — honesty, industry and , 
frugality — and it is only what could be expected 
that he should become one of the substantial men 
of the county. He was born in 1862 and his par- 
ents, Jacob and Barbara (Polly) Lenz, were natives 
also of that country, where they passed their entire 
lives. Nick Lenz received good educational ad- 
vantages in Germany, and there learned the black- 
smith's trade, which has since been his principal oc- 
cupation, although in late years he has been en- 
gaged in milling and ginning. In 1883 he left his 
home and the companions of his youth to seek his 
fortune in the United States and came to Arkansas, 
locating in Logan County. He followed black- 
smithing until 1887, and then embarked in the 
milling business, being at the present time the 
owner of a mill valued at about $3,000. His nup- 
tials with Miss Annie Rina, a native of Arkansas, 
were celebrated in 1888, and to this r;nion has been 
born one child, Lizzie C. In his political views 
Mr. Lenz aiHliates with the Democratic party, and 
he and wife are worthy and esteemed members of 
the Catholic Church. 

Dr. J. S. Leslie, physician, Dublin, Ark. 
Among the citizens of Logan County, the name of 
Dr. Leslie is a familiar one, for during his six 
years' practice here he has won an enviable repu- 
tation, not only as a practitioner, but as a citizen 
and neighbor. He was born in Missouri on Au- 
gust 28, 1862, and his educational advantages were 
appreciated to the fullest extent. He began work- 
ing for himself at the early age of fourteen years 
as Ian agriculturist, and this continued to be his 



principal occupation up to 1884, when he began 
practicing medicine. Previous to this, however, 
when but eighteen years of age, he liegan reading 
medicine, and this continued for three years, when 
he attended lectures in Iowa for two years. He 
completed the same in 1884, and immediately en- 
tered upon the practice of his profession. The 
same year Miss C. Peters became his wife, and three 
interesting children have followed this union: S. 
Ellen, Burdett and John V., all of whom are alive, 
and enjoying good health. Mrs. Leslie's parents 
were S. B. and Artie Peters. Mr. Leslie is a 
strong adherent to Democratic principles, and has 
voted with that party ever since attaining his ma- 
jority. Mrs. Leslie is a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church. The Doctor has a good practice 
and is a promising young physician. His parents, 
William and Sarah Leslie were natives of Ten- 
nessee, and much respected citizens in their lo- 
cality. 

J. T. Lewis, planter, Booneville, Ark. Mr. 
Lewis has spent his entire life in the occupation 
of farming, and the manner in which he has 
acquired his present possessions denotes him to be 
a man of energy, push and enterprise. He was 
1 born in Jasper County, Mo., January 13, 1845, 
and is a son of David and Eliza (Stanton) Lewis, 
j natives also of Missouri. The former was a farmer 
by occupation. To his marriage were born seven 
children, only one of whom, besides onr subject, is 
living, Lila (wife of James Hicks). Those deceased 
were named Charles, Robert, Rachel, Jasper, and 
one unnamed. The father emigrated to Arkansas 
in 1855, settled in what is now Logan County, and 
entered and improved some land. His death oc- 
curred in Logan County, Ark., in 1865. The 
mother, who was a consistent member of the Bap- 
tist Church, died in the same year. J. T. Lewis 
was early taught the duties required on the farm, 
and was married in Logan County, to Miss Rebecca 
] McLoid, who bore him five children, viz. : Francis, 
William, Nancy, James E. and Mattie. Mr. 
Lewis' second marriage occurred in 1869. He was 
a soldier in the late war, enlisting in the cavalry. 
Company I, Second Ai-kansas Regiment, in 1863, 
and serving the Union faithfully and well until 



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366 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



1865. Returuing home he engaged in cultivating 
the soil, and this has Ijeen his principal occupation 
up to the present. He is the owner of 400 acres 
of good land, and has 300 acres under cultivation, 
his principal crops being corn and cotton. He and 
wife are memliers of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and he is in favor of all public improve- 
ments, such as the building up of churches, school- 
houses, etc. His line farm is situated two miles 
west of Booneville, and he has an excellent orchard 
of apple and peach trees. He also has several 
small-fruit orchards on his tract of land. 

Henry M. McCaslin, postmaster, Booneville, 
Ark. Mr. McCaslin was originally from Gallatin 
County, HI., his birth occurring on September 2, 
1841, and his parents, James M. and Jane (Tay- 
lor) McCaslin, were natives of Tennessee. They 
were married in Gallatin County, 111., in 1836, 
and to them were born three children — two boys 
and one girl: William C, Henry M. and Mary 
(who married Thomas Carr in 1853). The latter's 
husband died about six months after marriage and 
Mrs. Carr then married I. H. Mangrum. by whom 
she had two children. She became the mother of 
one child by her first union, but this child, a 
daughter, died in St. Louis during the war. The 
father of our subject removed to Franklin County, 
Ark., in 1847, bought land there, and there tilled 
the soil. The mother had died in Illinois in 1842, 
and the following year the father married Miss 
Jane McFerrin, who bore him two children: John 
B. (who died in 1862) and Phoebe Ann (who died 
in 1861). Mr. McCaslin received his'final sum- 
mons in Franklin County, Ark., in 1849, when 
forty-one years of age. Mrs. McCaslin, the sec- 
ond, died in Kansas in 1865. Henry McCaslin 
was educated in Franklin County, Ark., and in 1863 
he enlisted in Company E, Second United States 
Arkansas Infantry, under Col. M. L. Stevenson, 
who was on duty in his own State during the entire 
war. He was in the Pea Ridge fight, the Saline 
fight and various others of minor importance. He 
was discharged on August 8, 1865, at Clarksville, 
Ark. After the war he came back to his old home 
in Illinois, married Miss Lucinda Dyer, daughter 
of Joel and Elizabeth Dyer, and remained engaged 



in farming in that State for four years. To his 
marriage were born these children: Jessie S., 
William P., Minnie, Charles Dyer, Felix (deceased), 
John Logan and Lucy L. Jessie married C. C. 
Cauthran, a farmer living near Booneville, Ark., 
and they have a son, Leo Cauthran. Mr. McCas- 
lin removed from Illinois to Logan County, Ark., 
in 1869, bought land and carried on farming. He 
is now the owner of 100 acres and has 60 acres under 
cultivation. He was appointed postmaster at 
Booneville in June, 1889, and is at present run- 
ning a grocer}' store in connection with the post- 
office. He carries a stock of goods valued at 
about 1700. Mr. McCaslin is one of Logan 
County's most highly respected citizens and sub- 
stantial business men. He is a member of the G. 
A. R., and is an enthusiastic Republican. He is 
also a member of the Masonic fraternity and the 
I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church and contributes liberally to all 
worthy enterprises. 

Dr. W. Y. McClure, physician and surgeon, 
Delaware, Ark. Not only a very successful phy- 
sician but a leading exponent in general sur- 
gery, in its many various branches, Dr. W. Y. 
McClure is worthy of mention in a review of our 
foremost professional men. He was born in Geor 
gia in 1862, and is a son of Andrew H. H. and 
Sarah J. (West) McClure, natives of the Palmetto 
State, the father a farmer by pursuit. The educa- 
tional advantages of our subject were limited, at- 
tending a short time in the common schools, and 
the principal part of his education has been ob- 
tained by self study. In 1882 he began the study 
of medicine under Dr. J. H. Hockinhull, of dim- 
ming, Ga., and afterward studied at home. Sub- 
sequently he attended lectures at Southern Med- 
ical College, at Atlanta, Ga. , graduating and 
receiving his degree in 1885. He began practicing 
in Forsyth County, Ga., remained there about six 
months, and then removed to Arkansas, in October, 
1885. He first located at Milan, Yell County, re- 
mained there until 1887, and then removed to 
Delaware, Logan County, where he has built up 
an extensive practice. He is called in consultation 
with other physicians in this and Yell Counties, 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



367 



and is, in fact, a physician of more than ordinary 
ability. In February, 1890 he started a general 
drug business at Delaware, and at the same time 
added a stock of family groceries. The Doctor 
was married in 1884, to Miss Lizzie J. Reese, a 
native of Georgia, born in 1867, and the daughter 
of Jacob K. and Nancy E. Reese. To this union 
have been born three children: Samuel Arthur, 
(born in 1886), Minnie Ethel (born in 1887), and 
Willie Harrison (born in 1889). In 1888 Dr. Mc- 
Clure purchased seven acres of land, which he has 
improved in every way, and in 1890 he erected a 
store-building, the expense of which, including 
other improvements, was about •? 1,000. He car- 
ries stock, including furniture of about $400. 

David T. McVay, planter and miller, Paris, 
Ark. Mr. McVay, one of the independent sons of 
toil, and a successful miller of Short Mountain 
Township, was born in Mississippi on August 30, 
1853, and came to this State with his parents when 
a small boy. He was married in Logan County in 
1876, to Miss Harriet Streete, who was originally 
from Georgia, her birth occurring in that State on 
June 15, 1857, and the daughter of William 
Streete, also a native of Georgia. To Mr. and 
Mrs. McVay were born iive children — two sons 
and three daughters: George, James, Eller O., 
Flora and Martha. Mr. McVay has a fine farm of 
338 acres, and has 90 acres of this under cultiva- 
tion, his principal crops being corn and cotton. 
He has a good frame house, substantial and com- 
fortable outbuildings, and has an orchard of one 
acre. He has a good steam cotton-gin and saw- 
mill combined, and the capacity of the gin is six- 
teen bales per day, and can cut 3,000 feet of 
lumber per day. Last year Mr. McVay ginned 
497 bales of cotton, and the prospect this year is 
considered as good. Mrs. McVay is a member of 
the Christian Church. Mr. McVay's parents, 
' George and Nicey (Leeten) McVay, were natives, 
respectively, of Alabama and Mississippi. They 
were married in the last named State, and six 
children were born to this union, two only now 
living, one besides our subject, Thomas. The father 
emigrated from Mississippi to Arkansas in 1857, 
settled in McClain's bottom, where he entered and 



improved land. He died in this county in 1863. 
The mother had died in 1860. She was a member 
of the Christian Church. 

Matthew Maberry, farmer, Paris, Ark. Mr. 
Maberry is a native of Virginia, and his parents, 
Charles and Ellen B. (Thompson) Maberry, were 
natives of the same State, born in Floyd County. 
In 1848 they removed to Schuyler County, Mo., 
and from there to Arkansas in 1858. Mr. Ma- 
berry bought land in Logan County, and culti- 
vated the soil until his death, on June 11, 1883. 
The mother died on May 19, 1890. Matthew Ma- 
berry was born on May 15, 1844, and in 1863 he 
enlisted in Company K, Eighth Missouri Infantry, 
C. S. A., and was a participant in the battle of 
Prairie Grove. On May 10, 1863, during a skirmish 
in the Indian Territory, he was wounded in the 
: leg and disabled so that he did not enter the service 
j again. He was captured shortly afterward, pa- 
roled, and came home. In June, 1879, he was 
wedded to Miss Lou Ann Sewell, daughter of 
AVilliam Sewell, of Logan County, Ark. The 
Sewell family was among the pioneer settlers of 
Logan County. Mr. Maberry is the owner of 137 
acres of land, the old homestead of his father, and 
is a man of good judgment and sound practical 
sense. He was elected constable for Short Mount- 
ain Township, where Paris, the county seat, is lo- 
cated, in September, 1886, and has served in that 
capacity up to the present time, being re-elected 
every two years successively. He contributes of 
his means to all laudable enterprises, and is in 
every way a worthy citizen. 

Dr. B. M. Miller, physician and planter. Shoal 
Creek, Ark. Dr. Miller was born in Missouri, in 
1831, and is the son of Samuel and Mary (Hatton) 
Miller, the former a native of Virginia, and the 
latter of South Carolina. The father was a soldier 
in the War of 1812, and at its close was mustered 
I out at what was then the little French village of 
St. Louis, where he met and married Miss Mary 
Hatton in 1815. He was a farmer, and continued 
that occupation until his death, in 1858. His 
widow joined the "silent majority" in 1877, at 
the age of eighty-seven years. Both were mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church. The paternal grand- 



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IV 



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368 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



parents were John and Katherine (Bellue) Miller, 
and the maternal were Thomas and Joannah Hat- 
ton, who were the grandparents of Frank Hattou, 
postmaster-general. The parents of Dr. Miller 
were identified with the early history of Missouri, 
and the latter received his education in the schools 
of his district until eighteen years of age. He 
was then sent to Westminister College, at Fulton, 
Mo., and there continued until twenty-one years of 
age. In 1855 he began the study of medicine 
under Dr. Thomas Howard, of Millersburg, Mo., 
and continued with him for two years, after which, 
in 1857-58, he attended lectures in the Missouri 
Medical College. He then commenced practicing 
in St. Aubert, Mo., where he remained about a 
year and a half, and then came to Johnson (now 
Logan) County, Ark., located in the neighborhood 
of Shoal Creek, and there he has built up a very 
extensive practice, extending over a large portion 
of the eastern part of Logan and a part of Yell 
Counties. He is assisted by bis son, Dr. S. E. 
Miller. Our subject was married in 1867, to Miss 
M. J. Sellers, a native of Tennessee, born in 
1847, and the daughter of Edward and Serena 
Sellers. To this union have been born four chil- 
di-en: S. E. (bom in 1867), Aubrey (born in 1868), 
Dudley (born in 1876), and Jean (born in 1878). In 
1869 Dr. Miller purchased 100 acres of land upon 
which he has built a good house and substantial 
out buildings, and further improved by fencing 
and clearing about 60^ acres. He raises wheat, 
oats and corn, and in the last few years has been 
raising cotton. His farm will average thirty bush- 
els of corn, forty to sixty bushels of oats and 
three- fourths of a bale of cotton to the acre. In 
1862 he enlisted in Company I, Tenth Missouri 
Cavalrj', as assistant surgeon, but resigned and 
served as private. He took part in the Missouri 
raid and served until the close of the war. The 
Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
Elizabeth Lodge No. 215. His wife, who was a 
consistent member of the Methodist Church, died 
on July 18, 1890, to the great sorrow not only of 
her husband and children, but the numerous 
friends her pleasant, genial disposition had gath- 
ered around her. 



F. J. Moore, planter, Ellsworth, Ark. Like 
many of the representative citizens of the county, 
Mr. Moore owes his nativity to Tennessee, his 
birth occurring in Bledsoe County March 12, 1831, 
and he is the son of Nimrod and Sarah (Jones) 
Moore, the parents natives of Virginia, the father 
born in 1794 and the mother about 1798. They 
were wedded in Tennessee, and there they reared 
a large family of children — seven sons and five 
daughters — six children now living: Mary (wife of 
Leroy Standifer), Malinda, R. J., Sarah (widow 
of R. B. Chitwood) and O. P. Those deceased 
were named Harriet H. , Edward H. , Nimrod, Mar 
ion, Susan and Obediana. The father was a sad- 
dler by trade. Both parents died in Tennessee, 
the father in 1856 and the mother in 1868. She 
was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. 
F. J. Moore, who is the youngest of the living 
children, was principall}- reared on the farm, and 
by his marriage, which occurred in Johnson County, 
Ark., November 30, 1857, to Miss Mary Chitwood, 
a native of Tennessee, born in 1833, he became the 
father of four children: Sarah E. (wife of L. F. 
Watson), Marion M., John N. and Esther (wife of 
J. L. Kell). Mrs. Moore died in this county in 
1869. She was a worthy and much esteemed 
member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 
Mr. Moore was married, the second time, in 1867, 
to MisB Caroline L. Lassater, who was born in 
Tennessee in 1840. They have six children: Will- 
iam H., Leroy F., Maggie M. , Richard J., Rachel 
and Amanda. During the late unpleasantness 
between the North and South Mr. Moore enlisted 
in the United States Army, Company B, Fourth 
Arkansas Regiment Cavalry, under Capt. James 
R. Lafferry, and served until the close of the war, 
but was never in any regular battles. He was 
commissioned second lieutenant of his company. 
Returning to his home he engaged in tilling the 
soil, and is now the owner of 2,000 acres of as 
good land as is to be found in the county, 100 be- 
ing cultivated. Mr. Moore is a Mason, Pleasant 
Mound Lodge No. 234, and he is secretary of the 
same. He and Mrs. Moore are members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He has been 
justice of the peace of his township for ten years. 



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^ 



J. E. Norfleet, liveryman, Paris, Ark. Among 
the many excellent livery stables in Paris must be 
mentioned that conducted by Mr. J. E. Norfleet, 
which business was engaged in by that gentleman 
in 1883. It has been a matter of succession for 
the past seven years. Mr. Norfleet was born in 
North Carolina in 1837, and is the eldest of four 
children, born to the union of Albert A. and Re- 
becca (Daniel) Norfleet, both natives of North Car- 
olina. The paternal grandfather, Albert, and a 
^^rother Thomas, while infants, sailed from Eng- 
land to America with their parents. Their ves- 
sel was wrecked and the parents drowned. These 
boys not knowing their names, were re-christened 
after the wrecked vessel, that is Norfleet, and they 
were reared in North Carolina and Virginia, re- 
spectively. Albert followed farming and stock- 
raising, was a representative man of his county, 
and received his final summons in North Carolina. 
Albert A. Norfleet, father of our subject, was reared 
in Mississippi, and was a successful tiller of the 
soil. He moved to Mississippi in 18811. but his 
death occurred in Florida in 1850. The mother 
followed him to the grave six years later. J. E. 
Norfleet attained his growth in Mississippi, and 
when twenty-one years of age, began for himself 
as a farmer. At the breaking out of the war he 
enlisted in the first company organized in Missis- 
sippi, Company G, Ninth Mississippi, and was in 
service in Florida the first year. He was then with 
Gen. Forrest, on outpost duty, and was in the 
last battle fought in Alabama, east of the Missis- 
sippi River. After the war he cultivated the soil 
until 1873, after which he was engaged in merchan- 
dising. In 1881 he came to Arkansas, settled at 
Paris and sold goods for two years, after which, in 
1883 he embarked in the livery business which he 
is now following. He owns his own residence and 
considerable town property and a well equipped 
stable. He was married at the age of seventeen 
years (1854), to Miss Angeline Cooper, a native of 
Tennessee and the result of this union was twelve 
children: Robert N.,Lucian M., William L., Mattie, 
Lina, Effie, Kate, James, Thomas, Almira and John 
and Bettie, the latter two dying in infancy. The 
family are members of the Christian Church. 



M. W. Parker, postmaster. Shoal Creek, Ark. 
Mr. Parker is a representative man of Logan Coun- 
ty, Ark. , who has attained his property by industry 
and good business ability, and has won an envi- 
able position in society circles. He was born in 
Alabama in 1829, and his parents, John and Rachel 
(Shipley) Parker, were natives of Maryland and 
Pennsylvania, respectively. The parents came to 
Arkansas in 1842 and settled in Pope County. 
Their family consisted of ten children, M. W. the 
youngest, and only two besides our subject now 
living: Elkana D. and Joshua M. M. W. Parker 
was but thirteen years of age when he came with 
his parents to Pope County, and in 1846 he en- 
listed ^or service in the Mexican War as a private 
in Company A, Col. Yell's regiment. He was in 
the battle of Buena Vista, had his horse shot from 
under him, and was mustered out in 1847. Re- 
turning home he engaged in farming, and two 
years later was married to Miss Jemima Jones, 
who was born in Alabama, and who was the 
daughter of John and Jencie (Bobbett) Jones. 
To this union were born seven children, all of 
whom are living: Mary J., Annie, Joshua, William, 
Jesse, Olive and Bell. Mr. Parker purchased 
eighty acres of land in 1851, and afterward home- 
steaded another eighty acres joining the original 
tract, all of which he improved by erecting good 
buildings, setting out orchards, etc. He has never 
raised less than half a bale of cotton to the acre, 
and generally more, and seldom less than forty 
bushels of corn. Mr. Parker was elected justice 
of the peace in 1872, and served continuously for 
twelve years. In 1889 he was appointed post- 
master at Shoal Creek, and has tilled that position 
in a creditable manner ever since. In 1881 he 
bought a steam-gin and corn-mill, and in 1882 took 
in his son, Joshua Parker, as partner. Together 
they have added new and improved machinery, un- 
til they now operate none of the original machinery, 
all being new. Their gin has a capacity of twelve 
bales of cotton per day, and they operate a steam- 
250wer press. Their corn-mill has a capacity of 
125 bushels per day, and their machinery is driven 
by a twenty-horse-power engine with a shaft 127 
feet long. In 1863 Mr. Parker entered the Federal 






ik 



370 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



service as a private in Company H, Third Arkan- 
sas Cavalry, and was stationed at Lewisburg and 
Dardanelle. He was mustered out in June, 1865. 
He is a member of Ellsworth Post No. 12, G. A. 
R., and was elected senior vice commander at the 
organization of the post in July, 1890. 

L. J. W. J. Powell, farmer, Booneville, Ark. 
One of the men who has contributed much to the 
development of Logan County is Mr. Powell, a 
prominent agriculturist of the same. His parents, 
Isaac and Sarah (Jones) Powell, were both natives 
of Georgia. They moved to Arkansas in 1844, 
bought land in Logan County, and there made 
their home. The father served in the Florida 
War, and was also in the War of 1812, fighting 
under Packinham at the battle of New Orleans. 
The educational advantages of our subject during 
his boyhood were limited, receiving only about ten 
months' schooling altogether, and in the spring of 
1854 he weui to California, where he was engaged 
in mining and farming for eleven years. He then 
returned home by way of the Isthmus, after stop- 
ping for some time in New York and five months 
in Illinois. He began work on a mill, and after- 
ward bought, in partnership with his brother, 120 
acres of land, where he remained about six years. 
He imjjroved about eighty acres, erected a house 
and other buildings, and made many other impor- 
tant changes. He then sold this land and bought 
160 acres of Government land, having at the pres- 
ent time about sixty acres of this cleared. Aside 
from the large crops of cotton, corn and oats that 
he raises, he is also engaged in raising a good 
grade of cattle and hogs. Mr. Powell was married 
in December, 1868, to Miss Frances T. Lyons, a 
native of Arkansas, and the daughter of John and 
Rebecca Lyons. Mrs. Powell died in 1869, leav- 
ing one daughter, Rebecca Eudora, now the wife 
of H. H. Ozier. In 1871 Mr. Powell was wedded 
to Miss Mary Jane Cox, a native of Missouri, born 
in 1847, and daughter of Joseph and Caroline Cox. 
The fruits of this union have been ten children, 
eight of whom are living: Alice May, Oceola Mark, 
Arthur Lee, Alberta, Louisa Ellen, Rosa Viola, 
Oscar Randolph and Ernest Lester. Mr. Powell 
is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 247, 



at Booneville, and he and his estimable wife are 
members of the Christian Church, of which he 
has been deacon. 

Dr. B. Priddy, physician, Magazine, Ark. Dr. 
Priddy has acquired an enviable reputation in 
Logan County, as an able physician and surgeon, 
and the extent of territory over which he travels 
to alleviate the sufferings of the afflicted, is a suf- 
ficient proof of his popularity. His parents, Will- 
iam H. and Sarah (Lusk) Priddy, were natives, re- 
spectively, of Tennessee and North Carolina. They 
removed to Mississippi at an early day, and there 
received their final summons. Dr. B. Priddy was 
born in Mississippi, on May 14, 1834, and there 
he was principallv reared and educated. At the 
age of tweny- three years he began the stud}' of 
medicine, and that he has been successful in the 
practice of his profession is too well known to be 
commented on. His strong good sense, his calm 
conservatism and his genuine ability were soon 
perceived, and he was elected to represent Logan 
County in the Legislature three times. In 1862 
he enlisted in the army, and organized and com- 
manded two coinpanies in this part of Arkansas. 
He remained in active service until the close of the 
war, and was a brave and gallant soldier. He was 
married to Miss Sarah K. Scott, daughter of S. 

A. and E. E. Scott, and their children were named 
as follows: Eudora, Florence E., Edna S., Arthur 

B. and Blanch, all of whom are living. Dr. Priddy 
is a straight Democrat, and Mrs. Priddy and the 
eldest daughter are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South. 

James Redden, a prominent and pioneer planter, 
residing in Johnson Township, Logan County. 
Ark., is a native of Tennessee, his birth occurring 
in Henry County, on February 15, 1829. His 
parents, W'illiam and Milly (Berks) Redden, were 
natives of South Carolina and Georgia, respect- 
ively, and they were married in the last named 
State. The father was a farmer by occupation. 
Their union resulted in the birth of thirteen chil- 
dren, only one besides our subject now living: 
Lemuel. The father was drafted in the War of 
1812, went to Norfolk, and was there discharged. 
He and wife emigrated from Tennessee to Arkan- 



^ 



'A 



LOGAN COUNTY. 



371 



sas in 1S36, settled in what is now Logan County, 
and there the father's death occurred about 1880. 
The mother died about 1856, and she was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. James 
Redden was married in Logan County, in 1861, to 
Miss Martha Smith, a native of Georgia, born in 
1837. The result of this union was the birth of 
seven children — four sons and three daughters: 
Denison J., J. C, William, Joseph, Dora, Emily 
and Jennie. Mr. Redden was a soldier in the 
Civil War, enlisting in Company B, under Capt. 
H. Butts, in 1863, but he served only about nine 
months and then came home. In his early life 
he followed building cotton-gins. He is the owner 
of 2-1:0 acres of good land, and has 75 acres under 
cultivation. His principal crops are corn and cot- 
ton. He has a comfortable home and can spend 
his declining years in ease and plenty. He and 
wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He 
is one of the county's most honored and esteemed 
citizens. 

D. J. Redden, teacher and planter, Paris, Ark. 
Among the thoroughgoing, wide-awake farmers of 
Johnson Township stands the name of D. J. Red- 
den, who is a native-born resident of this county, 
his birth occurring on August 29, 1862. He is a 
son of James and Martha Redden, and was edu- 
cated at the Ai'kansas Industrial University, Fay- 
etteville, Washington County, Ark. He became 
familiar with the duties of the farm in boyhood, 
and when twenty-one years of age started out in 
life for himself as a school teacher, which profes- 
sion he has since continued. He was married in 
Logan County on December 16, 1886, to Miss 
Minnie Maberry, a native of this county, born on 
April 17, 1864, and the daughter of Charles and 
Ellen (Thompson) Maberry. Her parents were 
natives of the Old Dominion, born in 1820 and 
1822, respectively, and their children were named 
as follows: Matthew, Josh, Augustus, Latich, 
Belle, Jane, Aid, Lion, Annie and Minnie. The 
parents of these children emigrated to Missouri, 
and from there to Arkansas in 1858, settling in 
this county. Here the father died in 1883 and the 
mother in 1890. Both were members of the Bap- 



tist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Redden were born 
two children: Opie and Doy. Mr. Redden is the 
owner of 120 acres of good land, all well improved 
and well cultivated, and in 1885 he built a nice 
frame house, which, together with his substantial 
outbuildings, constitute a prominent and attractive 
feature of his place. He has a good young or- 
chard of apple, peach, plum and cherry trees, and 
the principal crops raised on his farm are cotton, 
corn and oats. Mrs. Redden is a member of the 
Baptist Church, and Mr. Redden is in favor of all 
public improvements, extending a ready and help- 
ing hand to the poor and needy. Politically he 
affiliates with the Republican party. 

Marvel Rhyne, a prominent pioneer and mer- 
chant of Booneville, was originally from North 
Carolina, born in Lincoln County, March 28, 1823, 
and is a son of Michael H. and Barbara (Wethers) 
Rhyne, both born in North Carolina. The father 
was a tiller of the soil, and moved from North Car- 
olina to Tennessee, in 1832. By his marriage to 
Miss Wethers he became the father of ten children: 
Dicej', Anna, Eliza (wife of Silas Dothrow), Yar- 
dsey, Albert, Isabela, Michael H. , John, Marvel 
and Caroline, whom we have named in the order 
of their births. The mother of these children died 
in Lincoln County, N. C, in 1827. The father 
then married Miss Peggy Hoyle, who bore him 
twelve children. He died in 1860, and his second 
wife followed him to the grave in 1880. Five of 
the children came to Arkansas. Marvel Rhyne was 
married May 29, 1859, to Miss L. A. Sadler, 
daughter of O. — and Eliza Sadler, and to them 
were born three childi-en: Minnie L. (deceased), 
Horasio, and one died unnamed. Mrs. Rhyne 
died at Booneville, Ark., in 1863, and June 8, of 
that year, Mr. Rhyne wedded Miss Jacinthia S. 
Sadler, daughter of Elwood and Martha Sadler. 
Seven children blessed this union — three sons and 
four daughters: Mattie E. (wife of D. A. Carroll), 
John E., Lucy (living), Lucy (deceased), H. C. 
(deceased), Clara (deceased), Elisyzie (living), and 
Marvel (deceased). In 1863 Mr. Rhyne enlisted 
in the Confederate Army under Gen. Cabel, and 
he f)articipated in the battles of Poison Springs, 
Jenkins' Ferry, Mark's Mill, and was with Gen. 



i-p 



372 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Price in the Missouri raid. He served until cessa- 
tion of hostilities, being discharged at Fort Smith 
in July. He then returned home and engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, which he continued until 
1868, when he embarked in merchandising in 
Booneville. He is one of the county's esteemed 
citizens, and one of its thoroughgoing business 
men. He carries a stock of goods valued at $5,000, 
and is doing well. He is a Mason, Booneville 
Lodge No. 247, and he and wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. They 
contribute liberally to all worthy movements. 

J. E. Roper, farmer, Morrison Bluff, Ark. 
Mr. Roper is possessed of those advanced ideas 
and principles regarding agricultural life which 
seem to be among the chief characteristics of the 
average native Tennesseean. He was born in Mc- 
Minn County, of that State, in 1832, and his 
parents, J. M. and Mary M. (Giddon) Roper, were 
natives of the Big Bend State also. The mother 
died in Tennessee, and the father moved to Arkan- 
sas, locating in Logan County in 1881. J. R. 
Roper was reared in Bradley County, Tenn. , 
and his educational facilities were limited. At tlie 
age of twenty years he began life as a farmer, 
which occupation he has since continued to follow 
and the success which seems to attend his efforts 
is well merited, for no one is more thoroughly in- 
terested in this calling, or gives it greater atten- 
tion. In the fall of 18(51 he enlisted in the armj% 
and was in active duty until cessation of hostilities. 
He was captured in the fall of 18(34, was sent to 
Johnson's Island, Ohio, and there remained for 
seven months. In 18-'37 he celebrated his marriage 
to Miss Frances Randolph, the daughter of J. and 
Margaret Randolph. The result of this union 
was the following children: Jephtha M. , William 
M. , P. R. and John F. Jephtha M. died when a 
young man, and P. R. died in infancy. Mr. Roper 
and his sons are stanch Democrats in their polit- 
ical preferences, and their votes are cast with that 
jjarty at all times. Mrs. Roper and children are 
members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

John F. Roper, farmer, Morrison Bluff, Ark. 
Mr. Roper, whose life has been an active one, 
and who has by his own industry and intelligent 



management secured a substantial footing among 
the citizens of this community, was originally from 
Tennessee, born in Hamilton County, in 1862. 
His parents, J. R. (see biography) and Frances 
Roper, were also natives of Tennessee. The father 
moved to Logan County, Ark., in 18(59. and is a 
resident of that county at the present time. John F. 
Roper attained his growth, and received his educa 
tiou in Logan County. In 1885 he began farming 
for himself, and this has continued to be his prin- 
cipal occupation. He is progressive and thorough 
in all that he does, and it requires but a few years, 
at the rate he is now advancing, to place him 
among the prominent agriculturists of the county. 
His wife, whom he married in February, 1885, 
was formerly Miss Al)bie Fox, daughter of Francis 
and Abbie Fox, the father a native of France and 
the mother of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Fox moved 
to Logan County, Ark., in 1880, and there they re- 
side at the present time. To Mr. and Mrs. Roper 
were born two children: Jennie and Beulah, the 
former of whom died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. 
Roper are members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church, and in his political views he is a Democrat 
from principle. 

Dr. Florenz Rotert, physician and farmer. Dub 
lin. Ark. Dr. Rotert is another of the many 
prominent residents of Logan County, who owe 
their nativity to Germany, his birth occurring in 
that country in 1841. His parents, Bernard and 
Clara (Plester) Rotert, were natives also of that 
country, and there our subject was reared to man- 
hood. He received a good practical education and 
when twenty-four years of age he began for himself 
as an undertaker and builder. In 1872 he emi 
grated from his native country to the United States, 
located at St. Louis, Mo., and in 1878 moved to 
Logan County, Ark., where he has since made his 
home. By his marriage, which occurred in 1865, 
to Miss Lizzie Wiedebusch, he became the father of 
the following children: F. B. , John N. and Lizzie: 
Dr. Rotert's second marriage took place in 1880, 
to Miss Margaret Underwood, and the fruits of 
this union were the following interesting children: 
Henry, Dora, Herman, Frank, Annie and Clara. 
The children are all living and are strong and 



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hearty. The Doctor is a saceessftil physician and 
has built up a large and lucrative practice. In 
fact, he has the ability and perseverance to make a 
success of whatever he undertakes, and is classed 
among the substantial men of the county. In 
politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. 
Mrs. Eotert and the children are members of the 
Catholic Church. 

St. Scholastica's Convent. The following is a 
short sketch and biography of this institution and 
its illustrious founders. As the Reverend Bene- 
dictine Fathers of St. Meinrad, Ind., undertook 
the founding of a mission at St. Benedict, Ark., in 
the spring of 1878, it was their most sincere wish 
and desire that the spiritual daughters of St. 
Benedict, the holy founder of the Benedictine Or- 
der, should share in their labor in the vineyard of 
the Lord. They therefore applied to the Convent 
of the "Immaculate Conception," of Ferdinand, 
Dubois County, Ind., for Benedictine nuns. The 
Ven. Mother Superior being animated with the de- 
sire of propagating the kingdom of God, answered 
in their favor and sent fonr nuns to their aid. 
On September 20, 1878, the Ven. Sisters bade 
adieu to their dearly beloved mother-house, Supe 
rior and Sisters, with tearful eyes and heavy hearts, 
though with the consolation of thus doing the 
most holy will of God. On arriving in Arkansas 
they were shown to St. Scholastica, about twelve 
miles distant from St. Benedict. The land, ten 
acres, was donated by the Little Rock & Fort Smith 
Railroad Company. They found a small box house, 
destitute of all comforts, and a small church. Of 
course their hardships and trials were numerous 
and of a trying character, lint were borne with 
great fortitude and patience. They labored faith- 
fully, doing all in their power for the welfare of 
the congregation, until the year 1882, when Yen. 
Superior Meinrada Lex, the present Mother, was 
sent by her superiors, from the convent of the 
"Immaculate Conception," of Ferdinand, Ind., 
to take charge of the convent of St. Scholastica 
and open a novitiate. The real founding, rapid 
growth and prosperity of this institution is marked 
from this date. Fulda, Spencer County, Ind., a 
neat and thrifty village, nestled in the midst of 



a rich farming region, is the birthplace of Ven. 
Mother Meinrada Lex. She was born in 1855, and 
is the daughter of George and Theresa Lex, her 
education being received in the academy of the 
"Immaculate Conception," Dubois County, Ind., 
and at an early age graduated from this institution 
with merit and honor. In 1870 she entered this 
convent as postulant, was invested in 1872 and took 
the simple vows one j^ear later. After having 
passed public examination and receiving a very 
recommendable certificate she was engaged in 
teaching the boys' department in the public school 
of Ferdinand, Ind., a position she filled two years 
to the entire satisfaction of- both the public and 
superintendents. At that time her superiors, to 
the deep regret of her pupils, as well as their 
parents, found it necessary to choose her among 
the first to bring the sacrifice of leaving the dear 
cloister to found a mission at St. Meinrad. Here 
she remained until 1876, when she was recalled to 
her convent, and was immediately elected novice 
mistress. However, it was not until commanded 
by virtiie of holy obedience, one of the holy vows, 
that .she could be induced to accept this difficult 
charge, being well aware of the great responsibility 
with which the duties of a novice mistress are bur- 
dened. With all the fervency of a truly Christian 
soul she now devoted herself to the discharge of 
her duties. The able and well skilled nuns of 
later years, who were in the novitate during her 
employment, are an ample proof of her wisdom 
and prudence. In 1879 it was deemed necessary 
by her superiors to order her again to St. Meinrad, 
there to act as principal of the public school. 
With ready and loving obedience, which she ever 
strove to practice, she followed the call of her 
Divine Master, who, through the medium of her 
superiors thus made manifest to her His most holy 
will. Here she remained until 1882, when she was 
again recalled to Ferdinand. Her loss was greatly 
bewailed by all, for through her removal they lost 
an able and a universally beloved teacher. But 
with what aim was she summoned home? Divine 
Providence had destined her for a greater and more 
important work, and she had scarcely arrived at 
her convent home and ventured to hope for the 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



gratification of the long cherished desire of resting 
herself in the bosom of her beloved cloister in the 
midst of the dear Sisters, when it was announced 
to her that she was again to leave her home so dear 
to her, and go to the distant St. Scholastica in 
Arkansas. These unwelcome tidings smote her 
heart like a thunderbolt, but after hurrying to the 
foot of the altar, and there raising her heart to God 
in prayer and tears, begged for the grace and 
strength to carry out this great sacrifice. She 
arose comforted, and gave her consent for the love 
of Him who had, in His great love for her, chosen 
her for His bride. 

Consequently in May, 1882, she took leave of 
all that was near and dear to her of earth, and de- 
parted in company with her Yen. Mother Superior 
for her distant field of labor in Arkansas. On her 
arrival she found nothing but poverty and priva- 
tion awaiting her. Two of the Sisters who were 
sent in 1878 were occupying the box house, con- 
taining three small rooms, and the other two were 
at that time engaged in teaching school in St. 
Benedict mission. It would make one shudder to 
rehearse the many trials of these poor Sisters, for 
the members of the congregation, although willing 
to give assistance, were utterly destitute of means 
themselves, battling to keep the wolf from the 
door, as there had been a succession of failures in 
the crops, from drouths. The convent, if the term 
is appropriate, was surrounded by a garden made 
tillable by their own toil and labor, the remaining 
ground of the 101 acres being yet an unbroken 
piece of forest land. There was also a small 
school numbering from twenty to thirty children, 
conducted by the Sisters, but under, the supervision 
of Ven. Mother Meinrada Lex, it grew rapidly, 
and soon numbered fifty pupils. This school was 
the only source of support for the wants of the 
convent and its inmates, and as it proved very ineffi- 
cient the Sisters saw themselves forced to lay their 
own hands to the ax and clear land whereupon to 
raise farm products. Their fund was necessarily 
too meager to defray the expenses of hiring the 
work done, and as soon as her school was dismissed 
the Ven. Superior was'at their head, upon which 
^hey set energetically to work to clear their land. 



Their hands were often covered with blisters from 
their unaccustomed toil, but, nothing daunted, they 
continued their labors, and as a reward now have 
thirty acres under cultivation. The novitiate was 
immediately opened on Ven. Mother Meinrada' s 
arrival, and she soon had the joy of welcoming 
candidates from all sides, in spite of the utter 
poverty of the convent. Through the prudent and 
skillful management of the Superior she was en 
abled, from time to time, to add enlargements to 
their building, which was greatly needed, as the 
number of the community daily increased. The 
first addition was erected in 1883, it being 24x30 
feet and was two stories in height. In 1885 a 
second story was added to the original building, 
and in 1890 an addition, 60x24 feet, forming an L, 
with the other buildings, making an area of 60x96 
feet. It can easily be imagined that the Superior 
feels herself amply rewarded for the many sacri- 
fices and privations she had to endure during the 
first years of her stay, and gladly forgets the many 
self abnegations and trials. Here it must also be 
noted that the German Catholics of Fort Smith 
won for themselves an undying and ever grateful 
remembrance in the heart of the good Mother 
and her community by their liberal contributions 
and by patronizing her school. She was thus 
enabled to accomplish the most of the improve- 
ments free of debt, which is, indeed, quite an ex- 
ception and a visible sign of the blessing of Divine 
Providence. In 1886 a separate building, two 
stories high, and 24x40 feet, was erected and spe- 
cially arranged for guests. It is scarcely ever un- 
occupied, for, almost daily, visitors from far and 
near, are welcomed by the genial and ever friend- 
ly inmates, and it must be added that all pronounce 
the place very attractive and interesting. The 
pure air, and delightful scenery which meets the 
eye from the convent is especially pleasing. New 
stables and numerous other buildings, as required 
by the institution, were erected from time to time. 
There is also a vineyard of from 2,000 to 3,000 
vines and a fine orchard of four or five acres, con- 
taining a great variety of fruit, and in place of the 
former great scarcity of water there are now cisterns 
and wells, supplying an abundance of good water. 



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The farm is well stocked Nvith cattle, horses, swine, 
sheep and fowls. They also have good carriages, 
wagons, farmiog implements, etc., and the labor 
previously performed by the untiring Mother and 
her Sisters, is now given to men who are eon 
stantly employed about the grounds. The present 
routine of the convent is in marked contrast to 
what it was in former days, for, instead of dis- 
charging laborious and often over-burdening farm 
duties in days of snow and ice as well as intense 
heat and inclement weather, the inmates are per- 
mitted to devote their time to their appropriate 
duties. They are very skillful with their needles 
and their fancy work in fine silk, etc. , has won uni- 
versal admiration and is in great demand. In ad- 
dition to the parish school conducted by the Sisters, 
the Yen. Mother Superior opened a higher school 
some years ago, known as St. Scholastica's Acad 
emy, a boarding school for girls and young ladies. 
The course of instruction includes every useful 
and ornamental branch of female education, while 
the most untiring attention is paid, by these 
learned and devoted Sisters, to the moral and 
polite deportment of the pupils. Many of these 
Sisters received superior educations themselves, 
and afterward had experience as teachers in 
the then much-lauded and well-known Academy 
in Dubois County, Ind. Terms are moderate 
and in keeping with the times. Especial attention 
is given to both vocal and instrumental music, and 
instruction is given on the piano, organ, violin, 
guitar and mandolin. Difference of religion is not 
regarded in admission to the academy, and stu- 
dents of all denominations and creeds are alike 
welcome. This academy can boast of patronage 
ever since its opening, from pupils far and near, 
which is an ample proof of its merit and worth. 
Five missions have been instituted by the Yen. 
Mother Superior, where her Sisters are engaged in 
unceasing labor to the benefit of mankind. With 
the greatest zeal and fervor they teach and labor to 
the greater honor and glory of God. These mis- 
sions are located at St. Scholastica, St. Benedict, 
Fort Smith, Paris and Dixie, and are patronized 
by American as well as German students. Many 
openings for missions can not be supplied for 



there are too few Sisters to supply the call for 
teachers. 

In 1887 the Mother Superior was unanimously 
elected prioress for the term of four years, and by 
this act the convent of St. Scholastica became an 
independent institution, whereas, up to this time 
it was under the direct control of the convent of the 
' ■ Immaculate Conception,' ' being a branch house of 
the same. This step was found to be necessary, as 
nothing of any importance could take place with- 
out the permission of the Mother Superior of the 
mother-house. It is plain enough to perceive 
that communication between the two houses was 
very frequent, but as the distance was great, it caused 
much inconvenience, and often occasioned disadvan- 
tages to the convent. In the same year the newly 
elected prioress returned to the convent of ' 'Immac- 
ulate Conception" and took the solemn vows, thus 
having the pleasure of enjoying the long-craved- 
for happiness of once more seeing the home and 
its beloved inmates so dear to her heart. After a 
short but happy stay she returned to the home Di- 
vine Providence had destined for her future place 
of usefulness, and where she was received with re- 
joicing hearts by her spiritual daughters, who were 
only too well aware of the treasure they possessed 
in her. With renewed zeal and energy she now 
devoted herself to the spiritual and corporeal welfare 
of those entrusted to her care, as well as the pru- 
dent and skillful management of the affairs of the 
convent in general. Her community now numbers 
fifteen professed Sisters, all of whom entered there 
and have taken the simple vows. Nine of them 
are on missions, while the remainder are in the 
mother convent, and nearly all are natives of the 
United States, but some few were born in different 
countries of Europe. There are sixteen postulants in 
the convent, three being natives of Arkansas, one 
of Kentucky, and twelve from Europe. The majori- 
ty of the latter are of high birth and station, show 
excellent talent, and give promise of future reliance 
and support to the convent. The Superior hojjes 
to soon be enabled to found missions where they 
will have occasion to complete the utter sacrifice of 
all earthly ties and pleasures, and devote them- 
selves to the sole cause of glorifying God, and la- 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



boring for the general welfare of mankind. They 
manifest great zeal and fervor in the divine service 
and worship of their heavenly Sponse, and often 
give utterance to their great desire of bringing any 
sacrilice which may be required of them in any 
future ordinance of Divine Providence, which will 
be made known to them through the medium of 
their Ven. Superior, to whom they are all warmly 
attached. How could it be otherwise, after bid- 
ding farewell to their native land, aud tearing 
themselves from beloved ones, some of whom were 
far more dear to them than themselves, for the 
purpose of glorifying God in a foreign- land! May 
Divine Providence ever bless and prosper all their 
work and undertakings with bounteous success! 
The V:'xierable Mother Prioress will soon enlarge 
the buildings to double their present size, the new 
building to be made on the west side of the last 
enlargement, which is 60x20 feet, is beautifully 
furnished and is used as a chapel. The intended 
addition will be built and arranged as an academy, 
no cost, time or trouble being spared to make the 
same all that skill in architecture can furnish. It 
will undoubtedly present a beautiful aspect, the 
steeple tovyering in the center. This is already 
erected, and from its heights there chimes a sweet- 
toned bell, sending its enticing call over the neigh- 
boring valleys and heights at frequent intervals 
during the day, to announce the recitation of the 
praises of God by the good Mother Superior and 
her community. It is hoped that Divine Provi- 
dence will long spare the lives of the founders of 
this convent to the comfort and welfare of those 
trusted to her jurisdiction, and may the institute 
ever continue to exist and prosper to the greater 
honor and glory of God, and to the benefit of all 
mankind. 

Ver. Rev. P. Wolfgang Schlumpf, the present 
very worthy prior of St. Benedict Monastery, was 
originally from Canton Zug, Switzerland, where 
his birth occurred on January 20, 1831, and is the 
son of Philip and Christina (Hotz) Schlumpf, the 
father dying when Father Wolfgang was but a boy. 
The latter was sent to Schwitz College, thence to 
France Rufach, still higher college, and afterward 
returned to Zug, where he attended school for some 



time. From there he went to Einsiedelen, entered 
the monastery at the age of twenty-two, completed 
his studies for the priesthood, and was ordained at 
the age of twenty-six years. After his ordination he 
was made professor of the gymnasium of the mon- 
astery. In 1862 he emigrated to America and 
stopped at the monastery at St. Meinrad, Spencer 
County, Ind., where he assumed the duties of a 
parish near St. Meinrad for two or three years. 
In March, 1878, he, with two lay Brothers, came 
to Arkansas, and for the first time set foot on the 
soil of Logan County. This pioneer Father imme- 
diately took possession of Section 11, Township 7, 
Range 25, for the use and purpose of the new 
monastery. A dilapidated log-cabin was the only 
building on the apportioned lands; there was no vis- 
able being around to cheer and encourage the Fa- 
ther and his two companions. All was bleak 
enough, and certainl}^, judging from a mere human 
point of view, the outlook was not very encourag- 
ing. But this valiant man, had back for a thousand 
years or more, the history and acts of his Order 
before his mind's eye, and was not the one to be 
discouraged. Sturdy monks know not the word 
fail, and in the wilderness, amid strange surround- 
ings, was founded what is now known as the Mon- 
astery of St. Benedict. Around that old log cabin 
has grown the above-mentioned institution, and 
numerous churches and schools, among the most 
prominent of which is the convent of St. Scholas- 
tica, at Shoal Creek. After St. Scholastica, 
congregations were formed at Morrison Bluff, 
St. Anthony's Church, at Caulksville; the Church 
of the Sacred Heart, at Charleston, Frank- 
lin County; St. Joseph's Church at Paris was 
foimded in 1880, and other churches founded by 
this Father were St. Edward's Church at Lit- 
tle Rock; St. Boniface Church at Fort Smith; 
another St. Boniface at Dixie, Perry County, and 
St. Elizabeth in the same county, which are at- 
tended bjr Benedictine Fathers from the monastery 
of St. Benedict. Later four more congregations 
were placed under the jurisdiction of the Benedic- 
tine Fathers by the Bishop: Altus, Hartman, Coal 
Hill and Clarksville. These congregations are 
ministered to by the Benedictine Fathers, mission- 



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aries sent from St. Meinrad and Einsiedelen, there 
being now ten Fathers, fourteen fraters, nine lay 
brothers and three novices. The College of St. 
Benedict, founded by our subject, was organized 
and held its first session in 1SS7. At that session 
there were eight students, and this number has 
been increased each succeeding year. Many of 
these students enter the college with the object of 
becoming priests, and are so educated. The course 
of study as laid down here is very comprehensive. 
In the elementary course are reading, writing, 
spelling, arithmetic, grammar, geography, physi- 
ology, drawing, United States history and the 
Christian doctrine. In the commercial course stu- 
dents are instructed in book-keeping in addition to 
continuing their studies in the common branches, 
higher mathematics, physics, rhetoric and ancient 
history. Students desiring to enter the priesthood 
are required to take Latin in the commercial course. 
In the classical course students continue English, 
higher mathematics, world's history, church his- 
tory, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, theology and all the 
branches accompanying a thorough theological 
course. Since acquiring the 640 acres of the mon- 
astery grounds, they have purchased 160 acres 
near Paris in the southwest quarter of Section 5, 
Township 7, Range 25. The college building 
is 25x50 feet, two stories high, and is situated 
about 100 yards from the monastery. It was re- 
modeled in 1888 for a college, and now forms a 
very important part of the buildings of St. Benedict. 
In 1888 was laid the foundation for a stone chapel, on 
the heights, back of the monastery, 21x42 feet, with 
a 16-foot ceiling and a 40foot spire. The present 
monastery being too small for the requirements, 
it is the intention of these Fathers to build in their 
new home a monastrey of solid stone which, like 
their own old faith, will be lasting and enduring; 
a college, too, worthy of the name and fame of a 
distinguished order, will surely follow. There is 
also upon the grounds a parish school conducted 
by Sisters of Charity. 

Hon. M. C. Scott, farmer, Sugar Grove, Ark. 
Prominent among the wide-awake, industrious till- 
ers of the soil in Logan County stands the name 
of M. C. Scott, who is a native of Arkansas, his 



birth occurring in 1842. His father, Milas T. 
Scott, was born in Illinois, and his grandparents, 
John and Catherine (Anderson) Scott, were both 
born in North Carolina, the grandfather in 1780. 
John Scott died in Logan County in 1848 and his 
wife, Catherine Scott, preceded him to the grave, 
dying in 1844. The father was born in 1805 and 
was married in 1830 to Miss Celia Garner, a 
native of Tennessee, born in 1808. Her father, 
Thomas Garner, passed his entire life in Tennes- 
see, where his death occurred at the age of eighty- 
nine years. Shortly after their marriage the par- 
ents of our subject immigrated to the Territory of 
Arkansas and settled on a farm near Roseville, 
Johnson County, a place now known as the old 
Scott farm. After remaining there for two years 
they removed to what is now Logan County and 
embarked in merchandising near the present resi- 
dence of our subject. In 1837 and 1838 Milas 
T. Scott represented his county in the Legislature 
and returned a second time. Milas T. Scott was 
a member of the Legislature at the time Scott 
County was set off, and it was named in honor of 
him at that time. He afterward removed his store 
to Booneville and erected a gin at Caulk' s Creek. 
To his marriage were born eight children, only 
one besides our subject now living, Robert C, 
(whose birth occurred on August 28, 1836,) Upon 
the outburst of the war cloud that had been 
hovering over the country for so long a period, 
M. C, Scott (our subject) volunteered his services 
for the Confederacy and enlisted in Company A, 
Second Arkansas Mounted Riflemen, serving in 
Benjamin McCulloch's division until after the bat- 
tle at Corinth, when he was united with Johnston's 
army. He participated in the battles of Oak Hill 
(Mo.), Elk Horn, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, 
Franklin, Nashville, Richmond, Atlanta, Resaca, 
Bentonville, Jonesboro and numerous minor en- 
gagements. Taking all of them Mr. Scott was in 
twenty-six hard-fought battles. After the war he 
began tilling the soil on land received fi'om his 
father's estate (forty acres), to which he has since 
added over 300 acres of unimproved land. He 
now has 125 acres under cultivation, has erected a 
good house and other buildings and has made 






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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



many other improvements. His principal pro- 
ductions are corn, cotton and oats. He raises on [ 
his uplands thirty bushels of corn to the acre and 
on the bottom lands fifty bushels on an average, 
although by actual measure he raised eighty bush- 
els to the acre one season. Of cotton he raises 
over half a bale on the uplands and occasionally a 
bale to the acre. In 1867 Mr. Scott was married \ 
to Miss Mary HendersoQ, a native of Tennessee, 
born in 1845, and the daughter of A. H. and 
Martha J. Henderson. Of the five children born 
to this marriage three are now living: Charley 
(born in 1875), Early (born in 1880), and Lester 
(born in 1882). Mr. Scott represented Logan 
County in the Legislature in 1885 and 1886, and 
although no office seeker he consented to become a 
candidate at the request of his neighbors. He 
declined renouiination. Mrs. Scott is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Chiirch South. 

Samuel I. Shelton, a prosperous farmer of the 
county whose advanced ideas and progressive 
views have resulted very substantially, was born in 
Dallas County, Ala., on November 21, 1835, and is 
a son of Samuel I., Sr., and Martha (Tatum) Shel- 
ton. The parents were married in Alabama, and 
to them were born five children — three sons and 
two daughters: Jonathan, Sarah, Samuel I., Jr., 
and two others who died in infancy. Jonathan 
died in Alabama when but seventeen years of age, 
and Sarah and our subject are the only ones of the ' 
family now living. The parents died about 1842 
or 1843. Samuel I. Shelton, Jr., and his sister 
removed from Alabama to West Tennessee, where ! 
'he left Sarah and went to Missouri, remaining 
there about a year. From there he went to Logan 
County, Ark. His sister was married in Alabama 
to Joseph Musgrove, and .she and her husband 
came with our subject to Arkansas in 1858. Sarah 
died near Pine Bluff, Ark., in 1870, Init her hus- 
band had died twelve years before. After his death 
she married Mr. Cazort, and he also died before 
her, leaving her four children by Mr. Musgrove 
and one by himself. Mr. Shelton was married in 
Tennessee in 1856 to Miss Susan Brown, daughter 
of James Brown, and the fruits of this union were 
two children: The eldest one died when an infant 



and the second one, John R. Shelton, also died 
when young. Mrs. Shelton received her final 
summons in 1862. Subsequently Mr. Shelton 
married Mrs. Amanda Lee, widow of Lovett Lee, 
her maiden name being James, and the daughter 
of Joseph James of Johnson County. Three chil- 
dren have been born to this union: L. H. , J. H. 
and A. A., all single and at home. Mr. Shelton 
is the owner of 270 acres of land, has 120 acres 
under cultivation, and is a prosperous farmer. 
He is a meml)er of the Farmers' Alliance and also 
a member of the G. A. R., having been a soldier 
in the United States Army. He enlisted in Com- 
pany H, First Arkansas Infantry, under Col. John- 
son, March 10, 1863, and was engaged mostly in 
State duty. He was with Gen. Steele on the Cam- 
den raid, and was discharged on August 10, 1865, 
at Fort Smith. Since the war he has been en- 
gaged actively in the pursuit of his chosen calling, 
farming, and has met with the best of results. 
He and wife are both church members. 

Isaac Smith, farmer, Corley, Ark. Among the 
successful agriculturists of Logan County whose 
merits are such as to entitle him to representation 
in the present work is Mr. Smith, the subject of 
this sketch. He was born in the Buckeye State 
in 1822, and was the son of Peter and Mary (Car- 
son) Smith, the father a native of Virginia and the 
mother of Pennsylvania. The educational attain- 
ments of Isaac Smith were of rather a meager 
order, and he was early initiated into the duties of 
farm life, which occupation has continued to be 
his chosen calling up to the present time. He has 
closely applied himself to the same and with what 
success may be inferred from a glance over his 
fine farm of 160 acres in Mountain Township, Logan 
County, Ark. In 1861 Mr. Smith enlisted in the 
army, and remained in service until 1864, when 
he was discharged for disability, having received 
a severe wound in March of that year. He was 
wounded by the explosion of a boiler, and lay on 
a bed of suffering from March, 1864, until October 
of the same year. He lost the sight of his right 
eye by the hot water, and came very near losing 
the sight of the other eye. His left knee was dis- 
located at the same time, and he was disabled for 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



379 



life. Mr. Smith was married to Miss Annie Mc- 
Kinney in 1840, and the fruits of this union were 
four children: John (deceased), Mary, Isaac D. 
and Catherine (deceased). Mr. Smith was married, 
the second time, to Hester A., daughter of James 
and Katie Cummins, and to this union were born 
three children : Ellen, Peter and James (deceased). 
Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics. Mrs. Smith 
is a devout member of the Baptist Church. 

D. Speer, planter, Booneville, Ark. D. Speer, 
a well known resident and planter of Logan Coun- 
ty, was born in Kentucky, June 7, 1818, and is a 
son of James and PenelojDe (Jacks) Speer, both 
also from the blue-grass soil of Kentucky. The 
parents were married in their native State, but 
received their tinal summons in the L'one Star 
State, whither they had removed at an early day. 
Of fourteen children born to this union, only three 
are now living. D. Speer passed his boyhood days 
on the farm, and received an average education in 
the common schools. He was married in Tennes- 
see, and the result of this union was the birth of 
nine children, six of whom are now living: D. G., 
Lee A., G. C, P. M., Martha F. (wife of George 
Keys) and William. Those deceased were John 
H., Ella A. and James. In 1863 Mr. Speer en- 
listed in the Confederate Cavalry and served until 
the close of the war. He was paroled at Tyler, 
Smith County. Tex. In 1866 he emigrated fi'om 
Texas to Arkansas and settled in Hempstead Coun- 
ty, where he resided one year. He then moved to 
this county, bought his present property, which 
consists of 270 acres of land, with 100 acres under 
cultivation, and he is one of the substantial men of 
the township. His wife, who was a worthy and 
consistent member of the Baptist Church, died in 
1872. Mr. Speer is a member of the same church. 
His son, P. M. , was born September 6, 1851, and 
was married in this co^inty in 1874 to Miss Anna 
M. Terwilliger, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 
the year 1851. Four children were born to this 
union, three of whom are now living: Minnie E. , 
Nellie M. , Dew and Viola (deceased). Mrs. Speer 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. 

Emil Spieler, farmer and ginner, Spielerville, 



Ark. Mr. Spieler has all the characteristics of 
those of German nativity, and is honest, industri- 
ous and frugal. His birth occurred in 1849, and 
he is the son of Englebert and Pauline Spieler, 
natives also of Germany. The parents were mar- 
ried in the old countr_y, and their union was 
blessed by the birth of six children, five now living 
and Emil being the eldest son. The father came 
to America in 1851, landed in New Orleans, then 
moved to St. Louis, thence to Illinois, and in 1879 
to Arkansas. He settled in Logan County, and 
there the mother died in about 1803. She was a 
member of the Catholic Church. The father is 
now living in Madison County, 111. Emil Spieler 
began working for himself when a young man, 
and his first venture was to build a large cot- 
ton, flour and saw-mill, which was erected in 
1880-81. The capacity of this gin is from eight- 
een to twenty bales per day, and he cuts about 
5,000 feet of lumber per day. Our subject was 
married in 1877, to Miss Mary Ejkorn, a native 
of Peoria, 111., born in 1856, and they had six 
children born to this union: Eoiile (deceased), 
Englebert, Mary, Eda, Pauline and Emily. In 
1880 and 1883 Mr. Spieler Iniilt a nice, large two 
story frame house, a good barn, and comfortable 
outbuildings. He is the owner of 130 acres of land, 
has seventy acres under cultivation and has a good 
fruit orchard of apples, peaches, plums, pears, figs, 
etc. Last year he made 400 gallons of grape wine, 
and he has fourteen stands of bees. He and Mrs. 
Spieler are members of the Catholic Church. 

J. W. Stanfield was early taught the duties of 
farm life, and this has been his chosen occupation, 
though of late years he has been engaged in the 
mercantile business, having a general stock of mer- 
chandise in Booneville, worth about $1,300. He 
has only been in the business about a year, but 
during that short period he has gained the confi- 
dence and esteem of all by his honest, upright 
dealings. He is a young man of good business 
qualifications, and will, no doubt, make a complete 
success of this enterprise. He is also the owner 
of fifty acres of good land, and has twenty-four 
acres under cultivation. In March, 1885, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Ellen Craine, daughter 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of J. V. Craine, and they have one child, a daugh- 
ter, named Vera Lee. Mr. Stanfield was born in 
Wayne Cotinty, Tenn. , in Angust, 1857, and his 
parents, Thomas P. and C. A. (Woody) Stanfield, 
were both natives of Tennessee also. They were 
married in that State, and to their union were born 
.six cliildren — three sons and three daughters — viz. : 
Robert F. (deceased), J. W., Marj' J., Joseph Z., 
Charity E. and Comfort A.' The father was a sol- 
dier in the United States Army, and was killed in 
1865. The mother removed from Tennessee to 
Arkansas, in 1880. Their daughter, Mary J., was 
married in Tennessee, to Buck Lynch, and then 
removed to Alabama, where she now resides. 
Charity (married J. W. Fields, of Booneville, Lo- 
gan County, Ark. ), Comfort (married A. T. Bar- 
low, a farmer in Logan County), and Joseph mar- 
ried Miss Ida Barlow, sister to A. T. Barlow. 

Harris T. Teague, farmer, Paris, Ark. The sub- 
ject of this sketch is "a native of Alabama, born 
June 24, 1848, and from an early age he was 
trained to the duties of farm life. Owing to the 
breaking out of the war his educational advantages 
were limited, and when twenty years of age he 
started out for himself as au'agriculturist, renting 
land in Logan County, where he continued suc- 
cessfully for three years. He then bought railroad 
claim near Paris, and there he now lives. This 
place he has improved by erecting a house and a 
large barn, the latter 50x52 feet, and he is now 
preparing to builda large and commodious dwell- 
ing, 18x38, with an L 20x14 feet, and having six 
rooms. His farm now consists of 200 acres under a 
good state of cultivation, and 290 acres under fence. 
He was married in 1876 to Mrs. Grounds, of this 
county, but formerly of Tenn. , and they have James 
R., Claudie T. , Esther and Myrtle, all at home and 
attending the public schools. The father of our sub- 
ject, A. A. Teague, was in the Confederate Army 
for about two years. He then returned to Ala 
bama, and from there moved to the Lone Star 
State, where he resides at the present time. Har- 
ris T. Teague is quite deeply interested in stock- 
raising, and has some tine mules and horses as well 
as cattle. The farm is well kept and has the ap- 
pearance of thrift and enterprise. His crops are 



principally corn and cotton. Mr. and Mrs. Teague 
value an education far above what is customary in 
some of the rural districts, and are determined 
that their children shall have the advantages of the 
very best schools within their reach. The family 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and are liberal in their support of all worthy move- 
ments. Mr. Teague is wide-awake and enterprising, 
and is an honored and highly-esteemed citizen. 

Dr. E. W. Thomas, physician, Booneville, 
Ark. Among the people of Logan, as well as sur- 
rounding counties, the name that heads this sketch 
is by no means an unfamiliar one. For eleven years 
he was actively and successfully occupied in the 
practice of his chosen profession, and during this 
time he has built up an excellent practice. He 
was born in Walker County, Ga. , in 1851, and is 
the son of Samuel W. and Mary C. (Davis) Thomas, 
natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively. 
The parents were married in the last named State, 
but in 1850 removed from there to Georgia. There 
were nine children born to their union — five boys 
and four girls — named in the order of their births 
as follows: Mary T (deceased), Laura J. (de- 
ceased), Edwin W., William H. (deceased), Luther 
M., Florence L., Samuel B., Edgar R. and Mattie 
E. The parents removed from Georgia, and not 
believing in the old adage that " a rolling stone 
gathers no moss, ' ' moved from place to place, and 
finally settled at Pine Bluff, where the father's death 
occujredin 1887. He was a Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian minister and a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity. The mother is now living at Fordyce, Dal- 
las County, Ark., having passed her sixty-fourth 
year. Dr. E. W. Thomas received a good prac- 
tical education in youth, read medicine under Dr. 
J. T. Foster (whose daughter afterward became 
his wife), and in 1879 and 1880 attended medical 
lectures at the Arkansas Industrial School at Little 
Rock, beginning to practice in the spring of 1880 
at Ola, Yell County, Ark. There he was married 
the following year to Miss Rosa A. Foster, daughter 
of Dr. J. T. Foster, now of Booneville, Ark. 
Four children were born to this marriage: Harriet 
E. , Jimmie C. , James W. (deceased) and Rosa Dell. 
In 1882 Dr. Thomas removed to Booneville, where 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



381 



he has succeeded in building up a good practice, 
being at the present time one of the prominent 
young physicians of the county. He also owns a 
residence property in Booneville valued at $2,000, 
and is not only respected in a professional point of 
view, but is esteemed and liked for his pleasant 
social qualities. Dr. J. T. Foster, father in-law of 
Dr. Thomas, graduated at what was then the Uni- 
versity of Louisiana and began practicing at Beebe, 
White County, Ark. From there he moved to 
Perry County, then to Yell County, and in 
1881 to Booneville, Logan County, where he now 
resides. He served in the Civil War in Col. T. D. 
Merrick's Tenth Arkansas Regiment, first as first 
lieutenant, then captain and then as assistant sur- 
geon. He was born at Greenville, Va., married 
Miss Harriet Alison at Memphis, Tenn. , June 26, 
1859, who bore him five children: R. A., J. H. , B. 
B., O. T. (deceased) and R. S. The mother died 
in 1869, and later Dr. Foster wedded Ann Hill, of 
Perry County, and bj' her became the father of 
five children. 

W. P. Tygart, merchant and farmer, Prairie 
View, Ark. Prominent among the successful mer- 
chants and farmers of Logan County stands the 
name of W. P. Tygart, who was born in Walker 
County, Ga. , in 1848. His parents were J. H. 
and E. J. (Lasley) Tygart. He was reared in Ar- 
kansas, and his educational advantages were rather 
limited, although being of studious habits, and a 
man of observation, he has become well informed 
on all the current topics of the day. In the year 
1865 he started out to make his own way in life, 
and engaged in merchandising and farming, which 
occupations he has continued to follow since. He 
is the owner of 290 acres of land in Logan County, 
.\rk., and his improvements are all of a first class 
order. In merchandising he has also been un- 
usually successful, and has the confidence of his 
■ many patrons. He carries a stock of goods 
valued at about $6,000, and has conducted this 
business in Prairie View for the past four years. 
He was married in 1869, to Miss Mary A. Sivley, 
daughter of William R. and Obedience Sivley, and 
to this union have been born eight children, who 
are named as follows: G. W. (deceased), William 



M. (deceased), Mary B. (deceased), P. M., Waity 
(deceased), Mary E., Ira O. and May. The four 
children now living are at home and enjoying the 
best of health. Mr. Tygart has always supported 
the Republican ticket, believing its views to be 
sound and well suited to any man. Mrs. Tygart 
and her daughter, Mary E., are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

W. P. Van Hoozer, liveryman and planter, 
Paris, Ark. This prominent business man and 
planter owes his nativity to Missouri, his birth oc- 
curring in 1856, and was the only child born to the 
union of John and Caroline (Montgomery) Van 
Hoozer, both natives of the Old Dominion. The 
parents moved to Missouri soon after marriage, 
and the father died when our subject was but four 
years of age. The latter then came with his mother 
to Arkansas, and they resided in Washington 
County until the death of the latter in 1883. W. 
P. Van Hoozer was reared principally on a farm 
in Washington County, but later entered a drug 
store as clerk in Fayetteville. He came to Logan 
County in 1878, engaged as clerk in Roseville until 
1880 and then, with Mr. Bennett, embarked in 
business for himself under the firm title of A. T. 
Bennett & Co., the same continiiing for one year. 
Mr. Van Hoozer then bought out a drug store 
carried this on for a few years, and then was steam- 
boat agent, in which capacity he did a good busi- 
ness. Subsequently he was railroad agent at Rose- 
ville, and ran a transfer line utitil 1889, when he 
came to Paris. Here he started a livery stable, 
contracted for the mail route from Paris to Altus, 
and ran a hack between those points. He has 
about twenty-four head of stock in his stable, 
hacks, buggies and a four-horse coach, etc., being 
well equipped. He is also agent for the Water 
Pierce Oil Company, and supplies all the oil of this 
section. His farming interest consists of 180 acres 
of river bottom land with 320 acres under cultiva- 
tion, one of the best tracts of land in the State and 
very productive. He has a store on the farm and 
it is conducted under the name of Van Hoozer & 
Parker. They do a good cash business. Mr. Van 
Hoozer' s marriage to Miss Ada G. Titswortb, a 
native of Logan County, Ark. , was consummated in 



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382 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



November, 1880, and they have one child, Nellie. 
Mrs. Van Hoozer's father, Randolph Titsworth, 
resides on a fine piece of property on the river be- 
low Roseville, which his father, John Titsworth, 
settled on in early times, and which is still in the 
possession of the family. Mr. Van Hoozer is the 
owner of a tine residence in Paris, and is one of 
the substantial men of the county. His wife is a 
member of the Catholic Church. 

Martin Wahl, farmer, Paris, Ark. This well- 
known and respected citizen of Logan County was 
oricrinally from Germany, his birth occurring in 
that country in 1835, and there he was principally 
reared. His educational facilities were very good, 
and when about nineteen years of age, or in 1854, 
he started out for himself as a tiller of the soil, 
which has continued to be his chosen occupation 
up to the present time. He is progressive in his 
ideas, and his residence, barns, outbuildings, and 
in fact all necessary conveniences indicate the 
quality of farmer that he is. His tine farm, con- 
sisting of 280 acres, is situated a mile and a half 
west of Paris, Ark. He left his native country, 
and emigrated to New York in 1854, and in 1859 
he left that State for Michigan, where he remained 
until 1878. He then emigrated to Logan County, 
Ark., and settled on his present property. His 
wife, who was formerly Miss Frances Emo, was 
the daughter of Michael and Susan Emo. To the 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wahl have been born 
the following children: Charles, Lizzie, Mary, 
Martin and Frank. Three of these childi-en are 
married, one is attending school, and the other is 
at home. Mr. Wahl and his sons are stanch Dem- 
ocrats in their political views, and Mr. "Wahl and 
all the children are members of the Catholic 
Church. Mr. Wahl's parents, C. and Margaret 
Wahl were also natives of Germany. 

D. C. Watkins, farmer, Revilee, Ark. The 
parents of Mr. Watkins, William and Lucinda 
(Maddox) Watkins, were natives of the Palmetto 
State, where they were reared and married. They 
removed to Alabama at an early day, and there re- 
sided probably fifty years. Mrs. Watkins received 
her final summons there in 1880, and all the fam- 
ily, with the exception of one daughter, are resi- 



dents of Ai'kansas. D. C. Watkins was born in 
Tuscaloosa County, Ala., in July, 1838, and when 
twenty-one years of age he started out to fight 
life's battles for himself. Two years later, or in 
1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, in the 
Thirty-eighth Tennessee Infantry, and was in the 
battles of Chiekamauga, Shiloh and Franklin, be- 
sides numerous minor engagements. He served 
the Confederacy faithfully and well until cessation 
of hostilities, after which he returned to his home 
in Alabama. In 1869 he came to Arkansas, re- 
turned the next year to Alabama, and while there 
was married to Mrs. Margaret Weaver. In 1871 
he returned with his wife to Logan County, Ark. , 
and there he has since resided. He is the owner 
of 160 acres of land, and has 100 acres under culti- 
vation. His nuptials were blessed by the birth of 
eight children — four sons and four daughters : Lu- 
cinda, William, Mattie, Viola, Rachel, two died in 
infancy, and John (died at the age of nine months). 
Mrs. Watkins died in April, 1886, and was a con- 
sistent member of the Christian Church. Mr. 
Watkins has been a resident of Logan County 
for twenty one years, and is well known and re- 
spected over the length and breadth of it. He is 
one of the county's best citizens. 

M. A. Williams, merchant, Chismville, Ark. 
Mr. Williams, one of the successful business 
men of the place, has acquired a wide reputation 
for perseverance and general business ability. He 
is a native of Johnson County, Ark., born Decem- 
ber 7, 1845, and is a son of William and Elizabeth 
J. (Belue) W^illiams, both natives of Tennessee, 
the father born January 8, 1814, The latter has 
followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and made 
his home in Tennessee until 1833, when he came 
to Johnson County, Ark,, settling on Horsehead 
Creek, Here he was married, and of the eleven 
children born to that iinion M, A. Williams is the 
eldest son now living. The children now living 
are named as follows: M, A,, W, H, , O. H,, 
Amanda V. (wife of D. H. Wilburn, a planter of 
this county), Nancy L, T, (wife of J. A. Doran, a 
planter living in this county), and Sarah A, (wife 
of L, W. Parker, is also a resident of this county). 
Their children deceased were as follows: Twins 



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LOGAN COUNTY. 



383 



(unnamed), John V., Squire B. and Alda B. The 
father is living on a farm two miles from this 
place, and is a prominent member of the Baptist 
Church. He was a soldier in the Mexican War, 
and is now drawing a pension. During the Civil 
War he was in the Home Guards for the Con- 
federate Government for six months. M. A. Will- 
iams was principally reared on a farm, and secured 
a common business education iu the schools of the 
county. He was married October 4, 1869, to 
Miss Georgianna R. Stanley, a native of Alabama, 
born Jiily 31, 1849, and the daughter of George 
W. C. Stanley. Mr. Williams was a soldier in 
the late war, enlisting October 13, 1863, in Com- 
pany I, Second Arkansas Cavalry, and served until 
1865, when he was discharged at La Grange, 
Tenn. Eeturning home after the war he engaged 
in tilling the soil, and this continiied until 1878, 
when he embarked in mercantile pursuits at Chism- 
ville. This he has carried on ever since, and has 
met with flattering results. His stock of goods is 
valued at $8,000, and aside from this he is the 
owner of 530 acres of land, with 175 acres under 
cultivation. He is a member of the Masonic order, 
Six Mile Lodge No. 226. Mrs. Williams is a mem- 

' ber of the Christian Church. 

W. A. L. Williams, farmer, Chismville, Ark. 
Mr. Williams' fine farm, consisting of 280 acres of 
laud in Washburn Township, Logan County, Ark., 
is well cultivated and improved, and his buildings 
are all in first-class shape. He is thrifty and en- 
terprising, and the success which seems to attend 
his efforts is well merited, for no one is more thor- 
oughly interested in this calling or gives it greater 
attention. He was born in North Carolina, in 
1827, and is the son of John W^ and Mary A. 
(Thacker) Williams, natives of the Old Dominion. 
Our subject was principally reared in North Caro- 
lina, and his educational facilities in youth were 
not of the best. He started out as a tiller of the 
soil in 1860, and this has continued to be his prin- 

! cipal occupation since. At the breaking out of the 
Civil War he enlisted in the army and served his 
country faithfully and well until the cessation of 
hostilities. He was married to Miss Margaret 
Jane Palmer, a native of North Carolina, and the 



daughter of Jesse and Betty Palmer, natives also 
of North Carolina. Mr. Williams removed from 
Missouri to Logan County, Ark., in 1870, and here 
he has made his home ever since. The fruits of 
his union were the following children: Uriah, Tem- 
py A., A. J., Mary E.. L.. Dora, Alice, Oscar and 
Wallace, all the children living and at home, with 
the exception of Uriah and Tempy A. Mr. and 
Mrs. W'illiams are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and he is a Democrat in politics. 

John Young, a highly respected citizen and a 
prosperous farmer, was born in Marion County, 
Tenn., in 1828. Of the eight children— three 
sons and five daughters — born to his parents, he is 
the only one living in Arkansas. His father, James 
Young, was a native of Virginia, but removed to 
Tennessee when quite small. There he was reared 
and married to Miss Sarah Young, a native also of 
the Old Dominion, but who passed her girlhood in 
Tennessee. They are now residents of that State. 
John Young attained his growth in the Big Bend 
State, and then went to Alabama, where he re- 
mained three years actively engaged in farming. 
While there he met and married Miss Emaline 
Simmes, and later went to Georgia, where he 
farmed for about twenty years. In 1871 he re- 
moved to Logan County, Ark., and is the owner of 
166 acres of land, with 100 acres under cultivation. 
His marriage was blessed by the birth of nine 
children: Sarah (wife of Joseph Noah), Julia (wife 
of D. T. Williams), Margaret, Rebecca, Jane (mar- 
ried John Howard), Savanah, John T., Martha 
(married C. Donaldson and died in 1889, leaving 
her husband and three children), and Malissa (mar- 
ried John Seth, and resides in Clark County). Mr. 
Young's first wife died in February, 1880, and the 
following year he was married to Miss Prudy Rainey, 
who bore him five children — four sons and one 
daughter — Henry. George, AlvinE., James E. and 
Melvin, all small and at home. Mr. Young is a 
minister of the gospel in the Baptist Church, and 
has been preaching the Word of God since 1862. 
He is one of the county's most esteemed and hon-, 
ored citizens. He contributes liberally to all laud- 
able enterprises, and he allows no worthy move- 
ment to fall through for want of support. 



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384 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



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Scott County— Physical Description— Boundary, Mountain Ranges, Streams, Area, Height of 
Land— Chauactek of Soil, etc.— The Grf.at Fourche La Fave Valley— The Poteau and Petit 
.Tean Valley Systems— Value of Lands— Analysis of Soils— Temperature— The County 
Coal Fields— Thickness, Quality and Quantity— Stone, Gold and Other Minerals— Gas 
and Oil Prospects— Lumber Resources— Scott County Organized— The County Seat 
—Fires — Congressional Districts- Townships— County Officers— Judicial Cir- 
cuits—The Squatters and Pioneers— Wild Gajie— Wild Fruit— Catalogue of 
Early Settlers — Educational Facilities and Statistics— School Fi- 
nances—The Churches and Sunday-schools— List of Post-offices— A 
Sketch of the Towns and Villages — Their Residents, Business and 
Population— Societies— Railway Prospects— The Local News- 
Papers— Military Record of Scott County. 

Ye pioneers, it is to you 
The debt of gratitude is due: 
Ye builded wiser than ye knew 

The broad foundation 
On which our superstructures stand. 
Your strong, right arm and willing hand, 
Your earnest efforts still command 

Our yeneration.— Ptarre. 




'HIS is one of the largest of 
the counties of Western 
Arkansas. It is a true 
mountain and inter- mount- 
ain country, its territory 
being in the main within 
the Fourche and Poteau 
ranges, the ridge of the first form- 
ing its southern boundary and the 
latter in part traversing its north- 
ern tier of townships, and in part 
forming its extreme northern 
boundary; and again, it is trav- 
ersed centrally by a range known 
locally as Ross Mountain; the 
axis of the three being parallel, 
and the trend from east to west. 
In all the Trans-Mississippi country, nothing pre- 
sents itself which, in its fertilitv, healthfulness, 



water, fruit, loveliness and extent, is more truly 
the type of the great Shenandoah and Luray Val- 
leys of Virginia. The general contour is suggested 
in the fact that its territory is made up in the 
main of two valley systems, that of the Fourche La 
Fave and the Poteau, and partially by a third val- 
ley system, that of the Petit Jean, the course of 
which, from south to north, is at right angles to 
the others. The area of the county is about 1,000 
square miles. Of the whole. 300,520 acres con- 
sist of low grounds and second bottoms, and 311,- 
720 valley slopes, terraces and mountain lands. 
The area of the Fourche La Fave Valley is 315,400 
acres, divided into 134,510 acres, low grounds and 
second bottoms, and 180,890 acres slopes, terraces 
and uplands. The Petit Jean Valley is 84,480 
acres in extent; 35,480 low grounds and second 
bottoms, and 49,000 inclines, terraces and up- 
lands. The area of Dutch Creek, a tributary of 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



385 



the Petit Jean, is 30,720 acres; 7,680 low grounds 
and 23,060 uplands. The area of the Poteaii 
Valley system is as follows : Main stem of Potean, 
35,645 acres low grounds and second bottoms, and 
9,600 acres uplands. East fork of Poteau, 48,030 
acres low grounds and second bottoms, and 38,000 
acres uplands. Jones' Fork of Poteau, 7,680 acres 
low grounds and second bottoms, 7,680 acres up- 
lands. Black Fork of Poteau, 9,600 low grounds, 
22,400 acres uplands. Total area of the Poteau 
Valley system, 178,640 acres; low grounds and 
second bottoms, 100,955 acres; valley slopes, ter- 
races and uplands, 77,640 acres. The timbered 
area of the county is estimated at about 500,000 
acres. There are large tracts of Government lands 
subject to homestead and to entry, at $1.25 per acre. 
The Fourche La Fave Valleyj the greatest of 
the three divisions of the county, lacks only 
65,000 acres of having as great an area as 
any one of nine tenths the counties of this State. 
Collectivel}' there is nothing like it in ampli- 
tude of area in Southern and Western Ar- 
kansas; nor in the State exclusive of the lower 
White and lower Arkansas Valley. The length 
of the valley is, approximately, fifty miles, of 
which twenty miles have a water-shed area of 
300 square miles. The upper division of the 
valley has a water-shed area of 210 square 
miles. The width of the lower division of the 
valley, from ridge to ridge of the flanking 
mountains, is fifteen miles, of which a width of 
six miles is the average of the low grounds. The 
average width of the upper division from ridge to 
ridge is seven miles, of which three and one-half 
miles are the average width of the low grounds. 
The second greatest division is that of the Poteau 
Valley system, 174,640 acres in extent. The main 
stem of the valley has a length of fifteen miles, a 
general width of five miles, with a width to the low 
grounds and second bottoms of four miles. The 
length of the east fork of Poteau is twelve miles: 
the low grounds seven miles wide; Jones' Fork of 
Poteau is twelve miles long, general width two 
miles; width of bottoms one mile. As in the case 
of the Fourche La Fave and Poteau, within the 
county is located the fountain head of the Petit 



Jean. The ramifications of the Petit Jean system, 
situated in this county, are so many and the valleys 
in such close proximity that, rather than in detail, 
the sum of the whole area is given — 115,200 acres, 
of which it is estimated that 43,160 are low grounds. 
The prices of land are as follows: In the Fourche 
La Fave Valley — Improved low grounds, |10 to 
$20 per acre; unimproved, $5 to $10 per acre. 
Improved uplands and second bottom, $5 to $10 
per acre; unimproved, $1.25 to $5 per acre. 
Poteau Valley — Improved low grounds, $10 to $25 
per acre; unimproved, $5 to $10 per acre. Im- 
proved second bottom, $5 to $10 per acre; up- 
lands, $4 to $10 per acre: unimproved, $1.25 to 
$5 per acre. Petit Jean Valley — Improved bot- 
tom farms, $12 to $25 per acre; unimproved, 
$5 to $12 per acre. Improved second bottoms 
and uplands, $5 to $10 per acre; unimproved, 
$2 to $5 per acre. Coal lands from $10 to 
$20 per acre. Timberlands from $1.25 to $5 per 
acre. Its soil is the county's greatest permanent 
resource. It is generally a light yellow, known as 
"mulatto" soil, but in many sections it is a light 
red. It will ordinarily produce with good cultiva- 
tion an average of three-fourths of a bale of cot- 
ton, twenty five to thirty-five bushels of corn, ten 
to fifteen bushels of wheat, twenty to forty bushels 
of oats, and two to three tons of millet hay to the 
acre. This, it is to be understood, is the general 
upland soil of the county, not including creek or 
river bottoms; and there is a great similarity in it 
all, the woodlands and prairies not differing greatly 
in quality of soil, and the level, undulating and 
hilly soil being much the same — the hilly having 
rock intermixed. The river bottom lands are 
among the best in the world, and will produce, 
with good cultivation, fi-om three-fourths of a bale 
to a bale and a half of cotton, seventy-five to one 
hundred bushels of corn, thirty to forty bushels of 
wheat and three to five tons millet per acre, and 
the creek bottoms will average a mean between the 
uplands and river bottoms. A peculiar feature of 
the upland soil is the remarkable retentive quality 
of its fertility. This is owing to the sub-soil of 
clay, which retains the fertilizing qualities and at 
the same time prevents the lands from washing. 



.^ 



J^ 




k. 



The following analysis of the low ground and 
upland soil is taken from Prof. Owen's geological 
report of Arkansas: Low grounds — Organic and 
volatile matter, 7.678; alumina, 3.385; oxide of 
iron, 3.590; carbonate of lime, 1.015; magnesia, 
.359; brown oxide of manganese, .345; phosphoric 
acid, .163; sulphuric acid, .075; potash, .241; soda, 
.037; sand and insoluble silicates, 83.540; total, 
100.440. Uplands— Organic and volcatile matter, 
4.763; alumina, 4.085; oxide of iron, 3.065; car- 
bonate of lime, .190; magnesia, .315; brown oxide 
of manganese, .145; phosphoric acid, .261; sul 
phuric acid, .050; potash, .193; soda, .037; sand 
and insoluble silicates, 83.340; total, 100.445. 
Moisture expelled from these soils at 400° Fahren- 
heit — Low ground, 3.950; upland, 3.225. The 
climate is delightful. A mean temperature of 65°, 
the prevailing semi-tropical breezes from the gulf; 
the neutralizing influence of the mountains on the 
northerly winter storms; mild, open, short winters, 
with only slight and transient snowfall, and whole 
weeks of soft sunny weather, that recalls the glory 
of the northern Indian summer; long, friendly 
and golden summers with delightfully cool, restful 
and refreshing nights; freedom from epidemic dis- 
eases, an abundance of pure water and superior 
natural drainage, are "all and singular," ele- 
ments of a climate, scarcely less enjoyable than that 
of Southern California or the south of France — a 
climate that gives the highest average of health 
known to any good agricultural region in America. 
Here is the equable mean between the rigors of 
the higher north and the depressing humidity of 
the lower south country. Naturally enough, too, 
here is the equable mean of animal and vegetable 
and mental temperament, largely the result of 
climate, and the visitor is not at all surprised to 
find in this genial, life inspiring influence the 
impress of normal health upon men, animals and 
plants. So kindly indeed are the climatic influ- 
ences, that two crops of many of the field and 
garden products are matured on the same ground 
in a single season. 

The coal found in the county partakes of the 
general excellence characterizing the southern di- 
vision of the Spadra system. The common thick- 



ness is the same as prevails throughout the coal 
field of Sebastian County, which it adjoins on the 
south and southeast — forty-two inches — and the 
maximum from four to seven feet. There is, how- 
ever, to a certain extent, a difference in the kind 
of coal. While, say, fifty per cent is a semi-anthra- 
cite of the best quality, the remainder consists of 
the only bituminous coal found in this State. The 
latter is not invariably bituminous; according to 
commercial rating there being a proportion that is 
semi-bituminous, and on the other hand a propor- 
tion sufificientl}' rich to pass as a cannel coal. Ac- 
cordingly, it is probable that one-half of the tiftj' 
per cent is a bituminous coal, strictly speaking. 
The body of the whole is situated in that part of 
the county comprising Townships 4 and 5 north. 
Ranges 29 and 30 west; forty- eight sections con- 
stituting the two northern tiers of Township 3 
north, Ranges 29, 30, 31,32 and 33 west, and Town- 
ship 4 north, Range 28 west. The superficial area 
is 130,360 acres, of which it is practically accepted 
that 95,000 acres carry a good coal in quantities. 
The main body is situated in Townships 4 and 5, 
Ranges 29 and 30, and north and east of Poteau 
Mountain. That situated in forty-eight sections 
named as the two tiers of Township 3 north, Ranges 
29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 west, includes the area of 
Poteau Mountain, to its summit line, and a strip 
of country in general conformed to the sinuous 
line of the mountain on the south side. South of 
the latter area, for a mile, fragmentary bodies prob- 
ably occur, but it is evident, according to an out 
cropping of subcai'boniferous limestone, fifteen 
miles south, and the erosion throughout the inter- 
mediate area, that it is the extreme southern limit 
in this State of the coal measures of the Spadra 
system. Under the head of mineral resources, it 
should be added that, beyond a carbonate form of 
ore, it is not probable that discoveries of limonite 
or hematite, in quantities, will take place short of 
the Fourche Mountain, which at its summit di- 
vides Scott from Polk County. The region ex 
cepted is also the general locality where uji to date 
the best grade of carbonate ore, with a probability 
of being in quantity, has been found. 

The subcarboniferous limestone outcropping of 



4 



'A 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



387 



this county is the well-known exposure pronounced 
by Prof. Owens to be one of few examples of the 
kind occurring south of the Arkansas River. It 
crops out in Sections 35 and 36, Township 2 north, 
Range 29 west, and again two miles southwest, 
where it is exposed throiighout a length of four 
miles. Notwithstanding a proportion having a 
brecciated character in general, it is a massive, 
close-textured gray rock, producing a very fine 
white lime. 

Gold has also been discovered in the county. 
That which has been seen, while a low grade ore 
near the surface, improves as the shaft sinks 
deeper. In one instance there has been a yield of 
15 in gold at five feet, $7 at seven feet, and |10 at 
ten feet. In addition, discoveries of lead, copper, 
and larger bodies of fire clay have been made in 
the county. 

Early in 1887 prospectors discovered a sand- 
bearing rock at the top of the Black Fork Mount- 
ains, in this county, so highly inapregnated with 
petroleum as to give forth a strong petroleum odor, 
and on throwing portions of the rock on a fire it 
was found that as soon as it became hot the oil 
would biirn with a fierce flame until consumed, 
leaving a white sandstone. Pieces of the rock 
submitted to the State geologist were pronounced 
by him to be petroleum-bearing sandstone. An 
expert, who has been in the oil business since the 
discovery of petroleum in Pennsylvania, over a 
quarter of a century ago, said that he had visited 
all of the known oil fields in the United States, and 
that upon comparison he considered the oil field of 
Scott County superior to any of them outside of 
Pennsylvania, adding that it might surpass that 
great petroleum-producing field. Another expert, 
pronounced by the Pittsburgh Manufacturer ' ' the 
best authority in gas and oil ' ' with whom the editor 
was acquainted, and of whom the Age of Steel says 
that '' his practical scientific knowledge makes his 
services very valuable as a gas and oil expert, and 
very much sought after," reported after a few days 
examination: "The Scott County field is so large 
and so interesting that to do it justice would re- 
quire at least two weeks' careful examination. I 
find a well-defined sandstone corresponding pre- 



cisely to the Devonian, of Western Pennsylvania; 
also a stratum at of light- colored slate that is almost 
universally found accompanying similar strata of 
sandstone in Western Pennsylvania. There are 
also indications of another stratum that corresponds 
with what is known as ' second sand ' in the Penn- 
sylvania oil field, and that there are large deposits 
of oil and gas throughout an extensive area of 
Scott County, I have not the slightest doubt. 
There are also indications of valuable metals, and 
it is a most inviting field to the capitalist as well 
as the scientist." A well has been sunk to a 
depth of 985 feet in search of oil, and oil-gas was 
struck. The tools became fast in the well, and 
the enterprise was abandoned for the want of 
money, perhaps leaving untold wealth undeveloped. 
Scott County certainly possesses vast hidden re- 
sources, and is an inviting field for the investment 
of speculative capital, holding out an excellent 
prospect of sure and large returns. The timber 
of the county is of many varieties. Pine, oak, 
cedar, gum, ash, shell-bark and hickory abound, 
and there is much walnut, post oak and " cork ' ' 
pine. The total amount of pine is 1,726,774,000 
feet, board measure; of hardwoods 939,086,000 feet, 
board measure; total of pine and hardwoods 2,665,- 
860,000 feet, board measure. Four streams and 
their tributaries cross the county. The Petit Jean 
River flows in an easterly course close to its north- 
ern boundary. Dutch Creek traverses for twelve 
miles its eastern part, flowing northeast. Poteau 
River flows thirty miles through the center of the 
county in a westerly direction. The Fourche La 
Fave River, which rises in the extreme southwest- 
ern corner of the county, flows for fifty miles 
through it on its way to the Arkansas River, bor- 
dered by rich valleys, with as good and productive 
land as in this or any other State. The average 
elevation of the county is about 700 feet in the 
valleys, and the highest mountain point is about 
2,000 feet above the sea level. Water is abundant 
for all purposes, including manufacturing, andean 
be had by sinking wells from twelve to fifteen feet, 
and there are many mineral springs equal to any in 
this State except Hot Springs. Many large or- 
chards and vineyards in the county give evidence 



'^•- 



-®rv 



^ » 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



of the productiveness of fruit here, eind as the na- 
tive grapes are almost as fine in size and as deli- 
cious in flavor as cultivated grapes, it is evident the 
county is the natural home of the grape. Small 
fruit and berries yield largely. The roads of the 
county run generally east and west, on account of 
the contour of the country. One of the main roads 
runs north and south, and is called the Line road, 
on account of its close proximity to the line of the 
Indian Territory, being the principal route for 
travel from the Arkansas River to Texas. The 
county is well supplied with cotton-gins, saw-mills, 
gristmills and planing mills. 

Scott County was erected by act of the Terri- 
torial Legislature November 5, 1833. Its bounda 
ries were defined October 24, 1835. The boundary 
between Scott and Crawford Counties was defined 
December 16, 1838. A part of Sebastian County 
was attached to Scott June 1, 1861. The county 
formerly embraced all the territory it has now, and 
the townships of Cauthorn, Boone, Reveille, Sugar 
Creek and Petit Jean, which were cut off and made 
part of the new county of Sarber, now Logan, in 
1870. The line between Scott and Logan Coun- 
ties was changed May 21, 1873. The county's 
present boundaries, fixed in 1881, are as follows: 
North by Sebastian and Logan Counties, east by 
Yell County, south by Montgomery and Polk 
Counties, and west by the Indian Territory. The 
county seat was originally located at Booneville, 
twenty-five miles northeast of Waldron. The 
county offices being too far from the center of the 
county the seat of justice was afterward removed 
to W infield, about three miles northeast of Wal- 
dron, where it remained until about 1845, when 
William G. Feather.ston donated ten acres of land, 
a part of the southwest quarter of the southwest 
quarter of Section 21, Township 3 north, Range 
29 west, to the commissioners appointed by the 
county court, in consideration of the location of 
the county site on said land. This was the begin- 
ning of Waldron. Some time afterward a court- 
house was built, which was burned during the war 
with all the public records. About 1870- a new 
and substantial framed court-house was erected on 
the public square of the town, where the public 



business was transacted until the spring of 1882, 
when it also was burned, together with the county 
records. The last fire was undoubtedly the work 
of incendiaries. No successful movement to re- 
build the court house has been inaugurated. The 
courts are held in rooms over John F. Forrester's 
store, and the county offices are accommodated 
elsewhere in Waldron. The county has a substan- 
tial jail. The Fourth Congressional District is 
composed of Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Scott, 
Logan, Pulaski, Yell, Perry, Saline, Garland and 
Montgomery Counties, and at present represented 
by Hon. J. H. Rogers, of Fort Smith. This 
county is in the Twelfth Judicial District, compris- 
ing the counties of Scott, Sebastian, Crawford and 
Logan, and in the Twenty-eighth State Senatorial 
District, composed of Scott and Sebastian Coun- 
ties. The several political townshi])s of Scott 
County are named as follows: Barber, Tomlinson, 
Lewis, Caxithron, La Fayette, Brawley, Black Fork, 
Blansett, Johnson, Mountain, Mill Creek, Park, 
Cedar, La Fave, Hunt, James, Tate and Hickman. 
The following named county officers have served, 
beginning at the dates mentioned: Judge — 1833, 
Elijah Baker; 1835, James Logan; 1838, Gilbert 
Marshall; 1842, Levi Bradley; 1844. William 
Kenner; 1846. Elijah Arnold; 1848, M. H. Blue; 
1850, J. H. Thompson; 1852, J. R. Raymond; 
1854, W. E. Elkins; 1856, J. H. Forbet: 1858, 
H. Hine; 1860, J.H.Smith; 1862. William Oliver; 

1864, J. T. Harrison; July, 1865, N. Ellington; 
April, 1871, M. M. Tate; 1872-74, board of super- 
visors; 1874, L. D. Pendery; 1876, S. Harrell: 
1878, J. H. Payne; 1880, J. H. Brown: 1886, Ro- 
land Chiles; 1888, Daniel Hon. Clerk— 1833, S. 
B. Walker; 1835, G. Marshall: 1838, W. Kenner; 
1840, S. H. Chism; 1842, E. H. Featherston; 
1844, John Baxter; 1846, William Kenner; 1848, 
J. B. Garrett; 1850, William Kenner; 1854, E.H. 
Featherston; 1856, J. C. Gibson; 1800, S. Graves; 
1862, L. D. Gilbreath; 1864, F. M. Scott; July, 

1865, C. H. Oliver; 1866, L. D. Gilbreath; 1872. 
W. B. Turman; 1874, J. C. Gilbreath; 1887, T. 
M. Duncan. Sheriff— 1833, James Riley; 1835, 
Charles Humphrey; 1840, William Garner; T. P. 
Sadler until formation of Yell County; 1842. J. B. 



^ « 



^IV 



i 



9 W, 



^ 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



889 



Garrett; 1844, A. Harland; 1846, J. B. Garrett; 
1848, J. K. Baxter; 1852, R. C. Reed; 1856, Will- 
iam Gibson; 1862, C. C. Lewis; 1804, G. Kincan- 
non; July, 1865, J. W. Baruett; 1868, N. A. Floyd; 
1874, F. C. Gaines; 1878, Samuel Leming; Au- 
gust, 1879, A. P. Walker; 1880, John Rawlings; 
1882, C. M. Vise; 1888, W. T. Brown; 1888, Free 
Malone; 1889, C. M. Vise. Treasurer— 1830, W. 
Cauthron; 1840, Jesse Perkins; 1844, G. W. Read; 
1848, J. M. Swiuney; 1854, T. I. Gates; 1856, J. 

C. Moles; 1862, J. W. Evatt; 1872, M. Johnson; 
1874, W. D. Looper; 1878, E. McCray; 1880, A. 

D. Peace; 1884, T. M. Evatt; 1888, F. M. Bot- 
toms. Coroner— 1833, J. R. Choate; 1835, W. 
Cauthron; 1836, G. C. Walker; 1838, J. R. Choate 
1840,H. A. Patterson; 1842, George Carroll; 1844 
James Stewart; 1848, W. Hodge; 1850, W. B 
Carr; 1852, A. Kuykendall; 1854, Drew Choate 
1856, John Pace; 'l85S, J. E. Moore; 1860, A. 
Ross; 1862, R. H. Halley; 1864, C. L. J. Hough 
1866, W.D. Riley; 1872, William Chitwood; 1874 
G. W. Smith; 1876, G. W. Rea; 1878, T. F 
Smith; 1882, C. H. Bell; 1884, J. L. Baker; 1886 
F. G. Thomas; 1888, W. L. Tolleson. Surveyor 
^1836, T. J. Garner; 1842, W. Wheat; 1844," J. 
Anthony; 1848, Charles Cauthron; 1850, E. H 
Featherston; 1852, S. H. Prowell; 1854, W. T. 
Dallins; 1858, J. H. Johnson; 1862, C. L. Hough; 
1866, J. Bethel; 1868, D. P. Davis; December, 
1870, C. A. Bird; 1872, C. L. Hough; 1878, G. 
W. Blair; 1882, W. T. Brown; 1886, W. J. King. 
Assessor— 1868, C. Malone; 1872, T. Suddith; 
1874, W. H. Hightill; 1876, C. M. Vise; 1880, P. 
H. Young: 1886, E. B. Young; 1888, E. N. Mc- 
Ray. The county officers elected in September, 
1890, are as follows; James M. Harvey, judge; 
T. M. Duncan, clerk; L. P. Fuller, sherifF; D. A. 
Edwards, treasurer; T. H. Johnson, coroner; E. 
N. McRay, assessor. The clerk is circuit clerk and 
ex-officio clerk of the county and probate courts 
and recorder. 

Scott County has been represented in the State 
Senate as follows: With Crawford County, 1836- 
38, by R. C. S. Brown; with Crawford, 1840, by 
J. A. Scott: with Crawford, 1842-43, by J. A. 
Scott; with Franklin, 1844-45, by J. F. Gaines, 



with Franklin, 1846, by J. F. Gaines; with Frank- 
' lin, 1848-49, by S. H. Chism; with Franklin, 
1850-51, by S. H. Chism; with Franklin, 1852- 
53, by Jesse Miller; with Franklin, 1854-55, by 
Jesse Miller; with Sebastian, 1856-57, by Green 
J. Clark; with Sebastian, 1858-59, by Green J. 
Clark; with Sebastian, 1860-62, by Green J. Clark; 
with Sebastian, 1862, by Green J. Clark; with 
Sebastian, 1864-65, by Charles Milor; with Se- 
bastian, 1866-67, by H. C. Holleman, who was un- 
seated and succeeded by T. H. Scott; with Polk, 
Montgomery and Hot Springs, 1868-69, by D. P. 
Beldin; with Polk, Montgomery and Hot Spring, 
^ by D. P. Beldin ; with Polk, Montgomery and Hot 
Springs, 1873, by D. P. Beldin ; with Polk, Mont- 
gomery and Hot Springs, 1874, by D. P. Beldin; 
with Sebastian, 1874-75, by J. H. Scott; with Se- 
! bastian, 1877, by R. T. Kerr; with Sebastian, 
I 1879, by R. T. Kerr; with Sebastian, 1881, by J. 
P. Hall; with Sebastian, 1883, by J. P. Hall; with 
Sebastian, 1885, by R. H. McConnell; with Se- 
bastian, 1887, by R. H. McConnell; with Sebas- 
tian, last session, by A. G. W^ashburn, who is also 
the senator-elect. In the Lower House of the State 
Legislature the county has been thus represented. 
In 1836-38 by James Logan; in 1838, by G. 
Marshall; in 1840, by T. M. Scott and S. Hum- 
phrey; in 1842-43, by J. F. Gaines and A. Thomp- 
son: in 1844-45 (no record); in 1846, by Edward 
A. Featherston; in 1848-49, by Milton Gilbreath; 
in 1850-51, by Charles Cauthron; in 1852-53, by 
Milton Gilbreath; in 1854-55, by James Logan; 
in 1856-57, by J. F. Lee; in 1858-59, by John 
H. Forbet; in 1860-62, by James F. Lee; in 1862, 
by Elijah Leming; in 1864-65, by Thomas Cau- 
thron; in the Confederate Legislature, 1864, by 
Elijah Leming; in 1866-67, Elijah Leming; in 
1868-69, with Polk, Montgomery and Hot Spring, 
by J. V. Harrison and J. H. Demby; in 1871, 
with Hot Spring, Montgomery, Polk and Grant, by 
J. F. Lane, J. J. Sumpter, and James M. Bethel, 
admitted in place of C. K. Kymes, P. B. Allen and 
N. Ellington; in 1873, with Polk, Montgomery, 
Hot Spring and Grant, by L. D. Gilbreath, J. J. 
Sumpter and George G. Latta; in 1874, with Polk, 
Montgomery and Hot Spring, by H. H. Barton 



r 



-^ 



390 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



and J. J. Sumpter; in 1874-75, by I. Frank Ful- 
ler; in 1877, by James H. Smith; in 1879, by A. 
G. Washburn; in 1881, by F. C. Gaines; in 1883, 
by G. E. James; io 1885, by A. G. Washburn; in 
1887, by A. G. Washburn; in last session by W. 
A. Houck. J. W. McNutt is representative- elect. 

The judicial circuits of the State have been 
frequently changed. In some instances the num- 
ber of the judicial districts has been completely 
transferred to others and new numbers adopted for 
the original. The State in 1873 was divided into 
sixteen circuits, but only for a term, when the 
number was reduced, as has been stated; this 
county is in the Twelfth. In giving the list of 
judges the Twelfth Circuit is referred to through 
to the present, regardless of changes that may 
have taken place in its composition. The judges 
. of this circuit liave been commissioned as follows: 
P. C. Dooley, April 26, 1873; J. H. Rogers, April 
20, 1877; R. B. Rutherford, October 2, 1882; 
John S. Little, October 30, 1886; T. C. Humphry, 
spring of 1890. The prosecuting attorneys have 
been: D. D. Leach, April 26, 1873; John S. Lit- 
tle (three terms), April 2, 1877; A. C Lewers 
(two terms), September 20, 1884; J. B. McDonough, 
October 30, ISSS. Courts are held on the second 
Monday in February and Augu.st. The resident 
attorneys are named as follows: Daniel Hon, A. G. 
Leming, S. Wilson, B. F. Wolf, A. G. ^YashburQ, 
T. N. Sanford, O. M. Harwell, C. H. Hawthorne 
and M. M. Beavers. The county has been thus 
represented in Constitutional Conventions: By 
Gilbert Marshall in 1836; by E. T. Walker in 
1861; by Charles H. Oliver in 1868; and by J. 
W. Sorrells in 1874. 

At an early day there were adventuresome hun- 
ters and prospecters who penetrated the new, wild 
country within the limits of the present county of 
Scott. Such can hardly be called home-seekers, 
for they were of the class that moves on before 
advancing civilization; but some of them, charmed 
by the wild beauty of their surroundings, remained 
and became permanent settlers. The advancement 
of the present day was surely not fore.shadowed in 
their time, and then men were not attracted by 
that certainty of gain and worldly prosperity 



which has influenced men to make their abiding 
place here during the past few decades. They 
bad no neighbors at first, but Indians — savages 
and natural enemies — and still more savage beasts. 
Did space permit, some highly interesting narra- 
tives of the pioneer period might be told, but it is 
with the period of development that this sketch 
has most to do. This period was ushered in by 
another class of men. They were home-seekers 
pure and simple — men of family, who sought here, 
where Nature outstretched to them a helping hand 
so willingly, that material reward for honest toil 
which was to be achieved, but grudgingly, in older 
communities. Many a time has the story of the 
pioneer been told. It is old, but ever new, because 
dear to the present generation like the old songs 
their mothers sang. From the first it was a stern 
battle with scarcity and adversity. Every gain 
was hardly won. The simplest achievement cost 
the most arduous labor. The most that could 
be procured and accomplished was very little in- 
deed. There were no luxuries and there was 
a dearth of necessaries. Hard work was the com- 
mon lot of all — the men, women and the chil- 
dren. Self-denial and mutual assistance were 
the rule. The labor which kept the wolf figurative 
from the pioneer's door failed to secure it from 
the attacks of the wolves that lurked in the forest. 
The red man was a constant menace, and there 
were other dangers. There was no absolute se- 
curity. Even Nature, when in her unkindly 
moods, seemed terrific in those unbroken woods. 
No pioneer ever lived to forget the birth of the 
first child in his neighborhood; none forgot the 
first marriage; none but could point out, long 
years after it was made, the first grave, or speak 
except in quavering voice of that day when, under 
the gloomy trees, the earth first opened to receive 
one of their number. Perhaps it was a funeral 
without a clergyman; but it could not have been a 
funeral without a prayer. God was with them in 
the wilderness. As far back as 1820 a few buffaloes 
and elks remained in this part of the country, and 
bears, wolves, panthers, wild cats, deer, the smaller 
animals, wild turkeys, wild geese, ducks, prairie 
chickens and other small fowls were numerous. 






^t^ 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



891 



The buffalo and elk have become extinct, the bears 
nearly so, while other animals and fowls remain in 
sufficient quantities in some localities to make it 
interesting, and sometimes profitable for hunters. 
Raccoon and opossums are very common now. The 
■wild turkey and quail furnish ample sport on the 
wing, while squirrels and rabbits are also plentiful. 
In the fall and spring wild geese and ducks are 
abundant. Deer hunts are not uncommon, and 
the hunter seldom returns empty handed. The 
timber wolf is not unfrequently a visitor to the 
sheep pens. The pioneers lived to a great extent 
upon wild game, which was so easily obtained that 
rifle shots from their cabin doors lirought it down, 
within convenient distance. 

Wild fruits in their season have abounded from 
the first — strawberry, blackberry and huckleberry, 
the wild plum of different varieties, wild grapes, a 
summer sort about the size of the Delaware, and 
equally as finely flavored, a smaller grape that ripens 
after the frost, then a grape called Muscatine, 
about as large as the Concord, usually growing 
singly, but sometimes in clusters, with a thick 
skin, and excellent for sauce when cooked. All 
these natural provisions the early settlers availed 
themselves of. It was not child's play to live in 
Scott County forty to sixty years ago. The pio- 
neers were isolated to a distressing degree from 
civilization, and it required an unusual amount of 
grit, patience, perseverance and longsuffering. 
They were quick to lend a helping hand to each 
other. They educated their children under ad- 
verse circumstances. The}' organized schools and 
churches with only a small following. They built 
not for themselves but for those who should come 
after them. Year after year prospects have bright- 
ened, the country has gradually improved, and to- 
day no section of the new Southwest is developing 
more rapidly than Scott County. It would be 
difRcult to find a more energetic class of business 
men than take the lead in this portion of the State. 
For their former hardships they have been repaid. 
They have acquired, in many instances, a liberal 
competency. They have brought their families up 
in respectability. The sons of many of these same 
pioneers have adorned the halls of the State and 



National Legislature, while others have held im- 
portant positions in local and State affairs, with 
honor to themselves and to their constituency. 
Among the earlier settlers of the county were the 
following: Along the Poteau and its branches — 
Father Hickman, Richard Edens, Zachariah 
Hemby, Josiah Barnett, Reuben C. Reed. Will- 
iam Kenner, George W. Reed, William Doyle, 
John Gable, Jesse A. Reed, David Reed and the 
father of David and the other Reeds mentioned, 
William Anthony, Henry Frazier, Jackson Hon, 
John F. McAnally, Jesse Antliony, Finis E. An- 
thony, John Anthony, Dennis Boultinghouse, Dan- 
iel Boultinghouse, James Boultinghouse, Thomas 
Crenshaw, Finis Farmer, David Yandall, Jesse 
Yandall, Samuel Yandall, William Yandall, Thomp- 
son Bailey, Harrison Huie, Dodson Huie, Massie 
McRay, William McRay, John H. Johnson. Allen . 
Starrett, Dr. James H. Smith, James H. McCord, 
the Whitmeyers, Isaiah Hickman, Nathaniel Hick- 
man, William Vails, Willian T. Dollens, Alexan- 
der Sehorn, William Sehorn, the Duprees, John J 
Pool, Thomas Pool,sJ Austin Bethel, James M. 
Bethel: on the Poteau— Henry Wolf, Tobias Wolf, 
Andrew J. Ross. Leonard J. Denton, Thomas 
Brown, Thomas M. Brown, John Brown, Frank 
Brown; along Ross' Creek — the Brawley family, 
Spencer Bates, Thompson G. Bates, Frank Bates, 
Sanford Bates, Zachariah Allison, Maj. Joel Den- 
ton, W. W. Denton, R. P. Denton, A. B. Denton, 
Cooper Hayes, Davis Tolbert, William Tucker, 
John Anthony, Jesse, John, Alexander, G. W., 
Solomon, Thomas and C. C. Jones and two James 
Joneses; along Brawley (later Jones') Creek — Elias 
Hays, Hiram Hays, Archibald Hays, Bayless E. 
Brasher, Allen Brasher, Henry Brasher, Jacob 
Brasher, John L. Summers, Vineyard Crawford, 
C. A. Crawford, Robert Finley, the Kendricks, 
Elijah Grey, David Burcham, John Barnett; along 
Haw Creek — William G. Featherston, Edward E. 
Featherston, Micajah Thompson, Dr. Sorrells, the 
Reed family, Landy Turman, Wiley B. Glass, 
Caleb Baker, Jacob C. Moles, James M. Swinney, 
Dr. Vance, James H. Thompson, Counsellor Bunn, 
Thomas Ferguson, Mills the miller. Judge Ray- 
mond, Allen Marshall, "Kern" Titsworth, John 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



W. Perkins, John Rawlings, James R. Baxter; in 
the Waldron vicinity — Joy Estep, David Jones. 
Silas Pinion, Milton Larimore, William Price and 
brother, Jasper Foster, Newton Foster and others 
on Black Fork; along the Fourehe La Fave — 
John Kilburn, James Kilburn, John Stewart, 
Robert Richmond, Luke Harrison, Benton Jones, 
William Jones, L. D. Gilbreath, Bailey Allen, Bev- 
erly Allen, Michael Wilson, James Gibson, Richard 
Burriss, James F. Gaines, G. G. Gaines, Thomas 
Gaines, James Gaviness, John Caviness, James 
Henson, Marion Henson, Lewis Henson, the Daileys, 
Thomas Gist, Neil Gist, Peter Whisenhunt, James 
Whisenhunt, James P. Blancett, John Caughran, 
Lewis Caughran; long the Petit Jean — James Sor- 
rells, S. B. Sorrells, Dr. Warren Sorrells, Dr. Roys- 
ton Sorrells, Stephen Graves, Thomas Graves, Mi- 
chael Await, Thomas Baxter, Shadrach Chitwood, J. 
J. Tomlinson,Wiley A. Tomlinson (formerly spelled 
Tumlinson), James Graves, Dr. E.T.Walker, Andrew 
J. Tomlinson, Samuel S. French, Elisha Williams, 
John, Thomas and Barry Hunt, William Henley, 
George W. Rupe, the Cantrells, Gen. Taylor, 
Allen Sorrells, W. W. Sorrells, McKinney Curry, Al- 
fred Bethel, Samuel Duncan, William Duncan, R. 
P. Claiborn, the Witt family, George Abbott, C. 
C. Lewis, John E. Carnett, George Barnard. All 
of these were early residents of the county. Some 
were the heads of families who came here, others 
the sons of pioneers. Their names have been 
given by Dr. Smith (the oldest physician in the 
county) and other old citizens. It is not attempted 
to supply all initials. The aim has been, rather, 
to mention these pioneer citizens in such a familiar 
way as to recall those who have passed away to the 
memory of all of the living who once knew them. 
In view of the fact that the earlier county records 
are no longer in existence, the compiler feels like 
congratulating his readers that his earnest efforts 
have been so well recorded and rewarded. 

Those of the present rising generation who are 
accustomed to excellent school advantages of to- 
day can hardly realize the meagerness of such op- 
portunities in their fathers' boyhood. Even read- 
ing, writing and the merest rudiments of arithmetic 
were considered a luxury that the poor could not 



possess. So it was that many otherwise intelligent 
men and women grew up unable to read and write. 
The simply well-to-do people secured an itinerant 
teacher to stop in the neighborhood and hold a 
subscription school at some one's house for a short 
time. There were probably few of these before 
about 1840. It was in this manner that the earliest 
teachers began who taught in various parts of this 
region. This kind of schooling continued down 
until about the time when the public-school system 
was introduced. One has but to glance at these 
figures, giving the number of teachers employed in 
the State of Arkansas in successive year's, to gain a 
fair idea of the growth of popular education in any 
part of the State: In 1869 there were 1,335; in 
1870, 2,302; in 1871, 2,128; in 1872, 2,035; in 
1878, 1,-181; in 1874-75, no reports; in 1870,461; 
in 1877-78, no reports; in 1879, 1,458; in 1880, 
1,872; in 1881, 2,169; in 1882, 2,501; in 1883, 
2,462; in 1884, 2,899; in 1885, 3,582; in 1880, 
3,691; in 1887, 4,167; in 1888, 4,664. It will 
readily be seen that the greatest care and activity 
have been shown in the years of the present dec- 
ade, and the most firm and permanent improve- 
ment in the last few years. Academies did not 
take permanent root here as they did in older and 
wealthier counties, and the need of education felt 
by fathers and mothers, who had grown up with- 
out much of any themselves, made them better 
prepared to receive the new system favorably than 
many counties that had been well supplied with 
advanced private schools. The progress of the 
public schools in the county has been constant, 
especially during the present decade, and has been 
proportionately equal to other parts of the State. 
The following statistics from the report of the State 
superintendent of public instruction for the year 
ending June 30, 1888, will tend to show in part 
how the public schools of the county are prosper- 
ing: Statement of the public school fund of Scott 
County — Amount received: Balance on hand June 
30, 1887, $2,345.26; from common school fund 
(State), $3,950.45; poll tax, $1,857.07; total, $8,- 
152.78. Amount expended: For teachers' salaries, 
$6,093; buildings and repairing, $500; purchasing 
apparatus, etc., $100; treasurer's commissions. 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



393 



1116.15; other purposes, |25; total, $6,834.15. 
Balance ia county treasury unexpended: Of com- 
mon school fund, $1,173.71; district fund. $144.92; 
total, $1,318.63. Summary of county examiner's 
report: Enumeration, white, 4,890; colored, 16; 
total, 4,906. Enrollment, white, 2,523; colored, 
none; total, 2,523. Number of districts, 75; num- 
ber of districts reporting enrollment, 52; number 
of districts voting tax, 19; number of teachers em- 
ployed, 47; number of school -houses, 36; value of 
school-houses, |4,875; number of institutes held, 
1 ; number of teachers attending, 48. One of the 
best literary schools in the State is located at 
Waldron. The main building of the house is 
34x70 feet, two stories, with vestibules. There is 
a wing forty feet in length on the east side of the 
building, which is also two stories, making four 
large rooms. The building is new and well fur- 
nished throughout, is well seated and has modern 
fixtures and apparatus. Messrs. Henderson and 
Goddard, the principals of the school, are trained 
and thorough educators. Many students come 
from remote parts of this county and from adjoin 
ing counties, and there is no reason to doubt that 
the school will grow and prosper as it has never 
done before, for every facility is offered here that 
can be obtained elsewhere for giving children either 
a primary or an advanced course. Board can be 
obtained at low rates, and the morals of the town 
are of an exceptional character. At Cauthron is 
an efficient school known as the Cauthron High 
School. This institution has about 200 pupils, aad 
stands high in public esteem. Gipsouville, Boles 
and Park also have good schools. The following 
reference to early schools in Scott County is ex- 
tracted from a modern newspaper: " No colleges 
adorned the country then, and educational facilities 
were meager. The young fellow who had a desire 
to obtain an education attended school two or three 
months in the winter, not unfrequently walking, 
morning aad evening, two or three miles for that 
privilege. The accommodations then were not so 
good as now. Instead of the elaborate furniture 
of the present day, the boy of twenty and thirty 
years ago was compelled to sit on the slick side of 
an unusually hard bench made of a slab or fence- 



rail and placed at an uncomfortable distance from 
the dirt-and-stick fireplace, which, with its pro- 
digious jambs, yawned like the cavern of the in 
fernal region; while in the corner near the teach 
er's desk stood the birch as straight and long as 
the moral law, and woe betide the youth who 
would dare to intrude upon the rules of the school. 
This mode of teaching was good enough in its 
time. Better and more efficient means have been 
adopted." H. N. Smith is county examiner of 
public schools. 

The church and the school have gone hand in 
hand here as elsewhere. Early religious meetings 
were held by traveling preachers in the log cabins 
of the pioneers, and from an early day, in many 
localities, the same building has accommodated 
the school during the week, and the church peo- 
ple of the district on Sunday. At this time houses 
of worship are to be found in all parts of the 
county, and nearly all religious denominations com- 
mon to this part of the country are represented. 
In some parts of the county, notably in Waldron, 
are expensive and sightly churches, which are be- 
ing improved and beautified with each passing 
year. Church membership is increasing, and i)op- 
ular interest in Sunday school workjs extending. 
As the church membership gains in education, 
numerical strength and material wealth, its de- 
mands on the pastors are more exacting. This is 
evidenced in the wider learning and greater ability 
of the preachers of to-day than were attainable in 
the clergy of an early period. The church has 
done its share in the grand work_of development 
and enlightenment, and it is coming to be sup- 
ported with a popular liberality. 

There are in this county post-offices named as 
follows: Barber, Belva, Black Fork, Blansett, Blue 
Ball, Boles, Boothe, Brawley, Buck, Knob, Cauthron, 
Cedar Creek, Crow, Echo, Farmer, Fuller,Gate,Gip- 
son. Green Ridge, Nebraska, Olio, Parks, Poteau, 
Tomlinson, Waldron, Wintield and Zelkirk. Being 
an exclusively agricultural region, the sales mar- 
ket of which was at Fort Smith, distant forty-eight 
miles, the county is notably without its proportion 
of cross-road towns and villages, characteristic of 
our American country in general. Instead, the ex 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



I 



ception is in its favor that wherever the aggrega- 
tion of population admitted such a step, rather 
than country grocery store, and evidence of a former 
groggery, it is apparent that the interest has con- 
centrated upon well built school-houses. And, 
therefore, it is to be discovered, notwithstanding 
the remoteness of the county, that in general the 
morals and understanding of its young people have 
been trained to excellent standards. This is true 
of Cauthron, Gipsonville, Boles and Park, which, 
without their fine schools, would only have a postal 
name. Cauthron is situated in the Poteau Valley, 
west and a little north of Waldron. In addition 
to several stores, a saw-mill, a blacksmith shop and 
a woodworking shop, it is the seat of the Cauth- 
ron High School, elsewhere referred to. Tomlin- 
son is situated in the Petit Jean Valley, near the 
celebrated mountain pass of that name. Boles 
is situated in the Fourche Valley on the line of the 
proposed Missouri Pacific extension from Fort 
Smith to Gurdon. Park is situated in the Fourche 
Valley, on the line of both the Texarkana and 
Northern, and the proposed 'Frisco extension 
through the Fourche Valley to Little Rock. Gip- 
sonville is in the Poteau Valley, near the line of 
the Indian Territory. The other post-offices men- 
tioned are located conveniently for residents of va- 
rious parts of the county, but none of them are 
trade centers of importance, except Waldron, the 
seat of justice. To its excellent school facilities 
Waldron adds the prestige of a good country trade, 
maintained against the great disadvantage of long 
distance from markets. It is situated on the south 
bank of the Poteau, at a point commanding the 
resources of the whole valley, and at the same time 
commanding every feasible entrance through the 
mountain boundaries of the county, and is una- 
voidably in the line of the Missouri Pacific and 
Texarkana & Fort Smith extensions through this 
county, the preliminary survey of both having 
been made to this place, and considerable prepa- 
ratory construction work having been done on one 
of them. In the midst of a fine agricultural dis- 
trict, commanding trade from a long distance in all 
directions, the town is substantially built, the busi- 
ness portion being of handsome brick blocks. Of 



the numerous stores not a stock of merchandise is 
carried in a frame building, and really there are 
no frame business houses in the central portion 
of the town. The residence portion is fairly well 
built. Quite a number of pleasant and cozy homes 
adorn the town, while a good two-story school build- 
ing and new church buildings add largely to its 
appearance of thrift and enterprise. Located 
20 miles east of the line of the Indian Territory, 
50 miles southeast of Fort Smith, 140 miles west of 
Little Rock, 95 miles northwest of Hot Springs 
and 150 miles north of Texarkana, in the midst 
of the Fourche La Fave, Petit Jean and Poteau Val 
'ey, the town is admirably well situated for rail 
road facilities, and will doubtless^ become a rail 
road center of no small magnitude, with two great 
systems — the 'Frisco and the Missouri Pacific — 
pointing this way, one or both of them likely to 
build lines into the county at no distant day. Wal- 
dron was incorporated November 5, 1875. Its 
mayor is ^^'. P. Forrester. 

Away back, years prior to the " late unpleasant- 
ness," William G. Featherston, who had, even at 
that early date, acquired some ability as a real-es- 
tate speculator, proposed to the proper authorities 
that if they would remove the seat of justice from 
Winfield, and locate the court-house on his land 
and build a town, he would donate for that pur- 
pose ten acres. The proposition was accepted. 
Owning the balance of the land around the town, 
it soon became necessary for him to lay out some 
additions, and it was not long until the new county 
seat began to forge ahead; but Waldron never ad- 
vanced much in point of substantial improvements 
until the political troubles dating from about 
1874 to 1879, arose. The town then consisted of 
wooden buildings, and most of the business houses 
were rough box concerns, very unprepossessing in 
apjiearance, and almost worthless, save as tempo- 
rary shelters. Some nefarious individuals, and 
there were many of them here at that time, con 
ceived the idea that they could get even with their 
adversaries by burning out the town, which they 
proceeded to do. What seemed to be a calamity, 
at the time, proved, in the end, to be a blessing. 
Enterprising merchants began to erect substantial 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



395 



brick buildings, and the good work has been going 
on until now there are twenty of them, each from 
20 to 30 feet wide and from 50 to 100 feet long, 
and most of them two stories high. There are 
numerous smaller buildings, such as are found in 
surrounding country towns. In point of good 
buildings and substantial growth, there is no town 
between Fort Smith and Texarkana that compares 
with Waldron. It is universally conceded that it 
has more solid business men than any other town 
in the State with the same number of merchants 
doing the same volume of business. The trade 
coming here during the past year is estimated at 
$350,000, and that amount may be taken as a low 
figure. 

The population is about 800. The religious 
interests of the town are watched over by several 
religious denominations, most of which have good 
church buildings. The secret societies are repre- 
sented by the Masonic and I. O. O. F. orders and the 
G. A. R. The town and county can boast of two 
good newspapers. The general business interests 
comprise 8 general merchandise stores, 5 grocery 
stores, 3 drug stores, 
ware store, 1 saddlery 
shop, 3 blacksmiths, 2 hotels, 2 livery stables, 2 
grist mills and cotton-gins, 1 planing-mill, 6 doc- 
tors and several real estate agencies. Real estate 
in Waldron is held at fair prices, business lots 
ranging at from 1300 to $500, residence lots from 
$50 to $100. 

The cotton shipment each year amounts to 
8,000 or 10,000 bales, and with a railroad the 
amount would be more than doubled, while the 
shipment of stock, grain and lumber would in- 
crease the tonnage immeasurably. In the matter 
of merchandise, there is quite a quarter of a mill- 
ion of dollars worth of goods, at the present rate 
of cartage, brought to the town by its numerous 
merchants. The development of the coal and 
mineral deposits, and the opening up of the vast 
pineries and hardwood districts, and the location 
of saw-mills, offer more than usual inducements 
to railroad companies to build into Waldron" s rich 
tributary country. Here all the social and finan- 
cial elements of successful and enlivening citi- 



2 millinery stores, 1 hard- 
and harness shop, 1 shoe 



zenship find a common center and hearty sup- 
port. Surrounded by a fine farming and fruit- 
growing region, with a belt of timber on the south 
of great commercial value, and located in one of 
the best coal regions known to the South, Waldron 
possesses in a large degree those elements of pros- 
perity which attract capital and manufacturing 
and .commercial industry. Aside from the prom- 
ises that have risen in the probability of the town's 
becoming an important railroad junction, and with 
its timber resources the site of mills and wagon 
factories, it is to be seen that the place is not to 
remain stationary once the railroad passes the bar- 
rier of Poteau Mountain. The men who are here 
have the will, energy and money to give their 
town and county an upward impetus, and if in a 
year's time after the introduction of railroad com- 
munication, Waldron is not one of the best known 
and wide-awake towns in the State, it will have 
followed from nothing left undone, wherein good 
business sense and well directed energy can pre 
vail. 

As has been intimated, there are as yet no rail- 
roads in the county, but the Jenson and Mansfield 
branch of the 'Frisco department of the Santa Fe 
.system, reaches to Mansfield, in Sebastian County, 
near the Scott County line, and there is daily 
stage connection between Mansfield and Waldron. 
An extension of this line is projected from Mans- 
field to Little Rock, via Waldron. The line of 
the proposed Choctaw Railroad (now called the 
"Kali Ali") is surveyed along the entire length 
of the county from east to west, partially through 
the Fourche La Fave Valley. This railroad, now 
under construction from McAllister, Ind. T.,to Little 
Rock via Waldron, has been completed and is in 
operation to a point forty miles west of the latter 
place. The Missouri Pacific Company has a line 
in operation from Fort Smith to Greenwood, in 
Sebastian County, a few miles north of the Scott 
County boundary. The aim is to extend this road 
via Tomlinson, Waldron and Buck Knob to Gur- 
don, in Clark County, there to form a connection 
with the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern 
Railroad and lines south from that j)oint which are 
built or to be built, and considerable work has 









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396 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



been done on the road-bed. Other railway projects 
not so well defined as these are talked of, and it 
would seem that the time is not far in the future 
when Scott County will be traversed by a sufficient 
number of railways to fully develop its resources, 
and Waldron will be a railroad center of no mean 
importance, while other thriving towns will grow 
up within the county limits. 

The oldest paper in Scott County is the Wal- 
dron Reporter, edited and published by M. M. 
Beavers, who in his issue of October 3, 1890, gave 
the following account of the enterprise: "The 
Reporter closes its eleventh volume with this issue. 
It has been here eleven years and hopes to remain. 
The paper was established in 1879 by Mr. S. H. 
Farley, who continued with it as proprietor until 
November, 1883, when he disposed of his inter- 
est to the present proprietor and J. M. Harvey. 
Judge Harvey retired a few months afterward. 
The present management has had control for seven 
years past, and has been in precarious situations 
more than once. To offset these adverse condi- 
tions, however, the paper has at other times been 
prosperous. We have endeavored to assist in build- 
ing up the material prosperity of Scott County, 
and to advocate Democratic doctrine. Believ- 
ing as we do that the hope of the country is the 
Democratic party, we shall continue to advocate its 
teachings, and to urge the people to vote for the 
men named by the party organizations for the dif- 
ferent offices. It is only through organized effort 
that good results can be accomplished in a political 
campaign. People who go outside of primaries 
and conventions to vote for officers are either 
knaves or imbeciles. The Reporter has made a 
good many friends during its career, and some 
enemies. Its friends, and particularly those who 
pay up, will, we hope, have a pleasant journey 
through life, and a rich reward in heaven. Its 
enemies should repent while they are still on pray- 
ing ground.'' The Reporter is a seven-column, 
four page sheet. 

The Scott County Citizen was lirst issued Octo- 
ber 24, 1S87, with P. C. Stone as editor and pro- 
prietor. It announced itself as Republican in pol- 
itics, and set forth some of its aims thus: '' To co- 



operate with the various interests of the people 
throughout the country by trying to develop the 
country's valuable resources by means of advocat- 
ing internal improvements and encouraging all 
branches of agricultural, commercial, manufactur- 
ing and other industrial pursuits, whereby our for- 
ests of most excellent timber, extensive coal beds, 
and the untold wealth of other resources which 
have so long lain dormant and unproductive 
among us, will be utilized and yield a large profit 
to the owners." September 28, 1888, A. G. Le- 
ming became editor, and Mr. Stone business man- 
ager of the Citizen. February 28, 1890, the paper 
was sold to M. Keener & Co., Mr. Leming retain- 
ing an interest and editorial charge. The Citizen 
is a four-column, eight-page paper. These jour 
nals have done their part toward the work of gen 
eral development. They are both well edited and 
exceptionally bright and able local newspapers. 
Previous attempts to establish papers in Scott 
County were not permanently successful. 

The period of the Civil War is ofter referred 
to as "a time that tried men's souls." If it was 
trying to the people of the North and still more so 
to portions of the South remote from the scenes of 
conflict, it was still more intensely and peculiarly 
so to the people of the border States; and Arkan- 
sas, especially this part of Arkansas, was in such a 
state of anarchy and constant danger as was no 
other part of the country in which great battles 
were not fought; and even in such localities the 
clottdy trouble came, poured out its wrath and 
passed away, while here, during the four years of the 
war, and for years afterward, the sun did not rise 
on a household untroubled with apprehension as to 
what the day would bring forth, nor set upon a 
home over which the night did not cast shadows of 
vague and awful terror. To many, the period of 
"reconstruction" was more terrible than that of 
the actual war. It was not the wi.sh of a majority 
of the voters of Scott County to disrupt the union 
of the States. The people at first voted against 
secession and sent Union delegates to represent 
them in the State convention held to consider Fed- 
eral relations. The history of the issue of those 
deliberations and of what followed is well known. 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



397 



Even Later it was not so much a question of one 
portion of the nation against another, as of the de- 
fense of home and family, and the sacred claims of 
nativity and friendship. When the war was begun 
the people of Scott County, with few excoptions. 
naturally sympathized with the Southern cause, 
and a large percentage of the male population 
joined the Confederate Army, though it was as 
Stale troops that they, many of them, enlisted and 
saw their first service. There were, first and last, 
several companies raised in this county. The earliest 
in the field was that of captain, afterward known 
familiarly as Maj. George W. Featherston, which 
disbanded after the battle of Oak Hill, though Maj. 
Featherston was later in the service, as will be 
seen. Another of the Scott County commanders 
was Capt. William Gibson, later Maj. Gibson. No 
regular engagement between the contending forces 
took place within the county, but it was overrun to 
some extent by scouting parties, guerrillas and 
marauders, and a considerable amount of property 
was destroyed or carried away, and a few individ- 
uals were killed. In October, 1863, Maj. Feath- 
erston and Capt. Isaac Bagwell were in command 
of a small guard at Waldron, which was surprised 
and captured by a larger Federal force. Maj. 
Featherston was shot down, so seriously wounded 
as to keep him long thereafter under medical treat- 
ment. From that time until February, 1864, the 
Federals kept a garrison at Waldron, consisting in 
part at least, of portions of Col. James Johnson's 
First Arkansas Infantry, and of Col. Cloud's regi- 
ment, under command of Lieut. -Col. Owen A. Bas- 
sett. At times the post was commanded by Lieut. - 
Col. Searl, of Johnson's regiment. The Fed- 
eral headquarters during most, if not all, of this 
jieriod of occupation, was at the residence of Will- 
iam G. Featherston. The Unionists abandoned 
the post at the date last mentioned, putting the 
torch to every house in town but the Featherston 
residence ju.st referred to, and the residence of Dr. 
Elijah Leming; and these two buildings thus 
spared were burned later by bushwhackers, on ac- 
count of the alleged Union sympathies of their own- 
ers. Near the close of the war, and after the ter- 
ritory fell into the Union lines, some troops were 



raised in it for the Federal Army. It is said that 
some of these were deserters from the Confederate 
Army, and some returned Union refugees. They, 
for the most part, united with the Second Kansas 
Cavalry, the Sixth Iowa Infantry and the Fourth 
Arkansas Regiment, which was afterward merged 
into the Second. When asked about the reconstruc- 
tion period, one old and honored citizen of the 
county replied: "It was harder than the war." 
Yet, while some lives were sacrificed, the people of 
Scott County did not suffer during those years as 
did the people of some other parts of the State. 

The war is with the past, and so. too, have 
passed away the unsetted conditions succeeding it. 
Men of southern birth and proclivities dwell here, 
side by side, in mutual friendship and mutual 
helpfulness, with men of northern birth and pro- 
clivities. There is no question now of section 
against section. There is nothing political for 
neighbors to seriously disagi'ee about, and if there 
were the people of Scott County are too intent 
upon their home interests and upon the work of 
general development, to give it a moment's un- 
friendly consideration. Much space has been 
given to consideration of this county's mineral 
and railway possibilities and promise. That they 
are flattering, can not be doubted. But if never a 
pound of coal should be mined — if never a rod of 
rail should be laid — this would yet be a land of 
promise and a land of plenty. If there is any 
part of God's footstool and man's workshop where 
soils, seasons, grains, grasses, fruits, vegetables, 
plants, — everything — are under tribute to the prov- 
ident and thrifty and enterprising farmer, it is in 
Scott County, between its green mountain ranges. 
Genial skies are overhead, generous soils are under 
foot; clear swift sunny waters flow down the val- 
leys, sparkling fountains feed the brooklets; prai- 
rie and woodland, interval and valley are decked 
with the richest herbage; wild fruits grow in pro- 
fusion in the woods and by the way-side; a soft 
blue haze — the dreamy influence of the semi-trop- 
ics — hallows this golden and glorious land from 
January to December, and it is "God's country,'" 
for His beneficent smile is on everything from the 
water-lines to the crown of the highest hills. 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Class prejudices and sectional feeling have long 
been eliminated. A brave, cordial, genial, hospita- 
ble and generous mixed people are here to give 
genuine western welcome to all worthy new-com- 
ers. They never ask after your antecedents here, 
but measure you, if you are a new comer, by what 
you are and what you can do. The hospitality of 
this people, is as strong as brave, and magnani- 
mous men and gentle women can cultivate; as 
warm and genial as the climate, and as broad as 
the boundless southwest. They are lovers of law 
and order, and lovers of fair play, have profound 
reverence for woman and home, and take care of 
their personal credit as if it were their only stock- 
in trade. 



Carr Allen, a native of Montgomery County, 
Ark., and now a resident of Park Township, Scott 
County, this State, is one of the most successful 
and enterprising farmers of the same. His oppor- 
tunities for an education were poor, and when 
seventeen years of age he entered the army, serv- 
ing nine months. At the cessation of hostilities 
he returned home and rented land for one year. 
He then homesteaded a tract, and made many im- 
provements on the same, but later sold out and 
bought where he now resides. This was in 1873. 
He is now the owner of 890 acres of excellent bot- 
tom land, and has 100 acres under cultivation. 
His house, barns, outbuildings, etc., indicate that 
an experienced hand is at the head of everything, 
and that he has been successful is self-evident. 
He raises annually good crops of corn and cotton, 
and is prosperous and happy. He was born on 
October 5, 184:9, and was married in March, 1803, 
to Miss Mary Berry, a native of this county. The 
fruits of this union were seven children — two 
daughters and five sons. The eldest son and also 
the eldest daughter are married, and reside near 
the parents. Mr. Allen is a member of the Farm- 
ers' Alliance, and he and wife are worthy members 
of the Free- Will Baptist Church, of which he is 
deacon. 

William Arrington, farmer. Cedar Creek, Ark. 



William Arrington is the son of Charles and Nar- 
cissa Ann Arrington, and was born in Cherokee 
County, Ala., on March 12, 1835. The father was 
a farmer, and owned considerable land in Cherokee 
County. The mother died in 1840, and the father 
received his final summons when our subject was 
fifteen years of age. The latter' s opportunities for 
an education were limited, and after his father's 
death he hired out to work on a farm, which occu- 
pation he continued until the opening of the war. 
In 1857 he went to Montgomery County, Ark., 
and there in September, 1861, he was married to 
Miss Jane Salliers, who died but little over a year 
afterward, childless. Mr. Arrington enlisted in 
Company A, Tappan's regiment of Arkansas In- 
fantry, and was in service four years. During 
the most of this time he was wagon-master, and 
had charge of the transportation train. In 1866 
he was married to Mrs. Jane Lawrence, widow of 
Joseph P. Lawrence, who was killed in the battle 
of Franklin, Tenn. Mrs. Arrington' s maiden name 
was Miss Jane Morgan, daughter of Thomas P. and 
Fanny Morgan, of South Carolina. Soon after mar 
riage Mr. Arrington moved from Montgomery Coun- 
ty, where he had lived since the war, to this coun- 
ty, and in 1871 he homesteaded the place where he 
now lives, buying out the claims of others until he 
had 240 acres. When he first came here he had, 
in money and stock, about $500. He began im- 
proving the place by erecting a good hewn-log 
house, cleared and fenced the land, and from that 
time to this he and family have never been oflp the 
place but one year, and then for the purpose of 
giving the children better opportunities for an edu- 
cation. Mr. Arrington, now has 100 acres under 
cultivation, a good, comfortable house, 34x46 feet, 
substantial stables, and all his land fenced. His 
principal crops are oats, corn, cotton and potatoes. 
His crops are good, oats yielding about fifty bush- 
els to the acre, and cotton is yielding three-fourths 
of a bale to the acre this year (1890), although he 
has cotton that yields more than a bale to the acre. 
He is the owner of some fine timber, consisting of 
oak, pine, elm, ash and walnut. His land lies 
along Cedar Creek, and is very fertile. Mr. Ar- 
rington is quite extensively engaged in the raising 



":?I^ 






^ 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



399 



t 



of stock, Laving some fine cattle and hogs, as well 
as horses and mules. He has five living children — 
four .sons and one daughter: Narcissa Ann, James 
A., William R., Charles and Thomas P. James is 
married and lives in the western part of the coun- 
ty. His wife, Margaret, is the daughter of John 
and Nancy Jane Robertson, of Cauthron, this 
county, and his union was blessed by two children, 
a girl, named Zella Ann, and a son, John William. 
Mr. Arrington and family are devout church mem- 
bers, and take an active part in the promotion of 
church and school interests. Mr. Arrington is a 
self-made man in every sense of the word, and has 
never had any help from outside sources. He is a 
Democrat in politics. 

Philip J. Bird is a farmer, blacksmith and 
woodworkman, of Hickman Township, and was born 
in Blount County, of East Tennessee, in 1842, 
being a son of John and Elizabeth (Shields) Bird, 
who were born in East Tennessee in ISIS and 1826, 
respectively, their marriage ceremony having been 
celebrated in that State also. About 1846 they 
moved to Northern Georgia, but Mrs. Bird died 
soon after, and Mr. Bird was married again, and 
spent the rest of his life in that State, his death 
occurring in 1882, at which time he was a member 
of the Missionary Baptist Church, and a well-to-do 
farmer by occupation. His father, Jacob Bird, 
was of Irish descent, and a farmer of Northern 
Georgia. Robert Shields, the maternal grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, devoted his 
attention to blacksmithing throughout life, was a 
soldier in the War of 1812, being with Jackson at 
New Orleans, was also of Irish lineage, and spent 
his declining years in the State of Georgia. Philip 
J. Bird is one of four children born to his parents, 
and as he was compelled to labor hard in his youth 
he received only about three months' schooling in 
all. In June, 1861, he joined Company C, Fourth 
Georgia Battalion, afterward the Sixtieth Georgia 
Infantry, Army of Virginia, and was with Stone- 
wall Jackson in nearly all the leading engage- 
ments in which that army participated, besides 
many others. At the expiration of his first enlist- 
ment he joined the navy, with which he served 
until the close of the war, or nearly one year. A 



few days before Lee surrendered, he was captured 
at Drury's Bluff, was paroled at Washington City 
and returned home. He was married in 1865 to 
Martha Ann, the daughter of John and Jane (El- 
lington) Smith, they being born in Virginia, and 
moving first to North Carolina, and later to 
Georgia, where Mr. Smith died, his widow crossing 
the river of Death in Scott County Ark. Mrs. 
Bird was born in the Old North State, and has 
borne her husband four children. In 1870 Mr. 
Bird came to Scott County, and for nineteen years 
has been a prosperous farmer of this region. He 
first settled in the woods, but now has 70 of 
his 120-acre farm cleared. Although the greater 
part of his life has been given to farming, he has 
also been engaged in blacksmithing for the past six 
years. He belongs to Waldron Lodge No. 132, of 
the A. F. & A. M., and he and his entire family 
are Methodists. 

Samuel C. Brown is a merchant and po.stmaster 
at Blansett, Scott County, Ark., but was born in 
Blount County, Tenn. , October 4, 1837, a son of 
Benjamin and Martha (Cusick) Brown, the former a 
native of Virginia, and the latter of Tennessee. The 
father was taken to Tennessee by his parents when 
a boy, and in that State he attained manhood and 
was married, making his home there until he moved 
to Walker County, Ga. , in 1860. After a residence 
of nine years in that State he came to Scott 
County, Ark., and here he passed to his long home 
in August, 1889, when in the seventy-ninth year 
of his age. He was an honest tiller of the soil and 
was a man who had the confidence of all who knew 
him. His first wife, the mother of Samuel C, 
died in Tennessee in 1854, after which he married 
Elizabeth Holcomb, who died in this State and 
county. He was a member and oflicer of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church for many years and at all 
times was an earnest Christian. In his political 
views he was a .stanch Democrat. Samuel C. 
Brown was the third of ten children, five now liv- 
ing, and his youth was spent and his schooling re- 
ceived in Sevier County, Tenn. He worked on 
his father's farm until he was twenty- one years 
of age, then began teaching school and farmed 
until the war broke out. In October, 1862, he 



IV 



^1 



400 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



t 



joined Company K, Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, 
with which he served eighteen months, being 
then transferred to the First Tennessee Cav- 
alry, his company acting as escort to Gen. . 

He was taken prisoner at Knoxville, Tenn., af- 
ter entering the Federal lines under a flag of truce, 
and was retained at that place until the close of 
the war. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Chicka- 
mauga, Resacca and in the Georgia campaign 
around Atlanta. At the close of the war he turned 
his attention to farming in Blount County, Tenn. , 
but in 1806 went to "Walker County, Ga. , where he 
made his home until 1869, then came to Scott 
County, Ark., and here in connection with farming 
followed the occupation of teaching until 1877. 
He then began selling dry goods in Waldron, 
Henry Coker being his business partner. In 1881 
Mr. Brown came to Blansett and opened a general 
store, which he has since successfully conducted. 
In 1883 he was appointed postmaster of the town 
and is still holding the office. He commenced op- 
erating a sawmill and cotton-gin in 1888; and in 
both has done well. He is a member of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church, and socially belongs to 
Blansett Lodge No. 469, of the A. F. & A. M. , and 
politically is a Democrat. 

Judge Roland Chiles. Owing to the fertility 
of the soil of Scott County, Ark. , and by energy, 
industrj' and economy Mr. Chiles has become one 
of the well-to-do farmers of this section. He was 
born in Tennessee in 1827, the youngest in a 
family of nine children born to his parents, Paul 
and Lucinda (Kersey) Chiles, the former a native 
of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. 
The paternal grandfather, Roland Chiles, was 
born in England and came to America during 
colonial times, making his home in Virginia and 
afterward participating in the Revolutionary War. 
He afterward became a pioneer of East Tennessee 
and in that State passed from life. I'he maternal 
grandfather, Thomas Kersey, was born in Ire- 
land and also came to America prior to the Revo- 
lution, in which he was a soldier, but made his 
home in South Carolina, afterward moving to Ten- 
nessee, where he died. Paul Chiles was an agri- 
culturist and spent his life in Tennessee, dying in 



the western part of the State in 1883 at the ad- 
vanced age of ninety-seven years, his wife having 
been called to her long home in 1867. On the 
old homestead in Tennessee Roland Chiles grew 
to manhood, learning the details of farm work of 
his father. He was married in West Tennessee in 
1852 to Miss Margaret M. Blair, a native of South 
Carolina, but reared in Tennessee, and in time a 
family of Ave children gathered about their hearth 
stone : James P. , John H. , Frances E. (wife of 
Frank H. Holland), Maud Delia and Hayward 
L. In 1863 Mr. Chiles joined the Confederate 
Army, and after taking part in the battle of Ox- 
ford Miss., he left the army on account of physical 
disability and once more turned his attention to 
farming in Tennessee, in which State he re- 
mained until 1871, when he came to Arkansas, 
purchasing 240 acres of good farming land near 
Waldron and entering 120 acres more. He set 
energetically to work to improve his land, and now 
has 125 acres under cultivation, the most of which 
had to be cleared from timber. He ran a saw- 
mill for some years and besides his home farm has 
enough land to make him 500 acres. In 1886 he 
purchased nine acres in the town of Waldron, on 
which he has erected a residence and in which he 
has since resided. In 1884 he was elected county 
judge, and during his term in office reduced the 
county debt about $14,000. Although a Whig 
before the War he is now a Democrat in politics, 
and socially belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and 
I. O. O. F. In 1874 he moved to Fayetteville to 
give his eldest three children the advantages of 
the schools of that place, and there resided for 
two years. 

James P. Chiles. No name is more properly 
placed in the history of Scott County than that of 
Mr. Chiles, who is not only one of the most enter- 
prising farmers of this section, but is of such a 
social, genial nature that he has made many 
friends. He was born in Tennessee to Roland and 
Margaret N. (Blair) Chiles, for a history of whom 
see sketch of Roland Chiles. Until he attained 
his fifteenth year James P. was a resident of his 
native State, but since 1870 he has been a resident 
of Arkansas, and was given a good education in 



rrr 



4l 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



401 



the University of the State, at Fayetteville. On 
July 3, 1887, he was married to Miss Emma Rol- 
and, a native of Scott County, a ad a daughter of 
Elijah Roland, who was one of the early settlers of 
this State. In 1884 he purchased his present farm 
of 315 acres, and by hard work has put fifty acres 
under cultivation, the rest being covered with tim- 
ber of an excellent and valuable quality. In Oc- 
tober, 1886, he bought his present cotton-gin, grist 
and saw-mill, all of which he is operating with 
success, his saw-mill averaging about 5,000 feet of 
lumber per day. Besides this property he is the 
owner of a good dwelling-house and three tenement 
houses, and in addition to his other duties he is 
somewhat interested in stock-raising and speculat- 
ing, in fact, is wide-awake and enterprising in all 
matters pertaining to his calling. He and his 
family are members of the Christian Church; he 
purchased all the materials for erecting a church 
and school-house, deeding the property for the 
site. He has at all times tried to further the cause 
of education, and for years has faithfully discharged 
the duties of school director of his district. He is 
a warm Republican in politics, and is an active 
worker in that party. 

Thomas C. Climer, farmer. Cedar Creek, Ark. 
Mr. Climer is a successful young farmer of Scott 
County, Ark. , and it is not to be wondered at, per- 
haps, that he should devote himself to agricultural 
pursuits, for, in looking back over the career of his 
ancestors, we find that the majority of them were 
honest tillers of the soil. He is a native of Mau- 
ry County, Tenn. , born February 14, 1851, and 
his youth was spent in that State, where his early 
scholastic advantages were also enjoyed. He be- 
gan for himself as a farmer at the age of eighteen 
years, rented land for several years in Tennessee, 
and in 1880 moved to Arkansas, settling near Wal- 
dron in this county. There he remained for two 
years on a farm of 120 acres, which he had bought 
and he then sold this, moving to his present 
residence in Cedar Creek Township. He now has 
160 acres of good land, sixty-five acres under cul- 
tivation, has a good frame house, farm under fence 
and has a good orchard (apple and peach). His 
crops are oats, corn and cotton, of which he annu- 



ally has a good yield, and he also takes consider- 
able interest in stock raising, being the owner of 
some tine cattle. He has gained what he has 
through his own exertions, and is counted a " hus- 
tler " by his acquaintances. He has raised cotton 
that would yield a bale to the acre. IVIi'. Climer 
was married in 1869 to Miss Josie Black, of Ten- 
nessee, andj^they have four children, all boys, who 
are named as follows: William M. , Hannibal B., 
Joseph W. and Samuel. All are at home with 
their parents. Mr. Climer is a member of the 
Farmers' Alliance and is treasurer of the same. 
He is strictly Democratic in his political views. 

John Crutchtieid is a farmer of Scott County, 
Ark., and as a man and citizen is highly respected 
by all who know him. He was born in Orange 
County, N. C, about 1835, to Henry and Polly 
(O' Daniel) Crutchfield, they being also born in 
North Carolina, in which State the mother died, 
Mr. Crutchfield afterward marrying a Mrs. Walker, 
and with her removing to Tennessee, his death oc- 
curring in Franklin County since the Rebellion. 
He was a blacksmith and farmer, and was an ear- 
nest member of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
His father, William Crutchtieid, died in North 
Carolina, the mother's father, John O' Daniel, also 
dying there, a farmer. The gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch, was the sixth of eight 
children, and was reared on a farm, receiving but 
little schooling. At the age of nineteen years he 
was married to Mary, daughter of Aaron and Eliza- 
beth T. Tripp, of North Carolina, where Mrs. 
Crutchtieid was born in 1860. She and her hus- 
band removed to Lincoln County, Tenn. , two years 
after to Franklin County, and in 1871 came to 
Scott County, Ark. , settling on their present farm, 
which was then heavily covered with timber. His 
estate comprises 300 acres of land,of which 150 acres 
are cleared, which desirable state of affairs has 
been brought about by his own efforts. His land 
is the best in his neighborhood, which fact is in a 
great measure owing to the time and work he has 
expended on it. In 1867 he was called upon to 
mourn the death of his wife, and the following year 
he was united in marriage to Mrs. J ane Amick, whose 
native birthplace is the State of Tennessee, she 



"7i; 



» \ 



_.f 



^, 



402 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



being a daughter of Caleb and Sophronia Call, the 
former of whom was born in North Carolina, and 
the latter in Tennessee. Mr. Call went to Ten- 
nessee when a boy, where he lived many years, 
then came to Scott County, where he spent his de- 
clining years. His father, Daniel Call, was born 
in North Carolina, and died in Tennessee. Mrs. 
Crutchfield was born in Coffee County, Tenn. , in 
1842, and was married in that county to A. J. 
Amick, who died while serving in the Confederate 
Army during the Rebellion. Mr. Crutchfield had 
live children by his first wife, one son and two 
daughters living, his last wife also bearing him 
five children of whom two sons and one daughter 
survive. 

R. P. Dickens is a gentleman of substantial 
worth, residing in Scott County, Ark., and all his 
farming operations have been carried on according 
to the most advanced and progressive ideas, and 
have resulted to his own good, and to the benefit 
of those with whom he has come in contact. He 
was born in Tennessee May 7, 1839, and, at the 
age of eight years came to Arkansas with his par- 
ents, Richard and Mary Jane. Dickens, and having 
been brought up to a farm life, he determined to 
make that his calling through life, and accordingly, 
at the age of twenty-one years, purchased some 
land in Faulkner County, of this State, and began 
immediately to f)ut it in good farming condition. 
After remaining on this farm for twenty years, he 
sold it and came to Scott County, Ark., purchasing 
his present farm of 140 acres, 85 acres of which 
are in a good state of cultivation, and nicely im- 
proved with good farm buildings of all kinds. Al- 
though his orchard is small, his trees are well se- 
lected, and bear well. His land yields an average 
amount of cotton, corn and oats, and in 1889 he 
established the first and only tannery in the west- 
ern part of the State, which he has worked very 
successfully, finding a ready sale for all the 
leather he can produce. His intention is to enlarge 
the business at no distant day, and then will give 
the greater part of his attention to that work. He 
was married at the age of twenty-three years, but 
after a wedded life of seven years his wife died, 
leaving him with four children, the eldest three of 



whom are married. He was again married, but his 
second wife lived only about fifteen months, and he 
next espoused Miss Mary Douglas, their union re- 
sulting in the birth of three children. The family 
attend the Christian Church, of which Mr. and 
Mrs. Dickens are members, and he is a Democrat, 
and belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the A. F. & A. 
M. fraternities. Mr. Dickens keeps fully apace 
with the progress of agriculture, and his place is 
one of the neat, comfortable homesteads for which 
this county is famous. 

H. W. Dixon. Prominent among the many es- 
teemed and respected farmers and cotton-ginners 
of Scott County, Ark., stands the name of Mr. 
Dixon, who was born in Polk County of this State, 
in 1841, being a son of William H. and Middie 
(Short) Dixon, the former a native of North Caro- 
lina and the latter of Mississippi. They were mar- 
ried in the latter Slate about 1835, but removed 
from there to Polk County, Ark., in 1837, and 
here reared their children: Nancy E. (wife of 
Joseph B. Dixon), James G. (deceased), H. W., 
Priscilla (wife of G. W. Fry), Edward N. (de- 
ceased), Susan A. (wife of John McLaughlin), 
Mary J. (wife of J. W. Hai'per, deceased), Sophie 
E. (wife of A. P. Walker), and George R. The 
mother of these children died in Polk Count}', in 
1859, after which Mr. Dixon was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Julia A. Lackey. He then removed 
to Scott County, Ark., where he passed from life 
in December, 1887, a worthy Christian gentleman 
and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
He was deputy sheriff of Polk County for four 
years, and otherwise took an interest in the wel- 
fare of this section. H. W. Dixon, enlisted in the 
United States Army, September 1, 1802, becoming 
a member of Company I, First Arkansas Cavalry, 
and was in the fight at Springfield, Mo., and at 
Fayetteville, Ark. He served throughout the re- 
mainder of the war and was discharged at Fayette- 
ville, Ark., in 1865, after which he returned home 
and engaged in farming. He was married in 1870, 
to Miss Amanda Landon, a daughter of Allen and 
Nancy (Roberts) Landon. Seven children have 
blessed their union: Charles H, Cora B., Alberta, 
Atella, Nancy Lula, James B. and an infant that 



I 



I. 



AK 



k^ 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



403 



died unnamed. Mr. Dixon has been industrious 
and enterprising and as a result, has a fine farm 
of 540 acres, of which 250 are under cultivation, 
devoted principally to the culture of corn and cot- 
ton. His cotton-gin has a capacity of nine bales 
per day, and has been in running order for the 
past twenty years. Mr. Dixon is a member of the 
G. A. R., and at one time was captain of a com- 
pany of Home Guards. He has resided in Scott 
County for the past twenty-three years, and is one 
of the most highly esteemed residents of this sec- 
tion. He has been successful in his business vent- 
tures and gives liberally, at all times, to enter- 
prises which he considers worthy. 

Thomas F. Dollens. Few farmers and stock- 
raisers of Hickman Township have been more uni- 
versally successful than the subject of this sketch, 
who was born in Audrian County, Mo., in 1837, 
being a son of William T. and Mary Ann Dollens, 
the former born in Albemarle County, Va., in 
1808, and the latter near Crab Orchard, Ky., in 
1813, their marriage being celebrated in the last 
named State, from which they removed to Mis- 
souri about 1832, in 1846 to Texas, and in 1848 to 
Scott County, Ark., locating on a farm about four 
and one-half miles southwest of Waldron, where 
both passed from life, the father dying in Decem- 
ber, 1856, and the mother in 1880. They were 
among the pioneers of this section and became 
well to do in worldly goods. At the time of Mr. 
Dollens' death he was filling the office of county 
surveyor, a position he had held four years. His 
father, Richard Dollens, was a Virginian who 
moved to Kentucky, then to Missouri, and passed 
to his long home in Audrian County, having been 
a faithful .soldier in the Revolutionary War, enter- 
ing the colonial service at the age of eighteen. 
He was a farmer and of English descent. The 
subject of this sketch is the second of three sons 
and three daughters, he and two sisters being the 
only surviving members of the family. Thomas 
F. received little schooling, but was thoroughly 
drilled in the details of farm work. Since about 
eleven years of age he has resided in Scott County, 
Ark., and from here, on May 0, 1861, he enlisted 
in Company I, First Arkansas Cavalry, Confeder- 



ate States Army. He was soon after taken sick, 
but upon recovering he joined another command 
and operated in Arkansas and Missouri, taking 
part in a number of skirmishes. He was married 
in 1869 to Miss Tabitha Ellen, daughter of Bay- 
liss B. and Nancy Brashear, who came to Scott 
County, Ark. , from Alabama, at an early day, 
Mr. Bra.shear dying here some years ago, his 
widow surviving him, a resident of Sebastian 
County. Mrs. Dollens was born in Alabama, and 
has become the mother of nine children. Mr. 
Dollens has resided on his present farm since be- 
fore the war, and is now the owner of 640 acres of 
land, about 200 of which are cleared. He was 
justice of the peace for some years, is a member of 
Waldron Lodge No. 132 of the A. F. & A. M., and 
also belongs to the Farmers' Alliance. 

Thomas M. Duncan, the circuit clerk of Scott 
County, Ark., is a gentleman of wide experience, 
who has been actively interested in politics from 
his youth up. He was born at Fort Smith, Ark., 
in 1864, being the eldest of five children born to 
Samuel K. and Isabella (Gilbreath) Duncan, the 
former bora in Kentucky and the latter in Arkan- 
sas. During the Rebellion Samuel K. Duncan 
came to Arkansas and located at Fort Smith, but 
after a very short residence there, came to Scott 
County, and has since been a resident of Waldron, 
near which place he has been engaged in wagon- 
making. Thomas M. Duncan was reared in this 
county and until he was fifteen years of age he 
was a regular attendant at school. At that age he 
entered the office of the circuit court clerk, and 
until 1 887, served as deputy, being then appointed 
by the Governor to fill the office left vacant by the 
death of Clerk J. C. Gilbreath. At the special 
election he was elected to the position, re- elected 
in the fall of 1888, and again in 1890, which fact 
speaks louder than words ' can do as to his ability 
as an official. He is a consistent Democrat, has 
always been an active worker for that party, and 
has always been deeply interested in the current 
issues of the day. Socially he belongs to Waldron 
Lodge No. 132 of the A. F. & A. M. He is 
bound to rise in the world, for he is industrious, 
intellectual and honest, and of strictly moral habits. 



[ 



*^-. 



i \> 



k. 



404 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Charles A. Finley is a merchant of the town of 
Waldron, Ark., being a member of the tirm of 
Finley & Hendricks, and by birth is a Tennesseean, 
born in Carroll County, in 1865, to Smith P. and 
Minerva (Bennett) Finley, they being also Ten- 
nesseeans, the father being a farmer and mechanic 
by occupation. They were married in their native 
State, and to their union eight children were born, 
seven of whom are now living: Mattie (wife of J. 
B. Thomas), C. A. (the subject of this sketch), 
John W., Sindey W., Ada (wife of T. B. Dinwid- 
die), Robert A., Norma G., Dollie, and one that 
died unnamed. The father and mother of these 
children are still living, in Tennessee, and both 
are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, the former being a member of the Masonic 
order of Macedonia. Charles A. Finley came to 
Arkansas in 1886, and settled in Crawford County, 
where he was engaged in the dry goods business until 
January 18S7, but moved the same year to Fort 
Smith. After traveling for Dyke Bros, until June, 
1889, he became a salesman for the Holmes Dry 
Goods Company, acting as their traveling salesman 
a part of the time, about nine months out of the 
year being spent as salesman in their store. He 
has been a resident of Waldron, and soon after 
coming here formed a partnership with a Mr. 
Hendricks, and here has since been in the grocery 
business, and is, deservedly, doing well. He is 
an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and, socially, belongs to the K. of P. He is a 
young man of exemplary habits, and as he is in- 
dustrious and pushing, he is bound to make his 
mark in the world. 

Hon. Lorenzo D. Gilbreath. No name is justly 
entitled to a more enviable place in the history of 
Scott County, Ark. , than the one which heads this 
sketch, for it is borne by a man who has been use- 
fully and honorably identified with the interests 
of this county, and with its advancement in every 
worthy particular. He owes his nativity to John- 
son County, Ark., where he was born on October 
30, 1827, being the eighth of twelve children born 
to Hugh and Rachel (McKinzie) Gilbreath, both 
of whom were born in Illinois, and came to Ar- 
kansas about 1825, locating on a large tract of 



land in Johnson County, where the father died 
after about twenty years. He was a large land 
owner, made many improvements on his property, 
but a short time prior to his death he moved across 
Spadra Creek and there on a farm, passed from 
life. The subject of this sketch was reared to a 
farm life, but received but few educational advan- 
tages in his youth. In 1848 he was married to 
Miss Catherine James, a native of Arkansas, and 
daughter of Joseph James, a pioneer of this region 
from Kentucky. After his marriage Mr. Gilbreath 
moved to the Fourche River in Scott County, and 
entered 120 acres of land on which he lived for 
eight years, making, in the meantime, many valu- 
able improvements. After serving as justice of 
the peace for some time he was, in 1858, elected 
county clerk and moved to Waldron to take charge 
of the office, being continuously re-elected there- 
after until 1874, when he resigned. During the 
war he took the county books and record to 
Sedalia, Mo., for safety, returning after the war 
and serving until the above mentioned date. He 
was nominated bj' acclamation by both parties for 
representative, was elected in the fall of 1873 and 
served with faithfulness and ability for two ses- 
sions. He has served with distinction in other 
capacities, but for some time has been living in 
retirement. In 1873 he was admitted to the Polk 
County bar, while on a visit to that county, and 
was actively engaged in the practice of law for 
many years, but is now doing only a small business 
in the probate court of the county. After his 
return from the Legislature in 1874 he was elected 
attorney of Scott County, and during his four 
years' service in this capacity he was instrumental 
in the advancement of the value of county scrip. 
In 1887 he erected a pleasant cottage, three- qnar 
ters of a mile south of Waldron, it being on a valu- 
able tract of land comprising 1,000 acres of which 
he is the owner. In 1884 he joined the Church of 
Christ, and soon after began preaching in that 
church. In 1888 he erected a church in Waldron, 
at a cost of $1,000, and paid $110 for a good bell. 
He has always been a progressive, public-spirited 
citizen, and would give life to any community in 
which he might settle. In addition to the other 



l^ 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



405 



responsible offices he bas tilled, he was elected 
mayor of Waldron in 1885, being the first one of 
the place. 

J. M. Glass is a thoroughly posted and intelli- 
gent man on public matters, and as a tiller of the 
soil is progressive and enterprising. He is a 
Georgian, born on February 3, 1827, to Thomas 
and Elizabeth (Bearden) Glass, they being also 
born in that State. The father was a farmer by 
occupation, and to his union with Miss Bearden, 
whom he married in Clark County, Ga. , seven 
children were born, four of which family are 
now living: Thomas N., C. C, W. J. and J. M. ; 
Dicey A. , Jane and an infant are deceased. Both 
parents died in Georgia, members of the Christian 
Church, the birth of the former occurring in 179."), 
and the latter in 1810. In the State of Georgia, 
J. M. Glass was married in 1847 to Miss Lucy A. 
Rucker, who was born in Wilkes County, Ga. , in 
1828, and of a family of five sons and seven daugh- 
ters born to them, nine children are still living: 
C, J. M., William N., Almeda V. (wife of James 
Fleming), Louisa (wife of A. B. Black), Narcissa 
(wife of Pierce Jones), Lou E. (wife of L. King), 
Millie and B. L. J. M. Glass emigrated with his 
family from Georgia to the State of Arkansas in 
1870, and settled in Sebastian County, where 
he lived some eighteen months, after which he 
came to Scott County, where he is now resid- 
ing. He has been successful in his operations, 
and is the owner of 400 acres of fine land, of 
which 150 acres are under cultivation. On this 
land is a good horse-power cotton-gin, which has 
a capacity of three bales per day. Mr. Glass is a 
worthy and upright citizen, and his wife is an ear- 
nest and consistent member of the Christian 
Chuich. Mr. Glass formerly owned what was 
called Glass' Mills, consisting of water, merchant 
andsawmills on the Chickamauga River, where the 
famous battle was fought. He owned 326 acres of 
land on that river, and this is being surveyed and 
will lie in the United States Park, now being es- 
tablished on the Chickamauga battle-field. 

Prof. Samuel F. Godjard of Scott County, 
Ark., IS a son of C. E. and N. T. (Smedley) God- 
dard, both of whom were born in this State, the 



former being reared in Washington County on a 
farm. At the age of eighteen years he went to Cal- 
ifornia and after remaining in that State for several 
years he returned to Arkansas, and settled in Se- 
bastian County. His wife was a daughter of Jo- 
seph R. Smedley, a native of England, who was 
sent as a missionary to this county by the Mission- 
ary Baptist Church, his field of labor being prin- 
cipally in the Indian Territory. The immediate 
subject of this sketch is the second son in a family 
of eight children born to his parents, and although 
his opportunities for acquiring an education, up to 
the age of eighteen years, were very limited, he, at 
that time entered a very good school at Hartford, 
in which he took an academic course. He supple- 
mented this by an attendance at Buckner College, 
where he remained for three years, at the end of 
which time he started out for himself as a school- 
teacher, to which calling he has since given his 
attention. He became an instructor in the graded 
school of Waldron in September, 1890, with the 
end in view of bringing the school to a higher state 
of perfection, and preparing the students for col- 
lege work, and has, in conjunction with Prof. Hen- 
derson, established a normal class, which he hopes 
will be well patronized, and profitable to the school 
and an honor to the county. He was born in Se- 
bastian County, Ark., September 23, 1864, and was 
married October 8, 1890, to Miss Johnnie Tankers- 
ley, a daughter of Dr. O. D. and M. E. Tankersley, 
of Clarksville, Johnson County, Ark. She was 
given the advantages of the Clarksville school, and 
is a well-educated lady. She has three sisters, 
one of whom is the wife of Dr. C. E. Frost, of Sa- 
lem, Ark., the other two being at home attending 
school. Her father has been a practicing physi- 
cian for many years, but is now retired. Mr. God- 
dard met his wife while taking a three years' 
course in Hendricks College, at Atlus, which is one 
of the leading educational institutions of the State. 
He and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, of which thej' have been 
members since they were fifteen and twelve years 
of age respectively. Mr. Goddard is a licensed 
minister of the church, and socially is a member 
of Mansfield Lodge of the A. F. & A. M. He 



^1 



JV 



406 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



t 



is highly esteemed by the people of Waldroa and 
vicinity, and has the reputation of being one of the 
leading educators of the western part of the State. 
Hon. James P. Hall is one of the well known 
farmers of this region, in connection with which 
work he operates a good cotton-gin, of which he is 
the owner. He was born in Tennessee on Novem- 
ber 11, 1839, a son of Alex F. and Sarah S. (Fos- 
ter) Hall, who were also born in Tennessee. Al- 
though his opportunities for acquiring an educa- 
tion were poor, James P., by self-application, be- 
came a well-informed young man and in the con- 
duct and management of his farm has always 
shown the best of judgment. After starting out 
in life for himself at the age of eighteen years, he 
worked for wages for four years, then enlisted in 
Company C, Fifteenth Arkansas Infantry, and for 
four years served in the Confederate Army. He 
took an active part in the battles of Shiloh, Mis- 
sionary Ridge, Ringgold Gap, Chickamauga, the 
campaign through Georgia, Jonesboro and at Pu- 
laski, Tenn., where he was taken prisoner and 
finally discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio in May, 
1865. He then returned to his home in Arkansas, 
where he moved in 1859, and during a short resi- 
dence in Booneville, Logan County, Ark., he was 
engaged in the mercantile business. At the end of 
five years he sold out and moved to this township, 
where he engaged in farming, $200 in debt, as his 
business venture in Booneville had proven a failure. 
He began improving the land, for which he went 
in debt, and now has an excellent tract of land 
comprising 300 acres, on which is a good house 
and barn, an excellent cotton-gin, considerable 
stock and a good orchard. He and his wife, whom 
he married in February, 1867, are members of the 
Methodist Episcojaal Church, in which he is steward 
and trustee. His wife, formerly Miss Louisa P. 
Bailey was born in Georgia, and has borne her 
husband seven children — two sons and five daugh- 
ters. Mr. Hall is a Mason and a liberal supporter 
of puljlic enterprises. In September, 1880, he was 
elected to the State Senate, serving four years, 
and he has also been justice of the peace for sev- 
eral years. He is a highly-esteemed resident of 
this county, and is in every respect a model citizen. 



James C. Hall, Jr., farmer. Boles, Ark. All 
his life Mr. Hall has. followed, with substantial suc- 
cess, the occupation to which he was reared, and 
in which he is now engaged — farming. The owner 
of a landed estate of 480 acres, he is also one of 
the township's leading agriculturists, and as a man, 
no less than as a citizen, he is highly esteemed. He 
was originally from Alabama, was reared on a farm, 
and, owing to the breaking out of the war, his ed- 
ucation was rather limited. His father, James C. 
Hall, Sr. , was a cripple for many years, and as a 
result our subject was compelled, at an early age, 
to take charge of the farm, where he remained un- 
til twenty-one years of age. He served three years 
in the army, and on this account he never obtained 
the education he wished, nor that his father de- 
sired him to have. His mother, Jane (Oliver) Hall, 
was a native of North Carolina, while his father 
was from South Carolina. The latter was killed by 
bushwhackers, during the war, although a cripple 
and unable to take an active part in the service. 
James C. Hall, Jr. , enlisted in Company H, Nine- 
teenth Arkansas Regiment, under Capt. G. W. 
Featherston, and was in the battles of Missionary 
Ridge, Arkansas Post, Chickamauga, Tunnel Hill, 
Marietta, Franklin, Nashville and Bentonville, N. C. 
At Arkansas Post he was taken prisoner, and con- 
veyed to Camp Douglas, where he was held for 
three months. After being exchanged be returned 
to his command. At Marietta, Ga., he was wound- 
ed in the right hip, and was off duty for six months. 
He was discharged at Greensboro, N. C. Previous 
to the war, in the fall of 1860, his father, with his 
family, had moved to Arkansas, and bought a farm 
near Waldron, in Scott County. Returning to 
Waldrou after the war, he remained and assisted 
his mother on the farm for four years, and during 
that time he was married (1868). to Miss Sarah 
Hayes, of Waldron, who died in 1878, leaving two 
children — a son and a daughter, the former named 
Robert M. , and the latter Elizabeth J. ; both were 
married; the daughter in December, 1887. The 
son resides at Boles. After his marriage Mr. 
Hall bought a tract of land and moved to this 
township. This farm contained 100 acres, and to 
this he has added from time to time until he now 






<8 fc. 



•i 



1^ 




has 480 acres of good farming land, about 200 acres 
being under cultivation. He lias a good house, all 
necessary farm buildings, and the place is well 
fenced. His principal crops are corn and cotton. 
He has good orchards of apples, peaches'and pears, 
which are doing well. Mr. Hall was born January 
5, 1843, and was married in January, 1880, to 
Miss Margaret Hollis, of this county. They have 
four children — three sons and one daughter: James 
F., Dora R., Thomas J. and Oscar L. Mr. Hall 
is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 
Socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. 

Benjamin F. Hanes. is another prominent and 
successful farmer of Lewis Township, Scott Coiintv. 
whose name is synonymous with the farming in- 
terests of the county. He was born in Tennessee, 
November 7. 1829, to Jonathan and Harriet (Lewis) 
Hanes, the former born in North Carolina, and 
the latter in Tenne.ssee, their marriage taking 
place in Wayne County of the last named State in 
1823, and resulted in the birth of this family: John 
L. (born November 25, 1824, died April 1, 1864), 
James W. (born July 17, 1827, died November 28, 
1855), Elizabeth B. (born February 24, 1832, died 
July 16, 1884), Claiburn P. (born June 19, 1835, 
died May 8, 1868), William H. (born May 12, 
1838, died April 20, 1889). The parents removed 
from Tennessee to Washington County, Ark., in 
1832, but from there came to Scott County, in 
1847, and here the father resided up to the time 
of his death, which occurred in 1876, at the home 
of his son, Benjamin F. The mother passed from 
life in Montgomery County, Ark., in 1855. The 
immediate subject of this biography is the only 
one of his father's family now living. He was 
married in 1853, to Miss Nancy D. McMullen, a 
daughter of Joel and Eliza McMullen, and by her 
became the father of two children: John F. (born 
March 3, 1857), Mary V. (born March 15, 1859). 
The mother died in 1861, on the place where Mr. 
Hanes now lives, she being a worthy member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at the time 
of her death. Two years later Mr. Hanes was 
married to Miss Martha J. Belshey, by whom he 
had one child, Carroll D. (born January 1, 1867). 



This wife, who was a member of the Baptist Church, 
died in January, 1868, after which Mr. Hanes 
married his third and present wife in December of 
the same year, her maiden name being Lucinda J. 
Fish, daughter of John and Cynthia (Hicks) Fish. 
This wife has bcrne him six children: Sierra N. 
(born December 13, 1871), Joel C. (born January 
25, 1875), Charlie G. (born January 23, 1879). 
Louie C. (born May 31, 1882), Cyntha A. (born 
July 23, 1886), Carrie B. (born October 4, 1889), 
all living. Mr. Hanes was conscripted into the 
Confederate Army, in 1862, but on account of 
disability was discharged at the end of four months, 
and in 1864, removed to Fayette County, 111., where 
he remained until 1869, when he returned to his 
home in Scott County, where he is still living. He 
owns 160 acres of land, with 40 acres under culti- 
vation, and his principal crops are corn, oats, 
wheat and some cotton. Socially Mr. Hanes is a 
member of Reed Lodge No. 163, of the A. & F. 
A. M. , at Mansfield, and in his political views is 
an enthusiastic Republican, and is one of Scott 
County's first settlers, and most highly respected 
citizens. He is a liberal contributor to schools, 
churches and all laudable public enterprises, and 
is especially liberal in giving to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which his wife is a worthy 
member. ] 

William C. Hawkins, farmer. Boles, Ark. The 
subject of this sketch is a native of Indiana, born 
February 14, 1833, and is the son of Raleigh and 
Harriet Hawkins. He passed his boyhood and 
youth on a farm in Tennessee, whither his parents 
had moved when he was quite small, and a few 
years later they located in De Kalb County, Ala. 
There William C. remained until he was twenty- 
three years of age, when he left home and went to 
Mississippi. He there purchased a tract of land 
and remained on the same for about three years. 
In 1860 he came to Arkansas, settled in this county, 
and bought 160 acres of land, which he improved 
for two years. He then enlisted and entered the 
Federal Array, Second Kansas Cavalry, was sta- 
tioned at Van Buren, where he remained until 
transferred to Little Rock. At the close of the 
war he returned to his farm, but soon after sold 



i?J. 



■<^ 



4«— ^ 



!l^ 



408 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



the place and bought his present property, which 
then consisted of 200 acres of land. To this he has 
added 220 acres and now has one of the finest 
farms in this township, about 200 acres being un- 
der cultivation. His principal crops are corn and 
cotton. He has this year seventy-five acres in cot- 
ton, which are yielding three-foi;rths of a bale to 
the acre, and seventy acres in corn, with a yield of 
sixty -five bushels to the acre. Everything about 
his place indicates a thrifty and progressive owner. 
Mr. Hawkins was married in 1854 to Miss Sarah 
M. Blanchard of Alabama, and they had two chil- 
dren, both sons. Mrs. Hawkins died about six 
years after her marriage. One of the sons died in 
youth, and the other, A. D. Hawkins, is married 
and resides near his father. In 1867 Mr. Hawkins 
was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha Scott, 
daughter of M. Scott, of Texas. They have four 
living children — three sons and a daughter: Will- 
iam C. (married to Miss Elizabeth Duly and resides 
in this township), George B. , Raleigh and Kansas 
M. The last three named are at home with their 
parents. Mrs. Hawkins is a worthy member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady of 
culture and refinement. Mr. Hawkins is a stanch 
Republican in his political views, and is a member 
of Landmark Lodge No. 464, A. F. & A. M. 

George W. Helms is an agriculturist by calling, 
and the success which attends his efforts is well 
merited, for no one is more thoroughly interested 
in his calling, or gives it greater attention. He 
was born in Franklin Countj', Ark., in 1849, and 
by his father was reared to farm life, his ojipor- 
tunities for an education being quite limited on ac 
count of the opening of the Rebellion. In 1869 
he began doing for himself, working on rented 
land in his native county, but the fall following his 
marriage, which occurred in August, 1869, he 
took a piece of Government land as a homestead, 
on which he settled and began improving. He 
immediately put up a good log house and other 
buildings, and here made his home until 1881, 
when he sold the place and came to Scott County, 
and immediately purchased the farm on which he 
is now making his home. It contains 160 acres of 
land, 60 of which are in a good state of cultiva- 



tion, and on this valuable land he has a good 
frame residence, tenant houses, stables, sheds, etc. 
His orchard, although young, is in a good bearing 
condition, and furnishes the family with an abun- 
dance of fine fruit. His farm is well cultivated, 
the principal crops being cotton, corn and oats, 
the yield of all being good, his last year's profit 
being over $700. His wife, who was formerly 
Miss Mary Ann Pledger, was born in Georgia, but 
was reared in Franklin County, Ark. She has 
borne her husband three sons and five daughters: 
James, John, Acie Jane, Rosella F., Mattie, 
Georgie, Myrtle and Mauie. James and Acie Jane 
are married and live near their parents. The 
other members of the family live at home and are 
attending a good district school in the vicinity. 
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and Mr. Helms is a member of the Farm- 
ers' Alliance and is a Democrat, politically. He 
is liberal in his support of worthy movements and 
has the reputation among his neighbors of being 
a pushing, enterprising gentleman and a success- 
ful farmer. 

Prof. Calvin Henderson has been wonderfully 
successful as an instructor of the young, and as 
principal of the high school of Waldron he has 
won the praise and commendation of friend and 
foe alike. He was born in North Carolina Novem- 
ber 19, 1859, to William and Lydia (Gwilliams) 
Henderson, the former a worthy and fairly suc- 
cessful tiller of the soil. Calvin's early educa- 
tional advantages were very poor, but at the age of 
eighteen years he determined to remedy this defect, 
and accordingly entered an academy in which he 
remained for about one year, fitting himself to enter 
college, which he did in 1878 at Dahlonega, Ga. 
This institution was the North Georgia Agricult- 
ural College, and from it he was graduated in 
1882, after leaving which he took up the study of 
law at Dallas, Ga. , and was admitted to the bar in 
1885. Preferring school work to the practice of 
his profession, he, in 1886, came to Yell County, 
Ark, and after being engaged in teaching in that 
county for about three years he went to Hart- 
ford, in the schools of which place he acted as 
principal. He then came to Waldron, and here he 



i \ 



.{^ 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



409 



and Prof. S. E. Goddard have established a high 
school, with normal, commercial and musical de- 
partments, which are well attended and in a pros- 
perous condition. It is the design of the teachers 
and board of directors to make the high school of 
Waldron second to none in the western part of the 
State, and to say that they have already succeeded 
would be but a simple statement of the facts. The 
school has already a good reputation abroad, and 
is liberally patronized by those at a distance. The 
course of study, while not complete, is very thor- 
ough, and on finishing a course in this institution 
the students are well fitted to make their own way 
in the world. Prof. Henderson is an active mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church and an efficient teacher 
in the Sunday-school. He is a member of the 
Kappa Chapter of the Sigma Nu fraternity, Dah- 
lonega, Ga. 

Judge Daniel Hon. In these days of money- 
making, when life is a constant struggle between 
right and wrong, it is a pleasure to lay before an 
intelligent reader the unsullied record of an hon- 
orable man. To the youthful it will be an incent- 
ive to honest industry, and will teach them a use- 
ful lesson. Mr. Hon was born in this county, in 
1860, being the eldest of three children born to 
Jackson and Lucy (Huie) Hon. Prior to marry- 
ing Miss Huie, Mr. Hon had been married twice, 
and became the father of thirteen children, four of 
whom are now living. He was born in Illinois, as 
was his third wife, Miss Huie, but was one of the 
first settlers of Scott County, Ark. , coming here 
about 1836, and being one of the founders of Wal- 
dron. He was a farmer and stock-raiser, and was 
the owner of 1,500 acres of fine farming land on 
the Poteau, but the war left him sadly impover- 
ished, and before he could fully retrieve his losses, 
he died, his death occurring in 1872. His wife 
died in 1868. Peter Hon, a half-brother of the 
subject of this sketch, died while serving in the 
Confederate Army. Daniel Hon was reared in 
Scott County, and until he was sixteen years of 
age he worked on the farm and attended the schools 
in the neighborhood. He then entered the State 
University at Fayetteville, and being a faithful 
and earnest student, he graduated from this insti- 



tution in 1882. In 1888 he began the study of 
law, and after teaching school until January, 1885, 
in order to obtain means with which to defray his 
expenses, he entered the well known law school at 
Lebanon, Tenn. , from which he graduated the 
same year. After being admitted to practice be- 
fore the Supreme Court of Arkansas, he came to 
Waldron, and opened a law office, where it was not 
long before his ability and knowledge of his pro- 
fession began to be seen and recognized. In 1886 
he was elected to the position of county and pro- 
bate judge being re-elected in 1888. In Septem- 
ber of the following year he formed a partnership 
with A. G. Leming, and together they have prac- 
ticed in all the courts of this judicial district. 
Judge Hon owns a fine tract of farming land, com- 
prising 500 acres, it being situated on Poteau 
Creek, 100 acres of which are under cultivation. 
On this finely improved place 1,000 isounds of seed 
cotton are raised to the acre, corn and the small 
grains being also raised in abundance. The land 
is about five miles from Waldi'on, and is very val 
uable. Mr. Hon was married in October, 1888, to 
Miss Maggie Gaines, a native of this county, 
daughter of F. C. Gaines, who was born in Scott 
County also, he being a son of James F. Gaines, a 
pioneer of this region from Virginia. Mrs. Hon, 
who is an earnest member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, has borne her husband one 
child, Lucy. F. C. Gaines, Mrs. Hon's father, 
was sheriff of Scott County for a number of years, 
and also represented the county in the State Leg- 
islature. His father, James F., was a pioneer 
merchant and farmer, represented this county in 
the State Legislature also, became the owner of a 
large body of land on the Fourche River, and dur- 
ing his day and time, was the most prominent man 
of the coiinty. Mrs. Hon's maternal grandfather, 
Judge J. H. Torbett, was county and probate 
judge of Scott County in an early day, and died 
while a member of the State Legislature, a widely 
known and highly honored citizen. 

C. L. Hough, one of the earlest settlers and 
prominent farmers of this county, was born in the 
Palmetto State on March 26, 1818, and his par- 
ents, Greenberry and Hettie Hough, were also 



r 



^' 



Al 



no 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



natives of that State. His early educational ad 
vantages were very poor, and when seven years of 
age, be moved with his parents to Alabama, where 
he made his home for thirty- three years. At the 
age of sixteen years his parents gave him his time, 
providing that he should use the money thus 
earned during the year to attend school. This be 
did, and when seventeen years of age, he entered 
a good school in Lauderdale County, Ala., where be 
remained ten months, and where he bad such good 
opportunities, that at the age of eighteen years 
he began teaching. This profession he followed 
until twenty-seven years of age, attending school 
during the vacations, and while thus employed, he 
studied surveying. When twenty six be was em- 
ployed by a contractor in the Government employ, 
to survey the Government lands of the State. The 
Government land office having been burned, with 
the surveyor's records, this resurvey was rendered 
necessary. This occurred in 1844, and this business 
Mr. Hough continued at intervals for fifty years. 
He was appointed county surveyor for his county 
in Alabama, and held this position in a satisfactory 
and creditable manner for seven years. At the age 
of thirty-live years (in 1852), he was married to 
Miss Emily Thresher of Lauderdale County, Ala., 
but she died at the end of one year. Two years 
later he was again married to Miss Martha P. A. 
Bourland, daughter of Prof. Joseph P. Bourland 
of Lauderdale County. Mr. Hough also held the 
office of justice of the peace, in that county, for 
forty years. In the years of his surveying, Mr. 
Hough had entered different tracts of land until 
he had over 1,000 acres. He settled upon and im- 
proved a po7tion of this land and made it his home 
for about five years. He then started for Texas, 
with bis family, by wagons, and while passing 
through Tennessee, Mrs. Hough was taken sick. 
This caused them to stop in Hardin County, of that 
State, where they remained about three years, Mr. 
Hough teaching school during that time. They 
again started for Texas, but while passing through 
this pait of Arkansas, and having chanced upon 
the La Fourche Valley, and seeing the richness of 
the soil, its natural advantages, etc. , Mr. Hough de- 
cided to make this his future home. He bought the 



place where he now lives, and is now satisfied that 
he could not have done better, in any part of the 
United States. He still owns his land in Ala- 
bama. His land here consists of 2(i0 acres, with 
90 acres improved, and he has a good house and 
other necessary farm buildings. He has a good 
apple and peach orchard and a small vineyard 
which yields well. Since he arrived in this county, 
he has devoted most of his time to farming, but has 
held the jaosition of county surveyor for a number 
of years. He also, for some years, taught occasional 
terms of school. At the breaking out of the war, be 
being about forty-five years of age and not subject 
to conscript, was taken into a comjjany called the 
Home Reserve, whose duties were to obtain sup- 
plies for the army, and assist generally in the care 
of the portion of the people left at home. During 
this time bis family was in Texas. Returning to 
his home in the Fourche Valley, after the war, he 
was elected justice of the peace, in which capacity 
he served for about two years, when he was dis- 
franchised by the Government and not allowed to 
hold office for the following seven years. He was 
then elected county surveyor and held that posi- 
tion until a few years ago. At the time of his ar- 
rival in this county, schools and churches were 
scarce, but he has lived to see the county develop, 
and become one of the finest and most productive 
in the State. • By his marriage to his present wife, 
which occurred on July 24, 1856, there were born 
four children — three sons and one daughter: Will- 
iam P. (married Miss Ida Tate of this county and 
they have two children, named Myrtle and Lena). 
John Morgan (married Miss Eva Kelly of this 
county), Hettie (married Thomas W. Stone and 
resides in Waldron, and they have three children, 
all daughters, named Estell, Ula and Mattie) and 
Calvin T. (is at home with his parents and attend- 
ing the public schools). The second son is a 
teacher of the county and very successful in his 
work. The family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Hough has been a mem- 
ber of the Ma.sonic fraternity for forty-six years, 
and is now an honorary member. He is liberal in 
his support of churches, schools and all public en- 
terprises and is active in the church work, having 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



411 



been Sunday-school superintendent for many years. 
Dr. A. C. James, physician and farmer, Crow, 
Ark. In any worthy history of Arkansas mention 
should be made of the prominent citizens, among 
whom is to be found the name of Dr. A. C. James. 
This gentleman was born in Arkansas in 1842, and 
is a son of John and Sabrina (Hayes) James, both 
natives of the Palmetto State. The parents moved 
to Tennessee at an early day, and from there to 
Yell County, Ark., in 1838. The father was a 
carpenter by trade and built the first houses in 
Dardanelle and Danville. Both parents died in 
Yell County, Ark. , in 1853. Dr. A. C. James was 
reared principally in his native State, and as his 
educational facilities were not of the best he has 
gained the most of his schooling by self study. 
At the early age of eleven years he was thrown on 
his own resources, and as he had been early trained 
to the duties of the farm it was but natural that 
he should adopt this as his chosen calling. How- 
ever he did not care to be wholly dependent upon 
this, and as a consequence began the study of 
medicine. About this time the war broke out, and 
he enlisted in 1862, remaining in service until the 
spring of 1865. In 1870 Dr. James resumed his 
medical studies, and in 1872 went to North Caro- 
lina, came back two years after to Arkansas, whore 
in 1875 he began the practice of medicine under 
Dr. John E . Blake, of Tennessee, and has had a good 
practice ever since. One year later he commenced 
the practice of his profession and is a popular and 
very successful practitioner. In 1867 he was 
wedded to Miss Jane Wicker, a native of North 
Carolina, and the daughter of Charles and Sarah 
(McKiver) Wicker, natives also of the old Tar 
State. Of the four children born to this union 
only one, John E. , is now living. Those deceased 
were named Charles D., Arthur C. and George C. 
The mother of these children died in 1880, and 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. In 1881 Dr. James was married to Miss 
Mattie P. Carroll, a native of Arkansas, who bore 
him two children: Catherine and T. B. , the last 
named dying in 1884. She was also a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mrs. 
James died two years later, and the Doctor took 



for his third wife Miss Ella A. Gilliam, their mar- 
riage occurring in 1887. She was born in Indiana 
in 1856. One child, Rosie A., is the result of this 
union. Dr. James is a Democrat in politics, and 
has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South for the past twenty years. His wife 
is a member of the Christian Church. He is a 
self-made man and a very popular one. 

John H. Johnson's life, from his earliest recol 
lection, has been passed on a farm, his early days 
being spent in assisting his father, who, in addition 
to being a successful tiller of the soil, was a well- 
known educator. The subject of this sketch was 
born in Johnson County of this State in 1849, his 
parents, John H. , Sr. , and Mary (.Sweeden) John- 
son, being born in the State of Tennessee. About 
1833 or 1834 they came to Arkansas, where for 
some time Mr. Johnson followed the occupation of 
school teaching. In 1853 he moved to Scott 
County, and settled on a large woodland farm in the 
Fourehe Valley, in which section he taught school 
in addition to clearing up his farm, also serving for 
several years, before the Kebellion, as county sur- 
veyor. He was a strong Union man in sentiment 
durine the war, but did not serve on either side. 
He died in 1866, a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Chiuch ; his widow dying in 1884, a member of 
that church also. The subject of this sketch spent 
the greater part of his youth in this county, near 
Waldron, and on a farm near his present place of 
abode. Although his early advantages were lim- 
ited, he is a well-informed man, and has proven 
himself a good financier. He was married in 1867 
to Miss Mary E. Tate, a native of Alabama, and a 
daughter of William Tate, after which family Tate 
Township, in this county, was named. Mr. John 
son settled on his present farm in 1868, and now 
has a good farm of fifty acres under cultivation, on 
which he erected an excellent and substantial resi- 
dence in 1883. He began working at blacksmith 
ing and woodwork in 1872, and, although he is 
perfectly capable of putting up a good wagon, he 
mostly does repairing. From 1882 until 1889 he 
was postmaster at Green Ridge, at the end of 
which time he resigned. His family consists of 
the following children: Francis Joseph, John Will- 



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412 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



iam, Sarah Ann (wife of William Londus), Floy, 
Benjamin, Thomas Scott and Mahala (who died at 
the age of eighteen months). Mr. Johnson and 
wife are members of the Baptist Church, and so- 
cially he is a Mason. His sons assist him in the 
shop, and John William is about to start a shop of 
his own, eighteen miles east of Waldron. 

Miles Keener is the efficient postmaster of Wal- 
dron, Ark., and is recognized as one of the best 
citizens of Scott County, Ark. He first saw the 
light of day in Lincoln County, N. C, in 1832, 
being the second of seven children born to Moses 
and Elizabeth (Drum) Keener, both of whom were 
also born in the Old North State. The great- 
grandparents were citizens of that State and coun- 
ty, and both great-grandfathers were soldiers in 
the Revolutionary War. The paternal grandfather, 
John Keener, lived near Rancour's Mills, where 
Gen. Cornwallis destroyed his supplies during 
Morgan's retreat from the battle of Cowpens. 
Moses Keener was a tiller of the soil, and first 
moved from his native State to Texas, in 1851, 
where he bought 320 acres of land, and there made 
his home until 1871, when he came to Scott Coun- 
ty, Ark., and here passed from life in 1887 at the 
age of eighty years. He was a strong adherent to 
the Union cause during the Rebellion. His wife 
was called to her long home in 1886, a member of 
the Baptist Church. Miles Keener acquired a 
good education in a high school of his native State, 
which institution he attended two years, at the end 
of which time he removed to Texas with his par- 
ents. He entered the Federal Army in 1863 at 
Fort Smith, Ark., becoming a member of Company 
I, Second Arkansas Cavalry, and was clerk in the 
provost's office at Berryville. Mo., for some six 
months. He was then promoted to seigeant- major 
of his regiment, and did service in Western Ten- 
nessee and Northern Mississippi, but was disabled 
so that he could not do duty in the field. He was 
discharged at Memphis, Tenn., on April 20, 1865, 
after which he returned to his home in Texas and 
there continued to reside, where he was engaged 
in merchandising and stock-dealing until 1868, 
when he moved to Kansas, where he made his 
home for one year. In February, 1870, he came 



to Scott County, Ark. , purchased a farm of eighty 
acres and entered 160 acres more, ten miles south- 
east of Waldron. Besides his residence and town 
property in Waldron, he is the owner of 200 acres 
of land. For a number of years he was engaged 
in running a cotton-gin, saw and grist-mill in part- 
nership with his father, but in 1882 bought prop- 
erty in Waldron, and soon after made this place his 
permanent residence. In August, 1889, he took 
charge of the Waldron post-office, and has had the 
management of this office up to the present time. 
His union with his first wife resulted in the birth 
of six children: Thomas J., Ulysses Grant, Lizzie 
L. , Fannie (wife of A. Hawkins), Sarah and Donia. 
Mr. Keener' s second marriage took place in 1885, 
and was to Miss Sallie Frazier, a native of Arkan- 
sas. They have a family of three children: Moses 
Marmaduke, Chester Arthur and Susie. The fam- 
ily are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and are quite active in church work, Mr. Keener 
being deeply interested in the progress of the pub- 
lic schools. He had the first saw mill in Park 
Township, and sawed much of the lumber that is 
in the buildings of that section. 

J. A. Kennon was born in Tennessee June 12, 
1855, to James H. and Martha A. (Standefer) Ken- 
non, both of whom were also born in that State, the 
former September 13, 1835, and the latter Jan- 
uary 12, 1835, their marriage being celebrated 
there on August 31, 1854. To them four children 
have been born: John A., Nancy E. (born Febru- 
1 ary 3, 1857, wife of L. L. Standefer), Sarah J. 
(born December 20, 1858, wife of A. P. Ewton), 
and James H. (born October 2, 1862). James H. 
Kennon was a farmer during the greater part of 
his life, but at the opening of the Rebellion was 
engaged in blacksmithing, a calling he continued 
for about one yeai-, after which he entered the ' 
Confederate service as a private in the Sixteenth 
Alabama Regiment in Bragg' s army, and was 
killed at the battle of Chickamauga, a member of 
the Baptist Church. His widow resides with her 
daughter, Mrs. A. P. Ewton. At the age of eight- 
een years J. A. Kennon started out to make his 
own way in the world, and has made farming his 
chief occupation. In 1876 he removed from Ten- 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



413 



nessee to Alabama, where he remained four years, 
then came to Scott County, Ark., in 1880, and 
homesteaded 160 acres of land, afterward pur- 
chasing 40 acres adjoining on the east, and of this 
farm he has cleared about 50 acres, and put the 
same in a good agricultural condition. On this 
land corn averages thirty bushels to the acre, cot- 
ton one-half bale, and wheat and oats are also 
raised. His buildings and fences are all good, and 
he has an excellent young orchard of four acres. He 
was married on August 5, 1875, to Miss Sarah J. 
Smith, who was born in Tennessee November 9, 
1858, a daughter of John and Ann E. (Williams) 
Smith, but he was called upon to mourn her death 
March 3, 1884, she leaving him with three sons and 
one daughter to care for: Alpha S. (born April 25, 
1876), Oliver A. (born October 25, 1877, died two 
days after birth), Cora Ann (born October 18, 1879), 
Delta Lee (born October 2, 1881), and James M. 
(born January 28, 1884). On December 25, 1884, 
Mr. Kennon married Miss Mary V. Ritter, who 
was born in Mississippi on August 30, 1855, a 
daughter of Benjamin F. and Nancy C. (Joiner) 
Ritter, to which i^nion four children have been 
born: Beta E. (born November 14, 1885), Hattie 
L. (born January 17, 1887), Martha G. (born De- 
cember 24, 1888), and Ninnie M. (born January 
28, 1890). From 1886 to 1888 Mr. Kennon served 
as constable of his township, and is a member of 
Big Coon Lodge No. 75, of the I. O. O. F., hav- 
ing joined this order in 1878. He and his wife are 
members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. 
Kennon' s grandfather, Standefer, was a son of 
James and Martha (Standefer) Standefer, and a 
member of Congress from East Tennessee for 
about sixteen years. He was on his way to Con- 
gress when he died suddenly at the table, supposed 
to have been poisoned bj' a negro woman. His 
grandfather, Kennon, was a native of Virginia. 

William J. King is a surveyor and farmer of 
Scott County, Ark., and needs no introduction to 
the citizens of this section, for he has always identi- 
fied himself with every movement and is cor- 
respondingly well known. He was born in Barto 
County, Ga., in 1844, to William H. and Caroline 
C. (Holland) King, they being born in Georgia, 



where Mr. King spent his entire life, dying in 
September, 1888, his widow surviving him; both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
King was a successful farmer, and showed his ap- 
proval of secret organizations by joining the A. F. 
& A. M. James King, his father, was born in 
Virginia, and died in Georgia before the war, he 
being also a farmer. James Holland, the mother's 
father, was a farmer of Georgia, and there spent 
the last of his days. William J. King spent his 
early days on a farm, but his school days were very 
few. In 1862 he espoused the Confederate cause, 
joining Company H, Eighteenth Georgia Infantry 
in Virginia, under Gen. Longstreet, and fought at 
Gettysburg, Wilderness, Antietam, Fredericks- 
burg, and numerous others. He was wounded at 
the battle of Wilderness, and just before the close 
of the war was furloughed and went home. In 
1869 he came to Scott County, Ark., with the ex- 
pectation of bettering his fortunes, and in this has 
not been disappointed, for he now has a valuable 
farm of 397 acres. He was married in this county, 
in 1871, to Miss Malinda W., daughter of Calvin 
R. and Nancy Taff, both of whom were born in 
Tennessee, moving, about 1858, to Scott County, 
where they received their final summons. Mrs. 
King is a Teunesseean by birth, and she and Mr. 
King have become the parents of nine children, 
eight of whom are living. In 1886 Mr. King was 
elected county surveyor, and has since served by 
re-election. He and his wife have been members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many 
years. 

Dr. Elijah Leming is an old and respected 
physician of Waldron, Ark., and for many years 
has also been connected prominently with the 
farming interests of this region. He was born in 
Tennessee in 1819, being the second of five chil- 
dren born to John and Sarah (Mitchell) Leming, 
both of whom are descendants of people who set- 
tled in Tennessee when it was a part of North 
Carolina, this being about 1770. The paternal 
great-grandfather was a private soldier in the 
French Army, and was at Quebec when he was 
captured by Gen. Wolfe. He afterward went to 
New Jersey, where he was married to Elizabeth 



.1- 



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414 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Fjcan, and moved with ber to the western county 
of North Carolina, now Tennessee. Vinet Fyan 
commanded a fort near Newport, Tenn., and was 
killed near there by the Indians, on a creek still 
known as Fyan's Creek, in Rathnard County, N.C. 
Dr. Leming's grandfather was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary "War, and two uncles were in the 
War of 1812, and were with Jackson at New Or- 
leans. John Leming and his wife died when their 
son, Elijah, was a child, and he was brought up by 
his paternal uncle, Jesse Leming. At the age of 
sixteen years he left him and enlisted in the United 
States Army, taking part in the Cherokee War of 
1836-37. He was married in 1840 to Miss Mary 
Ann Pierce, and seven years later moved to Texas, 
in the southeast part of which State he resided for 
twelve years. Here he began the practice of med- 
icine, having commenced the study of this science 
before leaving Tennessee, and after coming to Ar- 
kansas in June, 1858, he followed this occupation 
for many years. In 1863 he entered the Federal 
Army, and until the close of the war served in the 
Fourth and Second Arkansas Infantry, Company I. 
During the war his home was burned, but at the 
close he returned, rebuilt, and, in connection with 
his practice, began farming. Soon after this he 
went to St. Louis, where he studied in the Eclectic 
School, graduating soon after. In 1866 he was 
elected to the State Legislature, and in that session 
was one of live to vote for the Howard Amendment, 
which was one of the clauses of the Fourteenth 
Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States. After this measure had been rejected, and 
during the reconstruction period, he refused to 
accept office, for the reason that he did not want 
to have his name associated with the disfranchise- 
ment of neighbors and friends, nor did he believe 
the Freedmen competent to vote intelligently. 
Since that time, in 1872, he made the race for 
State Senator, but was decided out of the State by 
contested election. For many years he has been 
president of the County Medical Society. He has 
always been an active advocate of free schools, and 
has been a school director for years. His wife 
died in July, 1870, at Galena, Kas., she having 
borne him live children: Julia Ann, Nancy (who is 



deceased), A. G. (a lawyer of Waldron), Isaac K. 
(a physician of Waldron), and Elijah (a physician 
of Dardanelle). Dr. Leming was married in 1883 
to Mrs. Gillie Winchester, widow of John Win- 
chester, of Tennessee, who died while serving in 
the Federal Army in Missouri, during the Rebell- 
ion. The Doctor owns 400 acres of tine farming 
land in this county, and has 150 acres under culti- 
vation, the balance being fair land covered with 
good timber. The Doctor is a quiet, kindly and 
charitable old gentleman, and, besides having the 
confidence and respect of his fellow-men, he also 
has their warmest regard. 

Dr. Isaac K. Leming is an eminent medical 
practitioner who has practiced his profession in 
this county for a number of years, and during this 
time has won fame and fortune. He was born in 
Tyler, Tex., in 1851, being the fourth child born 
to Elijah and Mary A. (Pierce) Leming. [See 
sketch of Elijah Leming.] He was reared in 
Scott County, Ark., and after obtaining a good 
practical education in the common schools near 
his home, he began the study of medicine, his 
.studies being pursued under his father, who gave 
him thorough instruction. He afterward entered 
the St. Louis Electic Medical College in 1877, 
from which institution he was graduated in the 
spring of 1878, after which he practiced for some 
time in Sebastian County.- He soon, however, 
came to Scott County, and has since been a resi- 
dent of Waldron where, by the thorough knowledge 
of his profession and his ability to put his knowl- 
edge to a practical use, he has built up a very 
large and lucrative practice. In 1889 he formed 
a partnership with Dr. A. A. Sanford, and to- 
gether they make one of the strongest firms in this 
section, and command respect fi'om all their med- 
ical brethren. In 1872 he was married to Miss 
Abbie L. Basshal, of Sebastian County, daughter 
of Joseph P. Basshal, an old j)ioneer settler of 
that county. To them four children have been 
born: Maud (who died in infancy), Joseph E. , 
Samuel A. and Minnie L. The family worship in 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Doctor 
belongs to Greenwood Lodge No. — , of the A. F. 
& A. M. 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



t. 



415 



t 



Henry Looper, Sr. , is residing four miles east 
of Mansfield, Scott County, Ark. , but was born in 
South Carolina in 1817, to Samuel and Mary 
(Jones) Looper, they being also boru in South 
Carolina, in which State they were married. They 
removed to Alabama in an early day and there 
both passed from life a few years after locating. 
Of a family of four sons and four daughters born 
to them the subject of this sketch is the only one 
now living. He was married in South Carolina in 
1836 to Miss Mary Freeman, and by her became 
the father of the following family of children: 
Henry, Thomas, James, Joseph, Geoi'ge, Martha, 
Mary (wife of James McMullens), Elizabeth, Fran- 
ces (wife of Joseph Looper, see biography), Ann 
(wife of Lee Ellwood), Laura Bell (wife of Joseph 
Louston) and Victoria (wife of Luther Button). 
Joseph, George and Martha are deceased. Mr. 
Looper' s first wife died in 1862, and in 1867 he 
espoused Mrs. Mary Ann (Frizzell) Brozier, widow 
of Bert Brozier. This union resulted in the birth 
of fourteen children: Fanny (wife of Jasper Cur- 
nutt), Samuel, Fuller, Charles (deceased), Sallie, 
Nellie, Maggie, Nannie, Bud (deceased), Donie, 
Looney, Gorum, Lawrence, and a child that died in 
infancy not named. Mr. Looper has become the 
owner of 500 acres of fine land, and during a resi- 
dence of over thirty years on this farm he has 
succeeded in putting 230 acres under cultivation. 
He is one of the earliest settlers of this county and 
has always manifested a deep interest in her prog- 
ress and development, especially in the way of 
churches and schools. He is a member of Lodge 
No. 163, of the A. F. & A. M. at Mansfield, and 
although he is now seventy-three years of age he 
is yet hale and hearty. 

Joseph R. Looper. No matter in what busi- 
ness a man may engage, if he is industrious and 
fair in his dealings with his fellow-men, he is sure, 
sooner or later, to win their confidence, respect 
and liking, and to become, in time, well-to-do 
in worldly goods. Mr. Looper possesses these 
qualities, and, as a consequence, stands remarkably 
high in the estimation of all who know him. He 
was born is South Carolina, in 1845, to Joseph D. 
and Mellie (Freeman) Looper, both of whom were 



born in South Carolina, where they were reared and 
married. The following family was born to them: 
James G., William D., Elizabeth (wife of Benjamin 
Gibson), Marcus A. , Joseph R., Henry M., and one 
that died in infancy. The parents removed from 
their native State to Georgia about 1853 or 1854, 
and there Mrs. Looper died at the age of about 
thirty-five years, a member of the Baptist Church, 
and after her death Mr. Looper removed to Texas, 
but staid there only a short time, moving in 1857, 
to Scott County, Ark. In 1863 he was married a 
second time, to a Mrs. Tnrmon, of this county, 
who died in 1872, a worthy member of the Baptist 
Church at the time of her demise. Mr. Looper 
enlisted in the Federal Army in 1863, becoming a 
member of Company H. Second Arkansas Infantry, 
under Capt. Charles E. Berry, but his entire service 
was confined to his own State. He was with Gen. 
Steele on the Camden Raid, and was in the fight 
at Saline. He received his dischargre on August 
8, 1865, after which he returned to his home and 
engaged in farming, marrying in 1868. Miss Fran- 
ces Looper, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Free- 
man) Looper, Mr. Looper and his wife being third 
cousins. They have eight children: Henry E., 
SoDora A. (deceased), Minnie A., Joseph ^X., 
Myrtle B., Charles V., William B. and James 
R. (deceased). Mr. Looper has a good farm of 
161 acres, and on the 80 acres that he has under 
cultivation, he raises corn, oats and cotton. He is 
one of Scott County's most highly respected citi- 
zens and successful farmers, and socially belongs 
to Lodge No. 163 of the A. F. & A. M. of Mans- 
field. He and his wife are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church South, and to this as well 
as to other churches be has been liberal in his con- 
tributions. 

F. M. Lynch. It is a remarkable fact that the 
majority of those men of Tennessee birth who 
have become residents of Scott County, Ark., 
have been peculiarly successful in the accumula- 
tion of worldly goods, and are considered superior 
farmers, and Mr. Lynch is but another example of 
this truth. He was born in 1834, the fourth of 
seven children, born to F. B. Lynch and wife, the 
former of whom was a farmer of Tennessee, but a 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



i 



native of Virginia, who was quite a prominent man 
of his day, and held a number of county offices with 
credit and distinction. He died in 1844, and his 
widow in 1858. The immediate subject of this 
sketch was reared in his native State, and edu- 
cated in the common schools. "When eighteen years 
of age he went to Texas to seek his fortune, and 
was there engaged in farming for sixteen years, 
after which he came to Scott County, and settled on 
his present farm of 200 acres, 80 acres of which are 
under cultivation. While in Texas, he was com- 
missioner of Harrison County, from 1868 to 1874, 
and also held, with great credit to himself, the 
office of justice of the peace. He has been an en- 
thusiastic patron of the cause of education, and in 
the district in which he lives he has been a school 
director many times. He was first married in 
1866 to Miss Mary 'J. Bowen, of Texas, but she 
left him a widower in 1886 with a family of six 
children to care for: William F., Jnlia E., Henry 
Houston, Alice Adelaide, Greorge and Mary Chris- 
tina. Mr. Lynch was married, a second time, on 
December 5, 1886, to Sarah A. Gilbreath, a Geor- 
gian by birth, by whom he has one child, Fannie 
Bell, who was born November 2, 1888. Mr. Lynch 
and his wife have long been consistent members of 
the Baptist Church, and Mr. Lynch contributed 
liberally to the erection of a chui'ch. He is a 
jarogressive, substantial and intelligent citizen, and 
while modest and unassuming in demeanor, he is 
endowed with those very rare qualities of good 
sense and good judgment, which have won him 
many warm friends. 

Free Malone is the very accommodating and 
gentlemanly host of the Continental Hotel at Wal- 
dron, Ark. He was born in Alabama, in 1843, 
being the fourth of five children born to Nathaniel 
C. and Martha (Crenshaw) Malone, both of whom 
were born in Alabama, the former a farmer by oc- 
cupation. In 1867 he came to Arkansas, and located 
in Scott County, Ark., where he passed from life 
on September 5, 1885. His wife was called to her 
long home in 1849. In the State of Alabama Free 
Malone was reared and educated, and from that 
State he enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861, 
becoming a member of Company A, Twenty-sixth 



Mississippi Regiment of Infantry, and took part in 
the battles of Fort Donelson, Perryville, Murfrees- 
boro and Vicksburg, being paroled after the fall 
of this place. In January, 18()4, he went to Vir- 
ginia, and was in the battle of the Wilderness, 
Chancellorsville and many others of less importance 
He surrendered with Gen. Lee at Appomattox 
Court House on April 9, 1865, after which he went 
to Mississippi, and in 1867 came to Arkansas with 
his father, purchasing a farm of 160 acres near 
Waldron, which he began to improve. On October 
13, 1869, he was married in Sevier County, Ark., 
to Mrs. Sarah J. Salyers, daughter of William 
Stone of Tennessee, an early settler of Arkansas, a 
short history of whom is given in the latter part of 
this sketch. In 1869 Mr. Malone began merchan- 
dising at Waldron, being the third merchant of 
the place, and there he continued in business, also 
following farming for a number of years, after 
which he made quite a large purchase of land, and 
began farming on a more extensive scale. Upon 
his arrival here he opened a hotel, and has been 
engaged in conducting one ever since. In 1878 
he erected his present large building, a two-story 
brick, containing fourteen rooms, all of which are 
well fitted up, and at all times well prepared for 
the accommodation of guests. In connection with 
his hotel he keeps a livery stable, his horses and 
vehicles being at all times ready for use. He was 
postmaster of Waldron during 1887, was justice of 
the peace a number of years, and during 1888-89 
served in the capacity of sheriff of the county. He 
has built an excellent store-building in Waldron, 
and is also the owner of other valuable town prop- 
erty. His wife, who is a member of the Baptist 
Church, has borne her husband nine children: 
Lena (wife of W. A. Johnson, resides in Mans- 
field), lone (wife of R. L. Maxwell, lives in Henri- 
etta, Tex.), Ora (wife of J. N. Hamilton, a mer- 
chant of Waldron), Cora, Otto and Free, and the 
following children who are deceased: Onge (who 
died at the age of eighteen months), Ada (who died 
when six years of age), and Bennie (who died when 
two years of age). Mr. Malone is a member of the 
Masonic fi'aternity, and has been an advocate of 
schools, and a member of the school board of Wal- 



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thL. 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



417 



dron for some time. Besides the property above 
mentioned he has a residence at Chalybeate 
Springs, seven miles west of Waldron, and forty 
acres of land in that vicinity. Mrs. Malone's father 
assisted in removing the Indians to the Indian 
Territory at an early day, and while in Arkansas 
became much pleased with the country, and deter- 
mined to settle, which he accordingly did in 1840, 
locating at Centre Point. Of a large family of 
children born to himself and wife, only three are 
now living: two sons, who are prominent farmers 
of Howard County, and Mrs. Malone. Mr. Stone 
opened up a large tract of land on a portion of 
which Centre Point is now located, and on this land 
he made his home for seven years. He next moved 
to the northern part of Pike County, and there 
erected a large frame mill, the first in that locality, 
which attracted trade from many adjoining counties. 
He opened up a large farm here also, and on this 
made his home until his death in 1859, his widow 
afterward making her home with her daughter, 
Mrs. Malone, dying at her home in 1874. Mr. 
Stone was born in North Carolina, was married to 
a Miss Huddleston, of Tenessee, and after residing 
in that State for some time he moved to Kentucky, 
where he became captain of the company of militia 
that took the Indians west. 

George D. May. In the fertile farming districts 
of Scott County, Ark., Mr. May has been engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of 
100 acres of good land, one mile east of Waldron, 
on which he has made many improvements and 
now has sixty-one acres under cultivation. He 
was born in Tennessee January 11, 1811, being the 
eldest son born to William and Anna May, both of 
whom were born in the Old North State, the father 
being a soldier in the War of 181*2, a farmer by 
occupation, and passed from life in Tennessee, 
George D. May was brought up to a thorough 
knowledge of farm life by his father, and after he 
had attained his majority he began to make his 
own way in the world, and in 1840 came to Arkan- 
sas and settled in Sebastian County, where he was 
married in 1844 to Miss Frances Landers, a native 
of the Blue-Grass State. Soon after his marriage 
he purchased a farm on which he lived for about 



sixteen years, but during the greater part of the 
Rebellion he was a resident of Texas. After the 
war had closed he returned to Arkansas, this time 
taking up his abode in Scott County, settling on 
the place on which he is now residing, where he 
has a comfortable home and sufficient means to 
make life enjoyable. His estimable wife was called 
from life in 1866, having borne him a family of six 
children, the following five of whom are liviiio-: 
Mary R. (a resident of Texas), Maggie (Mrs. Fors- 
ter), Jennie (Mrs. Gilbreath), Ella (Mrs. Harvey), 
and George W. (who is a physician of Little River 
County). Ann is deceased. Mr. May married his 
second wife in 1871, she being Mrs. Elizabeth 
Eastus, her father being one of the early settlers of 
this county from Tennessee, and a prominbnt and 
successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. May have two 
children: Francis Joseph and Walter. Mr. May 
is one of the worthy residents of this section, and 
is strictly honorable and upright in every respect. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

R. N. Millard is a farmer, merchant and cotton- 
ginner, residing near Blue Ball, Ark. , and as a man 
and citizen is substantial, progressive and intelli- 
gent. He was born in Arkansas in 1844, to James 
E, and Edna (Herring) Millard, both of whom were 
born in the Old North State, the former in 1791) and 
died June 5, 1878, and the latter born in 1808 and 
died March 15, 1864. Their marriage took place 
in that State, and in time resulted in the birth of 
thirteen children, only four of whom are now liv- 
ing: Sarah (wife of J. J. Eiger), Mary (wife of 
Joseph Williams), Robert Newton (the subject of 
this sketch), and William B. Robert Newton 
Millard began farming for himself in 1866, and 
the same year was married to Miss Elizabeth F. 
Weaver, a native of Arkansas, born in 1846, and a 
daughter of J. P. and Mary Weaver. Mrs. Millard 
died in 1867, leaving one child, a daughter: Mary 
Susan (born in 1866, and now the wife of James 
Hunt). In 1868 Mr. Millard purchased forty acres 
of land to which he has added 160 acres, and on 
this he has cleared seventy-five acres and built five 
good houses and a store building, barns and other 
buildings. In 1871, in connection with his brother 
and brother-in-law, he erected a gin, saw and flour- 



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418 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ing mill, the capacity of the former being seven 
bales per day, the saw-mill turning out 5,000 feet 
of lumber, and the flouring-mill seventy- five barrels. 
In 1887 Mr. Millard opened a general mercantile 
establishment, his goods being worth $3,000, and 
iu these different enterprises he has done remark- 
ably well. On his farm corn, oats and cotton are 
raised, and all yield average crops. He was post- 
master of Blue Ball from 1876 to 1879, and socially 
is a member of Walnut Tree Lodge No. 209, of 
the A.F.& A.M., ill which beheld the office of wor- 
shipful master for several years. He is a member 
of, and steward in, the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and as a progressive and law-abiding citizen 
has not his superior in this section of the country. 
He was married October 6, 1870, to Miss Salina 
E. White, a native of Alabama, born in 1847, to 
Josephus and Ann (Hearn) "White, both of whom 
were Georgians. The children born to Mr. Mill- 
ard's second marriage are as follows: Josejihus 
(born in 1871, now deceased), William R. (born in 
1872), Ida Ann (born in 1875, now deceased), Lela 
May (born in 1877, deceased), Myrtle E. (born in 
1879), John M. (born iu 1881), Henry P. (born 
in 1884), Angie L. (born in 1880), and Noble Victor 
(born in 1888). At the beginning of the late war 
James E. Millard lived in Scott County, Ark. , with 
his family and two sons that voluntered and went 
into the Confederate service: James R. and Ken- 
non Millard, the two being captured at Arkansas 
Post and were carried as prisoners of war to Chi- 
cago, 111., where the latter died. The former was 
exchanged and went back to his command, where 
he was captured again and again. The last time 
being wounded he was sent to the hospital, where 
his comrades and family never heard of him more. 
The subject of this sketch feels and realizes the 
fact that he will not meet his soldier brother on 
this earth again, but putting his trust in God, lives 
and hopes to join an unbroken family in the sweet 
bye and bye. 

Joseph S. Mitchell is a farmer and mechanic 
of Hickman Township, but was born in Tuscaloosa 
County, Ala., in 1849, to William A. and Mary A. 
(McCully) Mitchell, both of whom were born in the 
Palmetto State, the former in 1820, and the latter 



in 1819. After their marriage they removed to 
Haywood County, Tenn., and in 1870 came to 
Scott County, Ark., settling, a year later, on his 
homestead, and in 1870 he sold to his son Joseph 
S. He has long been a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church, Mrs. Mitchell being a member 
since she was twenty years of age. Mr. Mitchell 
followed saddle-making for many years, but of 
late years has given his time solely to farming. He 
served a short time in the Confederate Army as a 
conscript, but was a Union man in principle. He 
has always been strictly temperate in his habits, 
and never indulges in spirituous liquors. He is 
the only one of his family that ever came to Arkan- 
sas, but as he has done well here financially, and 
has made many warm friends, he has never regret- 
ted his move. His father, Alexander Mitchell, was 
born and reared in Dublin, Ireland, and there 
learned the trade of a saddler, a calling he followed 
after coming to the United States. He was mar- 
ried in his native land, but while en roidi' to this 
country he lost his wife and one child in a ship- 
wreck. He wedded his second wife in this country, 
and spent the rest of his days in South Carolina, 
dying in 1833. Frances Jones, who became his 
second wife, was born in Virginia, and died in 
South Carolina, in 1832. The maternal grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch, James G. D. 
McCully, was born iu Chester District, S. C, and 
in 1853 moved to Alabama, where he died in 1802, 
a miller by trade. His wife, whose maiden name 
was Sarah Pannel, was born in Chester District, S. 
C. , and died in Alabama, in 1850, she, as well as 
her husband, being a member of theMissionaryBap- 
tist Church for many years. The subject of this 
sketch is the third of five sons and four daughters, 
the names of his brothers and sisters being as fol- 
lows: Eld. James A. (of Tennessee), Rev. John 
O. , Hiram J. (of Sebastian County), Alice (wife of 
Elwood Johnson), and Johanna (wife of William 
W. Neal). Joseph S. was brought up to a knowl- 
edge of farm work by his father, but his school 
days did not exceed five months. At the very early 
age of thirteen years he began taking charge of his 
father's business, and in 1877 was married to Miss 
Edna A., daughter of Eld. S. J. and Nancy E. 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



419 



Fuller, the former a Georgian, and the latter born 
in Alabama. From the latter State they removed 
to Louisiana, and afterward came to Logan County, 
Ark., where Eld. Fuller breathed his last in 1883, 
his widow being now a resident of Scott County. 
Mrs. Mitchell was born in Louisiana, and has borne 
her husband five children, three sons and one 
daiighter living. They own an excellent tract of 
land comprising 285 acres, and have about 100 
acres cleared, all of which has been bronght about 
by Mr. Mitchell's own indomitable energy. It is 
well improved with good buildings, and is a valu- 
able property. Mr. Mitchell is a member of Wal- 
dron Lodge No. 93, of the I. O. O. F., and he and 
his most estimable wife are members of the 
Missionary Baptist Church, both became members 
at the age of fourteen years, and are strictly tem- 
perate and respected citizens. 

A. H. Morgan is a planter of Scott County, 
Ark., whose knowledge of his calling is thorough 
and who is enterprising and progressive in his 
views. He was born in Georgia August 25, 1836, 
to J. K. and Martha L. (Powers) Morgan, the 
former of whom was born in Georgia in 1815, and 
the latter in South Carolina in 1816, their marriage 
taking place in Alabama and resulting in the birth 
of seven children, two of whom are now living: 
C. J. and A. H. The mother died in Georgia in 
1849, a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, after which her husband married Mrs. 
Louisa Johnson, a widow with three children. By 
her he became the father of seven children, and 
after her death, which occurred in 1869, he was 
married to his third and present wife, and with her 
is making his home in Georgia. In his native 
State A. H. Morgan was married, in 1868, to Miss 
E. A. Grecian, and by her he has had six children: 
Martha L., R. R., M. E., Charles H. and two that 
passed from life while infants. Mr. Morgan served 
in the Confederate Army during the Rebellion, 
enlisting at Dardauelle, Ark., in 1861, in Com- 
pany D, of Lon. McKay's regiment of infantry, 
with which he served faithfully until the war ter- 
minated, making as brave and faithful a soldier as 
ever trod a crimson battle-field. He was wounded 
in the shoulder in the battle of Corinth in 1862, 



was wounded in the head in an engagement in 
Mississippi, was wounded in the right leg at Port 
Gibson in May, 1863, and in June, 1863, at Vicks- 
burg, was wounded in the right eye. Since the 
war he has devoted his time and attention to farm- 
ing, and by his own perseverance and good man- 
agement he has become the owner of 290 acres of 
land, 160 of which he has put in a good state of 
cultivation. Although he belongs to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, is a class leader in the same, 
and has been an attendant for twenty years, his 
estimable wife belongs to the Baptist Church. 
Owing to his many excellent characteristics Mr. 
Morgan has won innumerable friends, and socially 
he belongs to Cauthron Lodge No. 385, of the A. 
F. & A. M. 

James Oliver is a planter and cotton-ginner, 
residing in Bradley Township, Scott County, Ark., 
but was born in Tennessee, October 11, 1826, to 
Jesse and Mary A. (Hise) Oliver, both of whom 
were born in Virginia. The father was a farmer 
by occupation, was married in Tennessee, and be 
and his wife became the parents of seven children 
of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, 
the other members of the family being: William, 
Mary A. (wife of A. Brownlow), Emeline (wife 
of Ed Jones), John, George and David. Mr. 
Oliver was a soldier in one of the Indian wars, 
and he and his wife spent their lives in Tennessee, 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
at the time of their deaths. James Oliver was 
married in Greene Comity, Tenn., in 1838, to Miss 
Rachel Falls, in which State he was born in Octo- 
ber, 1828, and twelve children are the result of their 
union, ten of whom are now living: John C. , Mar- 
tha E. (widow of William Henry), Jessie E. and 
Mary E. (twins), Leier I. (wife of G. T. Anderson), 
Johanna (wife of J. E. Oliver), William and two 
children that died in infancy unnamed. James 
Oliver was in the Rebellion, enlisting in 1861, in 
the Confederate Army, and serving until the close 
of the war, being paroled in Georgia. He has a 
good steam cotton-gin, grist-mill and saw-mill 
combined, the capacity of the gin being six bales 
per day. His farm comprises 160 acres of good 
land, of which 75 are under cultivation, the prin- 



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420 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ciple crops raised being cotton and corn. Mr. 
Oliver emigrated from Tennessee to Georgia, and 
in 1S(5G came to Arkansas, settling in Izard County, 
and in 1880 in Scott County, where he is now liv- 
ing, and where he has made many acquaintances 
and friends. He is a member of the Farmers' Al- 
liance, and he and his wife are members of the 
Missionary Baptist Church. 

Miles H. Partin is a Mississippian, born in 1843, 
and as he was brought up to a farm life by his 
father he has made that his chief calling through 
life. His parents, F. H. and Elizabeth O. (Miles) 
Partin, were born in North Carolina and Tennes- 
see, in 1812 and 1825, respectively, and he is the 
eldest of their eleven childi'en, the other members 
of the family being ^\ . E., Mary F. (wife of W. 
W. Collier), A. G. (deceased), George W. (de- 
ceased), B. F., Orlena (deceased), Hellen (wife of 
G. A. Stubblefield), Mattie (wife of John Cannon), 
Jennett (wife of David Cannon), and Jasper N. The 
family removed to Arkansas when the subject of this 
sketch was seven years of age, and on January 1, 
1850, located on an eighty-acre tract of land at Dar- 
danelle, to which he afterward added until at the 
time of the father's death in 1877 he was the owner of 
700 acres of land, upon which he had cleared 125 
acres and built a number of good buildings, plant- 
ing, also, a large orchard on his home place, where 
his widow now resides. He and his wife were both 
members of the Missionary Baptist Church. The 
educational advantages which Miles H. received 
were quite limited, but after his parents had ac- 
quired their home they undertook his education, 
and intended to send him away to school, but the 
opening of the Rebellion prevented them carrying 
out their intentions, hence his education is limited 
to what he could acquire in the subscription schools 
of his boyhood. He entered the Confederate serv- 
ice, enlisting in Company E, Twenty-first Arkan- 
sas Infantry. At the reorganization, after Cor- 
inth, he was transferred to Company H, and was 
in the battles of luka, Corinth, Farmington, Vicks- 
burg. Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Black River 
Bridge, where he was taken prisoner and taken to 
Camp Morton, near Indianapolis, Ind., where he 
was kept two weeks, then transferred to Fort Dela- 



ware, after which he entered the service of the United 
States, and was sent to the frontier of Minnesota, 
shortly after the Sioux outbreak. Here he remained 
until 18(i5, when he received his discharge. He 
returned to Dardanelle December 24, 1807, since 
which time he has been engaged in farming, pur- 
chasing, in 1868, 120 acres of land in Perry County, 
but which he afterward sold and returned to Dar 
danelle. In 1876 he bought 120 acres in Hunt 
Township, and homesteaded 120 acres adjoining, 
and upon this he has cleared about 60 acres, built 
a house and outbuildings, fences, etc., and has oth- 
erwise improved his place, setting out a good or- 
chard. His principal crops are corn, oats and wheat, 
the yield of the first mentioned being from twenty- 
five to forty bushels, oats averaging twenty-five 
bushels to the acre. His tenants sometimes raise 
cotton, and it usually averages one half bale to the 
acre, but he has raised one bale on the same 
amount of ground. In the fall of 1868 he was 
married to Miss. Louisa Wright, a native of Geor- 
gia, born in 1845, a daughter of Berry and Mary 
(Chistoper) Wright, and to Mr. Partin and his 
wife one son has been born, Vernie (who was born 
February 24, 1872). Mr. Partin is giving this 
son every advantage in the way of an education, 
and as he wishes to make law his profession he 
will have every opportunity of jserfecting himself 
in this science. After finishing his education in 
the common schools he entered the Dardanelle 
High School, where he is making (in his second 
year) very rapid advancement in his studies. 

Capt. John Rawlings, senior member of Raw- 
lings & Son, dealers in general merchandise at 
Waldron, Scott County, Ark., is a native of Illi 
nois, born February 14, 1834, and the son of John 
and Malinda (Blair) Rawlings, the father a native 
of Chattanooga, Tenn., and the mother of Ken- 
tucky. John Rawlings passed his boyhood and 
youth on a farm, and was left an orphan at an early 
age. When but two years of age he went to Mis- 
souri and made his home with his grandmother 
until eighteen years of age, when he crossed the 
plains to the gold regions of California. He mined 
there for four years and met with fair success, 
after which he returned to the east and located at 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



421 



Waldron, Ark. He followed agricultural pursuits 
on rented land during the year 1858, and then 
entered a piece of Government land, 120 acres, 
which he immediately began to improve by erect- 
ing a house and barn, and clearing it of timber. 
Here he remained until the breaking out of the 
war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate Army 
as lieutenant, but was soon promoted to captain, 
in which capacity he served until discharged, ou 
account of disability, in January, 1863. He was 
in the battles of Wilson Creek, Neosho, Elkhorn 
(or Pea Ridge), Corinth and Shiloh. At the last 
named place he was taken sick and sent home, 
where he remained for thirty days. He was then 
sent to command in the Western Department, and 
later sent home to organize a battalion, or, rather 
a company to form a battalion. He was now cap- 
tain of Company I, Carroll's regiment of Cavalry, 
but on account of trouble with his eyes was dis- 
charged. The company that he formerly com- 
manded was Company I of the Arkansas State 
Troops. At the time of his discharge he took his 
family and went to the southern part of the State, 
where he remained until cessation of hostilities. 
In 1866 he returned to his farm near Waldron. A 
detachment of the Federal troops had made his 
farm their headquarters and his house was pve- 
served, otherwise the farm was laid waste, fences 
burned and fruit trees destroyed. He at once 
eommenced to rebuild and improve his place. He 
was in poor health, owing to exposure in the army, 
and had a wife and five children to suppoi't. He 
cultivated the soil until 1877, when he entered into 
his present line of business at this place. This he 
has since continued. He at that time formed a 
copartnership with J. C. Bell, now of Fort Smith, 
and at the end of a year he bought out his part- 
ner's interest. He then formed a partnership 
with Dr. James H. Smith, of Waldron, which ex- 
isted about four years, when Mr. Rawlings again 
bought out his partner. He then took in his son. 
He began on a small scale, but his business has in- 
creased until he now carries a stock of goods val- 
ued at $7,000, and the annual sales amount to 
about $20,000. He has in all about 600 acres of 
land, the most of which lies near the city. He 



also owns quite an amount of town property, and 
deals considerably in real estate. His farm, which 
he rents, is well improved and one of the best in 
the township. Mr. Kawlings and his estimable 
wife are members of the Baptist Church, and he 
has filled the position of deacon in the same for 
some time. He is liberal in his support of all 
worthy enterprises, and is universally respected. 
His wife who was formerly Miss Nancy J. Smith, and 
whom he married in 1858, is the daughter of Dr. 
Smith, of this place. Eight children have been 
born to this union, five now living: Annie E. (wife 
of J. D. Benson, of this place), Ida M. (widow of 
W. P. Evatt), Flood S. (who is in business with 
his father), John O. (attending school at Fayette- 
ville, Ark.), and Charles F. (also at Fayetteville). 
When Mr. Rawlings first went into the army he 
was with the State troops, but after the battle of 
Oak Hill he raised a new company and entered 
Mcintosh's regiment of cavalry. Here he re- 
mained until he received a furlough on account of 
ill health, as above stated. He was wounded in 
the shoulder at Pea Ridge, and this disables his 
right hand and arm to this day. He was a brave 
and fearless ofiScer, and served the Confederacy 
faithfully and well. 

William Robson. In giving a brief sketch of 
the life of Mr. Robson it can with truth be said 
that he is one of the foremost men of Scott County, 
and has become one of its wealthiest agricultur- 
ists by honest toil and good management, and by 
the aid and advice of his admirable wife. He has 
been a resident of this county since 1867, but was 
born in Wayne County, Tenn., April 20, 1833, to 
W'illiam and Mary (Wordsworth) Robson, they be- 
ing also natives of Tennessee, in which State they 
grew to maturity, married and spent their lives, 
the death of the father occurring in 1857 at about 
the age of sixty years, the mother passing from 
life in 1859 when about the same age. Mr. Rob- 
son was a worthy tiller of the soil all his life, and 
in this calling became quite successful. Both 
were members of the Methodist Church and he 
was a Mason and a Democrat. The immediate 
subject of this sketch was the youngest of ten chil- 
dren, and his school days were spent in Wayne 



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422 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



County, Tenn. Whea only eighteen years of age 
he came to Arkansas, and after wandering over the 
greater part of the State he went to the frontier of 
Texas with Capt. Love to fight the Comanche 
Indians, and during this time had many narrow 
escapes from death, a number of horses being shot 
from under him while fighting. Fortunately he 
was never wounded, and finally, growing tired of 
fighting, he settled in Corsicana, at which place he 
opened a hotel, which he managed for three years. 
In the fall of ISfil he joined Col. Parson's regi- 
ment of cavalry, but was discharged at Little Rock 
in May, 1862, on account of a broken leg, which 
was caused by being thrown from a horse. After 
recovering he joined Col. Gunter's battalion, after- 
ward Bryant's battalion, and served in the Choc- 
taw and Chickasaw Nations until the war closed. 
He was a scout all through the region whefe he 
now lives, and at the close of the war held the rank 
of sergeant. He then resided in Little River 
County, Ark., until 1867, after which he moved to 
Scott County and purchased 160 acres of land, to 
which he has added enough to make 280 acres, a 
large portion of which is under cultivation, and all 
can be cultivated. He was married in August, 
1862, to Miss Altha Ledgewood, and by her became 
the father of six children, five now living: James 
W., Lucinda Adaline, George W., Dick and Eddie. 
Ludie died when two years of age. Mr. Robson 
and his wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist 
Church, in which he has been a deacon for three 
years. He donated the ground on which the Pleas- 
ant Grove Baptist Church is standing, and in nu- 
merous other ways has shown the interest he feels 
in the cause of Christianity. He is a wealthy cit- 
izen, the owner of a large amount of stock, and is 
in every way situated to enjoy life. Politically he 
is a Democrat. 

John A. Rose, farmer and merchant, Boles, 
Ark. This enterprising citizen was born in Ham- 
ilton County, 111., on November 13, 1845, and is a 
son of James and Emily (Buchanan) Rose. The 
father, who was a farmer and mechanic by occupa- 
tion, moved to Arkansas, and settled in Scott 
County, in 1857. His wife died in 1863, and he 
followed her to the grave one week later. They 



were the parents of five children — four sons and 
one daughter — John A. being the second son. He 
received meager educational advantages and grew 
to manhood on his father's farm. Before he was 
eighteen years of age, or in 1863, he enlisted un- 
der the Stars and Stripes and served until August 
27, 1865, when he received his discharge. He was 
in Company L, Second Kansas Cavalry, and was 
in the battle of Saline River, Prairie de Ann and 
Cabin Creek at which place he was taken prisoner. 
He was conveyed to Doaksville, Ind. Ty. , and was 
there confined for eight months. After the war he 
returned to Scott County, bought a farm of eighty 
acres in Mountain Township, one mile from the 
village of Boles, and this he improved by erecting 
a house and clearing the timber. He has added 
to this first purchase until he now has about 1,000 
acres, 300 of which are under cultivation. He has a 
good residence and several good tenant houses on the 
place. He also has one-half interest in a general 
merchandise store at Boles, and this is doing a good 
business at that place. Mr. Rose was married on 
December 25, 1866, to Miss Rebecca Scott, daugh- 
ter of Thomas H. Scott, of this county. They 
have had nine children, seven of whom are living — 
three sons and four daughters: Emily Jane (wife 
of M. L. Hunt), George W., James A., Rebecca 
Kansas Elizabeth, John F., Christian Ann and 
Parlee, all at home but the eldest daughter. Mr. 
Rose is a Mason and Mrs. Rose is a member in 
good standing in the Free-Will Baptist Church. 

Dr. Joseph A. J. Roth is deserving of a spe- 
cial mention as a successful practioner of the " heal- 
ing art,'' and although he has lived in Scott Coun- 
ty, Ark., a comparatively short time, he is well and 
favorably known and has a large practice. He was 
born in St. Louis, Mo., on February 28, 1828, a 
son of Jacob and Charlotte (Barclay) Roth, the 
birth of the former being in Switzerland, and that 
of the latter occurring in 1805. They were mar- 
ried in St. Louis, and the subject of this sketch 
is their only child. The father, who was of Swiss 
descent, was murdered in Santa Fe, N. M., but 
his widow survives him, and makes her home with 
her son, the Doctor being now sixty-two years 
of age. Dr. Roth was married in St. Louis Septem- 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



423 



ber 27, 1852, at St. Exavia Church, to Mrs. Cath- 
erine E. Chappie, a widow with one chilil, Alexis, 
who is now deceased. The wife' s maiden name was 
Brawner. To her union with Dr. Roth one child 
was born, Archibald. Mrs. Roth died August 8, 
188U, having been a member of the Catholic Church 
throughout the greater portion of her life. In 
1865 Dr. Roth commenced the study of medicine, 
and in 1868 took his first course of lectures in the 
St. Louis Medical College, and the same year com- 
menced practicing. He has been actively engaged 
in practicing ever since, but since ]!S75 has been a 
resident of Scott County, Ark., having moved 
hither from Bates County, Mo. He is the owner 
of 125 acres of good land, 65 of which are in an ex- 
cellent state of cultivation. He was a soldier in 
the Mexican War, and has always been a strong 
advocate of the free-school system. Socially he 
belongs to Duval Lodge No. 241), of the A. F. & 
A. M. 

James G. Sanders, the eldest son of Richard 
and Mary (Strickland) Sanders, was born in Pick- 
ens County, Ala., on February 19, 1843, was 
reared on a farm, but up to the breaking out of the 
war he was kept in school, being educated in the 
University of Alabama, and having the best of 
educational advantages. At the age of eighteen, 
or in 1861, he enlisted in Comjwny B, Second Ala- 
bama Infantry, commanded by T. J. Hardee, and 
remained in service until peace was declared. He 
was in the battles of luka, Corinth, Sbiloh and 
Vicksburg, where he was taken prisoner, paroled 
and sent to Demof)o]is, Ala., where he remained 
until exchanged during the following February. 
He then was sent to Chickamauga, where he ar- 
rived in time to participate in that battle. He was 
also in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Mission- 
ary Ridge, Tunnel Hill, Ringgold, Marietta, Kene- 
saw Mountain, Atlanta, Dalton, Peach Tree Creek 
and Franklin. From there he was transferred to 
Mobile, where he remained about one month as 
guard on the coast near that city. Afterward he 
was sent to Charlotte, N. C, where he engaged in 
the last battle fought by Gen. Johnston's command, 
it being at Smithfield, N. C. During this entire 
time he was wounded but twice, first at Corinth by 



a bayonet in the left side, and second by a bullet 
in the right thigh. At the close of the war he 
returned to his home in Alabama, and there found 
that his mother had died during his absence. Here 
he remained with his father nearly two years, at 
which time his father and family moved to Red 
River County, Tex. They remained in the Lone 
Star State only one year, and then moved to Ar- 
kansas, settling in Cedar Creek Township, Scott 
County, near his present residence. Here our sub- 
ject bought his first piece of land, he and his fa- 
ther together buying 340 acres. Soon after James 
G. bought an additional tract of 120 acres, which 
he improved by erecting a house and other build 
ings. He has seventy-five acres under cultivation, 
and his principal crops are corn, cotton and oats, 
all of which yield well; potatoes also a good crop. 
For several years he has given his attention to the 
raising of cattle and hogs, having an improved 
breed of cattle. Through energy and industry 
he has made a success of farm life, and is spoken 
of as among the most substantial men of the coun- 
ty. He was married on July 31, 1866, to Miss 
Sally M. Cowsert, of Alabama. They have ten 
children — four of whom &re sons and six daugh- 
ters — named as follows: Mary A., Ellen E.,Josie, 
Beatrice E., William M. , Minnie L., James G., 
Knox, Virginia M. , and an infant yet unnamed. 
All are at home but the daughter, Josie, who is 
married to M. M. Ellis, of Wills Point, Tex. The 
family are Baptists. Mr. Sanders is a member of 
the A. F. & A. M. lodge, of which he has been 
secretary from the time of its organization. He 
is also a worthy patron of the order of the East- 
ern Star, also a member of the Farmers' Alliance, 
of which he is secretary, and in his political views 
he is a Democrat. He has been justice of the 
peace for many years, being elected to that posi- 
tion soon after coming to this county, and he has 
also held the position of school director, taking a 
great interest in the welfare of the schools of his 
township. He is assistant postmaster at the office 
of Cedar Creek, the office being at his residence, 
and his oldest daughter being postmistress. Mr. 
Sanders is a man of education, and is trying to 
give his children all possible advantages in that 






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424 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



direction. He is well pleased with bis home, in 
Western Arkansas. 

William K. Sanders, farmer, Cedar Greek, Ark. 
Mr. Sanders has passed the uneventful life of the 
farmer, and has continued steadily to pursue the 
even tenor of his way, and is now classed among j 
the prosperous farmers of Scott County. He was 
born in Alabama on January 6, 1855, and was early 
initiated into the duties of farm life. He came 
to Arkansas with his father in the fall of 1867, and 
the latter settled on the farm where our subject 
now lives. William K. received meager educa- 
tional advantages, and when eighteen years of age 
he started out to fight life's battles for himself. His 
father at that time gave him 100 acres of land, and 
this our subject immediately began to improve. 
He is now the owner of a good farm of 240 acres 
in one tract, and of this he has 75 acres under cul- 
tivation. He raises principally corn, cotton and 
oats, the latter making a tine crop and doing well 
in this county. On an average his cotton yields 
one-half bale to the acre, and his corn sixty bush- 
els to the acre. All his buildings are first-class and 
he has a fine apple and peach orchard. Aside 
from this he is interested in raising cattle and hoes. 
Mr. Sanders was married on November 16, 1884, 
to Miss Mary J. Austin, daughter of Samuel Aus- 
tin of this county, but formerly from North Caro- 
lina. They have three children, all sons: Clyde 
H. , Richard A. and George E. Mr. Sanders is a 
member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is vice-presi- 
dent of the same. He is a liberal supporter of all 
public enterprises, and is one of the county's most 
esteemed citizens. 

Albert A. Sanford, M. D., has become well 
known to the citizens of this section, for in his 
professional capacity he has entered many homes, 
and has been the means of bringing hapjiiness to 
many anxious hearts. His birth occurred in Se- 
bastian County, in 1852, he being the eldest of a 
family of six children born to Muse and Nancy 
(Hughes) Sanford, the former a native of Kentucky 
and the latter of Arkansas. Muse Sanford came 
to this State about 1850, and settled in Sebastian 
County, where he followed farming until his death, 
which occurred about 1885, his widow still sur- 



viving him. Her people were early settlers of this 
State from Mississippi. Although Dr. Albert A. 
Sanford was reared to a farm life, he determined 
to make medicine his profession, and in 1875 be- 
gan his studies under a preceptor, entering, in 
1876, the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis, 
from which he afterward graduated. In 1883 he 
graduated from Vanderbilt University of Nash- 
ville, Teun. , after which he returned to Arkansas, 
and pitched his tent at Dardanelle in Yell County, 
but remained there only a very short time, when he 
came to Waldron, and in 1889 formed a partner- 
ship with Dr. Leming. He is the owner of a good 
residence in the town, and an excellent and valua- 
able farm near the place. His marriage, which 
occurred in 1873, was to Miss Mollie E. Rice, a 
Tennesseean, and has resulted in the birth of seven 
children : Nettie May (who died at the age of four 
years), Patrick Henry, Nannie, Maggie (who died 
at the age of eleven months), Melville, Frank and 
Aristides (who died at the age of twenty-two years). 
The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and the Doctor is a member of Wal- 
dron Lodge No. 132, of the A. F. & A. M. and 
Greenwood Lodge of the K. of H. The Doctor is 
a patron of schools, and is otherwise interested in 
the welfare of this section. 

Joseph L. Self is classed among the respected 
farmers and ginners of Scott County, Ark., and al- 
though he has not attained the highest round in the 
ladder of success, he has been more than ordinarily 
successful in pursuing his calling, and now has an ex- 
cellent farm of 120 acres, of which 60 acres are un- 
der cultivation, and besides this has a 200-acre 
tract of timberland. He was born in Alabama, in 
1824, the fifth of twelve children born to Jesse and 
Mary (Naremon) Self, both of whom were born in 
North Carolina, the former a planter. He moved 
to Georgia about 1826, and there continued to 
make his home until his death in 1866, his wife 
passing from life in 1850. In the State of Georgia 
Joseph L. Self was principally reared, but his 
educational advantages were limited. When he 
had attained his majority he began farming for 
himself, and in his twenty-third year was married 
to Miss Nancy Gartman, a native of Georgia. In 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



425 



1863 he put aside bis work to enlist in the Con- 
federate Army, and while a member of Company 
K. Thirty-ninth Georgia Regiment Infantry, he 
was in the battle of Vicksburg. After the fall of 
that city he was paroled, and went home. He came 
to Arkansas in 1870, and settled on the place 
on which he is now residing, six miles east 
of Waldron. In 188"J he started a steam cot- 
ton-gin, in connection with which he soon after be- 
gan operating a grist-mill, and in 1889 a saw-mill, 
all of which are now in good working order. The 
gin has a capacity of seven bales per day. Since 
1888 he has been conducting a general mercantile 
store, his stock of goods being worth about $2,000, 
and he does a successful general plantation supply 
business. On his property there are now two other 
stores, a blacksmith shop and several residences, 
making quite a little village. Mr. Self is associated in 
this business with his son, A. W. , who is married to 
Rebecca Hiful, a native of this State. Mr. Self is 
the father of eight children: Mary (wife of L. D. 
Pendra), Susan Elizabeth (wife of Foncy Neal), 
Martha (wife of T. J. Watson), Sarah, Henry P. 
(married), Alvin, James R. and Margaret Ellen 
(wife of Frank M. Bottoms, a merchant of Wal- 
dron). The family are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Self has always 
been a stanch supporter of education, and has 
given land for school and church purposes, arouse 
of each kind being erected in 1878. He is a self- 
made man, very public spirited, and has helped to 
bring Scott Coimty to its present admirable state 
of cultivation. 

Rev. Robert E. Sessions. This name is synony- 
mous in Scott County, Ark., with successful 
agriculture, and throughout the immediate section 
in which he lives he is especially well known. 
He was born in this State, in what is now Brad- 
ley County, January 14, 1850, and is a son of 
James A. and Lucinda (Loa) Sessions, the former 
born in Alabama and the latter in Tennessee, their 
marriage taking jalace in Mountain Township, of 
this county. James A. Sessions, when a young 
man of eighteen years, left his parents in Georgia, 
to which State they had moved from Alabama to 
come to Arkansas as agent to the Creek Indians, 



receiving his appointment from the President of 
the United States. At the end of five years he 
began devoting his attention to teaching school and 
to selling goods in Fort Smith, and while in this 
place acted as interpreter, being well acquainted 
with the Creek, Choctaw and Cherokee languages. 
He was a man of brilliant mind, highly gifted, and 
in his youth had the advantages of an excellent edu- 
cation. He was a consistent member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, socially was a member 
of the I. O. O. F., and shortly before the open- 
ing of the Rebellion he was called from earth, 
being then but in the prime of life. His widow 
died in Scott County, Ark., in 1861, also an earnest 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, she 
having borne her husband five children: Eliza J. 
(wife of David Osmus, a farmer and primitive Bap- 
tist minister of Scott County, Ark.), Permelia Ann 
(wife of J. H, Blackwell, a farmer of this county). 
Rev. Robert E., J. F. (a merchant and also a Free- 
will Baptist minister), and Sarah (wife of Compton 
Hollis, a farmer residing near Boles, Ark). Rev. 
Robert E. Sessions made his home with different 
families during the war, and during that time at- 
tended school a little. After the war he worked 
on a farm, and in 1880 homesteaded land to the 
amount of 160 acres in Mountain Township, and 
has been buying and selling land ever since, being 
now the owner of 150 acres at the head of Ross 
Creek, a considerable portion of which is under 
cultivation. In connection with this he has been 
operating a cotton-gin for the past seven years, 
and since March, 1889, he has been the owner of a 
good gin, grist, saw and shingle mill. Commenc- 
ing life with no advantages whatever, he has done 
exceedingly well, has educated his children, and 
has done as much, if not more, than any of his 
neighbors for worthy enterprises. He has been an 
earnest church member for twenty-one years, and 
in 1884 was ordained a minister of the Free- Will 
Baptist Church, soon after being made pastor of 
Shiloh Church in Blansett Township. He has 
also filled the same position in Mount Pisgah 
Church at Boles, Haw Creek Church, New Hope 
Church, Mount Pisgah No. 2, and assisted in 
organizing a church northeast of Waldron, known 



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426 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



as the Davis Church. He was married on August 
12, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Wammack of Scott 
County, by whom he has become the father of 
nine children: John A., James W., Armatha Bell, 
Mary Frances, Harriet Dealtha, Robert F., Fred 
and Thomas. Elmer died in infancy. Mrs. Ses- 
sions is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, 
and has given much assistance to her husband in 
his work of saving souls. Mr. Sessions belongs 
to the Farmers' Alliance, and is a stanch Repub- 
lican in politics. 

Saunders S. Slover, although now a prominent 
citizen of Scott County, Tenn., was born in Madi- 
son County, Ark., November 17, 1835, to Samuel 
and Emeline (Chote) Slover, the former a Tennes- 
seean and the latter a native of South Carolina, 
their births occurring March 5, 1811, and Septem- 
ber 28, 1816, respectively. The mother is still 
living, her home being in Western Texas. They 
were married March 22, 1831, and during the very 
first settling of this country came here and located 
in Madison County, on Kings' River. The father 
was a very successful farmer, but was also the pro- 
prietor of a dry-goods establishment at Veal's 
Station, and at the time of his death, which 
occurred in Parker County, Tex., in 1873, he left 
a large estate and fortune to be divided among his 
family. He owned large tracts of valuable real 
estate in Texas, and was a practical business man 
in all respects. When a young man he joined the 
Masonic order, and after his marriage built the 
Masonic Hall at Veal's Station, Tex., and donated 
it to the lodge. He was very prominent in Ma- 
sonic circles, and was also an earnest member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his widow. 
In the neighborhood in which he lived he was an 
arbitrator in disputes between his neighbors, and 
his advice and councils were earnestly listened 
to and usually followed with good results. He 
was one of the first settlers of Western Texas, 
and at one time suffered severe losses bj- having 
his cattle driven off and killed by Comanche 
Indians. He and his neighbors were compelled 
to carry guns to church for protection. He was 
a life-long Democrat, and had three sons in the 
Confederate Army who fought bravely in many 



bloody combats. To himself and wife nine chil- 
dren were born, and of the three that are living 
the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He spent 
his school days in Madison County, Ark., but in 
1848 went with his parents to Texas, where, dur- 
ing his youth and early manhood he experienced 
many of the hardships, dangers and privations of 
pioneer life. He made his home on his father's 
farm until twenty-two years of age, then worked 
for himself in Parker County, Tex., until 1867, 
when he and his family came back to Arkansas and 
located on a farm on Clear Fork of Fourche River, 
in Scott County, this farm being his present place 
of abode. He is the owner of 200 acres of fine 
land, and is one of the most practical and success- 
ful agriculturists of Blansett Township. He was 
married, in 1862, to Miss Nancy Catherine Whisen- 
hunt, daughter of John Whisenhunt, her birth 
occurring in Georgia, August 24, 1840. A family 
of twelve children have been bom to them, all of 
whom are living save two: James W. (who died, 
when twenty-two years of age), and Ira Seamon 
(who died when a child). Those living are James 
M., Thomas S., Flora A. M., Sarah F., Calvin W., 
Lillie S., Disa P., William T., Nancy J. and John 
S. Mr. Slover has been married twice, first when 
twenty years of age to Miss Mary Martin, of 
Texas. She was born May 29, 1835, and died in 
Scott County, Ark., having borne three children: 
Malinda Jane, John Samuel and William T., the 
last named having died at the age of two years. 
The present Mrs. Slover is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a 
Democrat. He is a thorough-going citizen, and is 
ever ready to aid good causes. 

Dr. James H. Smith, an energetic practitioner, 
is recognized throughout this State as a friend of, 
and laborer in, the cause and advancement of the 
medical profession, and has acquired a flattering 
reputation as a physician. He was born in Wilson 
County, Tenn., in 1813, to Harris and Nancy S. 
(Flood) Smith, who were born in Buckingham 
County, Va., in 1791 and 1796, respectively, re- 
moving with their parents while young, to Wilson 
County, Tenn., where they were married. About 
1821 they went to Wayne County, Tenn., but a 



VjF 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



427 



year later returned to Wilson County, moving a 
short time after to Lawrence County, only to re- 
turn to Wilson County, once more. They after- 
ward removed to De Kalb County, where they 
both passed from life, the former a farmer by oc- 
cupation and a soldier in the War of 1812. Mrs. 
Smith was a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. The paternal grandfather, George Lump- 
kin Smith, was a Virginian, but in an early day he 
removed to Wilson County, Tenn., where he be- 
came a well to-do farmer, was widely known, and 
where he passed from life. The maternal grand- 
father, Thomas Flood, was a Virginian, also, and 
an early resident of Wilson County, Tenn., where 
he became a well-to do farmer, and spent the rest 
of his days. He was of English descent, a soldier 
in the Revolutionary War, and upon his death, left 
a large number of descendants in Tennessee. Dr. 
James H. Smith is the eldest of seven children 
(four now living) born to his parents, and was 
brought up to farm life. What knowledge he now 
has of books, was obtained in his youth by the 
light of the fire at home and by attending school 
a short time after he was eighteen years of age, 
his tuition being paid by doing odd jobs of work, 
but although his road was an up-hill one he, in 
this manner, became a well-educated young man, 
and soon became sufficiently posted to enable him 
to teach school, after which he found his way much 
easier. In 1S3-1 he went to Lawrence County, Ala., 
and in 1835 he was married to Miss Eliza, daugh- 
ter of Maj. Joel and Jane Denton, who were born 
in East Tennessee, the former dying in Scott 
County, Ark., and the latter in Alabama. Mrs. 
Smith was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1852, 
and died in Alabama, a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church, and leaving five children. The 
Doctor's second marriage took place the same year 
to Elizabeth, a sister of his first wife, her death oc- 
curring in Waldi-on, in 1882, she being also a church 
member. In 1882 the Doctor's third marriage was 
celebrated, his wife, Mrs. Margaret S. Money, being 
a daughter of Josejih G. and Margaret Gibson, the 
former a Georgian and the latter born in South 
Carolina, their marriage taking place in the former 
State, where Mrs. Gibson died. Mr. Gibson mar- 



ried a second time and moved to Texas, where he 
passed from life. Mrs. Smith was born in Geor- 
gia, and went to Texas with her father, where she 
was married to Mr. William T. Money, who died 
in Texas in 1865. She came to Arkansas in 1866. 
In 1834 the Doctor went to Alabama, and about 
1841 began the study of medicine, attending, dur- 
ing 1845-46, the Louisville Medical Institute of 
Kentucky, after which he at once entered upon his 
practice in Alabama, where he continued vmtil 
1856, when he removed to Scott County, Ark., and 
settled five miles west of Waldron, and with the 
exception of from 1863 to 1867 he resided there un- 
til 1881, since which time he has been a resident 
of Waldron, but is not a very active practitioner at 
the present time. He is quite well to do, and be- 
sides owning some valuable town property, he has 
over 500 acres of land. From 1860 to 1862 he was 
county and probate judge of Scott County, and in 
1876 was elected to the State Legislature, serving 
one term and being chairman of the committee on 
roads and highways. He is a charter member of 
Waldron Lodge No. 132, of the A. F. & A. M., and 
he and his family ai'e members in good standing of 
the Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Smith is one 
of the oldest and most universally known physi- 
cians in Western Arkansas, is universally loved 
and is in every respect worthy the universal re- 
spect shown him. His surviving children are: 
Nancy J. (wife of Capt. John Rawlings), and 
George Walker. Joel Flood was killed while on 
picket duty near Fayetteville, in 1862. 

James C. Stanford is a merchant in the village 
of Cauthron, and by birth is a Georgian, having 
first seen the light of day in that State June 20, 
1842. He is the youngest of five sons and four 
daughters born to William and Sarah (King) Stan- 
ford, both of whom were born in Georgia. James 
C, when a lad, received very limited educational 
advantages, as his father died when he was thirteen 
years of age, and he was placed in charge of the 
home farm, as his older brothers had left home to 
make their own way in the world. In 1862 he en 
listed in the Confederate Army, becoming a mem- 
ber of Company H, Eighteenth Georgia Regiment 
of Infantry, and was in the battles of Fair Oaks, 



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428 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Malvern Hill, Manassas, Boouesboro, Fredericks- 
burg, Chaneellorsville, Gettysburg, Knoxville, 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold 
Harbor, seige of Richmond, and Farmersville.Va. , 
where he was taken prisoner, being released on 
June 28, 1865, from Fortress Monroe, and at the 
battle of Chaneellorsville was severely wounded. 
Although there were five brothers in the Confeder- 
ate Army, all came through safely and are now the 
heads of families. The eldest brother, Franklin, 
was in the Mexican War; one resides in Alabama, 
and the others are near the old home in Georgia. 
When James C. returned from the army he again 
went to work on his mother's farm, and there re- 
mained until 1869, when he left there and came 
direct to Waldron, Ark., and here has since made 
his home. He homesteaded some land, nicely im- 
proved it, and of 170 acres of which he is the owner, 
four miles northwest of Waldron, he has eighty 
acres under cultivation, on which are a good house, 
barn and other necessary buildings. There is also 
an excellent orchard on the jjlace, and the laud is 
also well fenced. In January, 1887, Mr. Stanford 
moved from the farm to the village of Cauthron and 
opened a general mercantile store, and besides the 
store building and the lot on which it stands he has 
thirty-six acre.s on which his residence is situated. 
He keeps a stock of goods worth 12,000 and his 
annual sales amount to about $6,000. He is quite 
extensively engaged in buying cotton, which he 
ships to Fort Smith, and is otherwise interested in 
the progress and development of this region. He 
was married March 7, 1867, to Miss Sarah E. Taff, 
a daughter of V>'. H. Taff, a farmer of Barto County, 
Ga. , and by her has the following children: Will- 
iam T. (who is a teacher and is giving his leisure 
time to the study of law), Acril J. (who is also a 
teacher, and he and William were educated in the 
State University), John F., Nellie L., Franklin A. 
and James B. The family worship in the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church South, Mr. Stanford being a 
steward in the same. He is a Democrat in politics, 
and is liberal in the support of schools, churches, 
etc. He came here with no means but has now a 
good property. 

Dr. J. O. A. Sullivan. The name of Sullivan 



is one of the most influential in Scott County, 
Ark., and Dr. Sullivan among its most talented 
physicians, has obtained a reputation placing him 
in the front rank of the medical fraternity. He is 
also associated with the drug interests of Waldron 
and as a business man is doing well. He was 
born in Tennessee in 1849, being the fifth of 
twelve children born to Nathan and Mary (Ross) 
Sullivan, the former born in Tennessee and the 
latter in Alabama. The father was a minister of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church South for forty- 
two years, his services for his Master being prin- 
cipally in the State of Tennessee, where he was 
presiding elder of his district for many years. 
He died in 1880, after a useful and well-spent life, 
his widow still surviving him. The paternal 
grandfather. Rev. Jocob SiUlivan, was a pioneer 
of Wilson and Warren Counties, Tenn., from 
North Carolina, but was a native of Maryland. 
He preached the gospel in Tennessee until his 
death in 1866 at Mount Zion, in Tipton County, 
at the age of eighty-eight years. The maternal 
grandfather, William Ross, was one of the early 
settlers of Shelby County, Tenn., at which time 
there were but three houses at the present site of 
Memphis. He became a large land owner on the 
Hatchie River and on this land passed from life in 
1867 or 1868. Dr. J. O. A. Sullivan spent his 
youth in Gibson County, Tenn., and received his 
education in Andrew College. In 1868 he became 
a member of Compriuy G, Twelfth Tennessee Cav- 
alrv. Confederate States Army, and was in the 
battles of Fort Pillow, Memphis and surrendered 
at Greensboro, N. C. After his return home he 
began the study of medicine in 1867 under the pre- 
ceptorship of Dr. J. J. Crisp. After a thorough 
preparation he entered the medical university of 
Tennessee, from which he graduated in 1868, 
after which he at once began practicing in Gibson 
County. He was married in February, 1869, to 
Miss Georgiana McLeary, a native of Tennessee, 
and daughter of James and Addie McLeary, their 
births occurring in North and South Carolina, re- 
spectively. Both parents were of Scotch descent, 
the maiden name of the mother being Blair. Her 
ancestors became well known dvu'ing Revolu- 



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--.r-^ -.. , v..^ .....r 



SCOTT COUNTY. 



429 



tionary times, her mother's family being well 
known people of South Carolina. In 1874 Dr. 
Sullivan and his wife came to Arkansas and settled 
in Waldron, where he began practicing, in con- 
nection with which, in 1881, he opened a drug es- 
tablishment, but soon sold out, only to re-engage 
in the business in 1887, his establishment being 
well fitted up and excellently managed. He has 
always been active in school work; for years has 
been a director. He is also deeply interested in 
the political affairs of the country, and has always 
worked for the success of the Democratic party. 
He is now serving his second term as secretary of 
the County Medical Society and is a member of 
the board. Socially he belongs to Waldron Lodge 
No. 93 of the I. O. O. F., and in the Grand Lodge 
of the State he holds the rank of grand guardian. 
He also belongs to the A. F. & A. M. Dr. Sulli- 
van lost his estimable wife in 1878, she having 
borne him three children : Lester Lee, Lenora 
Adella, and Josie (who died at the age of twenty- 
two months). His second marriage took place in 
1878, his wife being Miss Ella Harris, a native of 
this State, and daughter of Virgil Harris, a Ten- 
nesseean, who removed to Texas in 1832 and a few 
years later to Arkansas, dying in Waldron in May, 
1889, when seventy-nine years of age. The Doc- 
tor and his present wife have six children: Mary 
Emma, Andrew N. , Clara, Robert Toombs and 
Stonewall Jackson (twins) and Ada. The Doctor 
is the owner of a fine farm of 400 acres in Faulk- 
ner County, of which 60 acres are under cultiva- 
tion. He also has a good home in Waldron, which 
he erected in 1879, and besides this owns other 
valuable town property. 

William M. Taylor, farmer, Cedar Creek, Ark. 
Another prominent and successful agriculturist of 
Cedar Creek Township, and one whose name is 
synonymous with the farming interests of the 
county, was born in Tuscaloosa County, Ala., and 
was reared on a farm, receiving a limited educa- 
tion in the common schools. He enlisted in the 
army when a young man and served until its close. 
He started out for himself as a tiller of the soil, 
when nineteen years of age, bought land in his 
native county, and in 1855 was married to Miss 



Nancy E. McMillan, of Alabama. They have 
five children — four sons and one daughter. The 
eldest daughter is married and resides near the 
old homestead. The remainder of the children 
are at home. After the war, Mr. Taylor came 
to Arkansas, settled in Johnson County in 1870, 
and after remaining there for two years moved 
to Cedar Creek Township, where he now lives. In 
1888 he bought his present property, and is now 
the owner of 453 acres of valuable land. He has 
a comfortable dwelling-house, and has made many 
and vast improvements. His principal crops are corn 
and cotton. He has this year (1890) forty-two acres 
of cotton, which will yield one-half bale to the acre, 
and his average corn crop will be from thirty- 
five to fifty bushels to the acre. Mr. Taylor was 
born on June 3, 1836, and is prominently identi- 
fied with the county in more than one particular. 
He is the owner of valuable timberland, consist- 
ing of oak, gum, ash and walnut. 

G. W. Turner, liveryman of the firm of Tur- 
ner & Huie, of Waldron, Ark. , is a Tennesseean 
by birth and bringing up and has inculcated in him 
the sterling principles of the better class of citizens 
of that State. He was born in 1844, the second 
of ten children born to Jesse and Elizabeth (Price) 
Turner, they being also Tennesseeans. The grand 
parents on both sides were among the very earliest 
settlers of that State, and there braved the dangers 
and privations of pioneer life to make homes for 
their children. Jesse Turner was one of the 
worthy tillers of the soil, and after first emigrat- 
ing from his native State he located in Missouri, 
and, in 1867 came to Arkansas, where he died in 
1870. G. W. Turner removed to Missouri with 
his parents, and also came with them to this State, 
acquiring a fair education in the common schools 
of these States. In 1862 he joined Company H, 
Gordon's regiment of Missouri Infantry, under 
Gen. Shelby, and afterward took part in the bat- 
tles of Springfield, Cape Girardeau, Prairie Grove, 
Helena and others. After the war he returned to 
Missouri, where he was engaged in freighting on 
the plains from Atchison, Kas., to New Mexico, 
making one trip. He then came to Arkansas and 
settled in Woodruff County, but nine years later 



7f 



A 



430 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



[ 



located at Augusta, running teams to adjoining 
towns. Since 1873 he has been a resident of Scott 
County, and was first engaged in farming and 
teaming from Fort Smith to Waldron, a calling he 
continued to follow for thirteen years. In 1887 
he opened a livery stable at Waldron in connection 
with Mr. Huie, and now has a stable well stocked 
with horses and vehicles, at all times in good con- 
dition and ready for use. In addition to this prop- 
erty he has a good farm of 160 acres two miles 
north of the town, of which 40 acres are under 
cultivation, and several lots in Waldron. He was 
married in January, 1870, to Miss Abigail Schrim- 
sher, of Mississippi, she being an earnest member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. 
Turner has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for 
years, and as a man of business has shown marked 
al)ility. He and Mr. Huie are the successors of 
Turner & Hard. They have fifteen head of horses, 
suitable hacks and buggies for th6 use of traveling 
men, and they also have the mail contract for 
carrying daily mail to Mansfield, which contract 
was secured July 1, 1888, and will continue two 
years longer. Both these gentlemen are honest 
and fair in their dealings and fully deserve the 
patronage of the public. 

W. R. Vaughn is a Kentuckian by birth, born 
in 1830, and like the majority of those who claim 
that as the State of their nativity, he is pushing, 
enterprising and wide awake. He is one of the 
following family of children: Elisba, Sally, Phoebe, 
Rebecca, William R. (the subject of this sketch), 
John, Reuben, Benjamin, Eliza, Irene, Stephen 
and Obadiah, of whom only William R., Obadiah 
and Reuben are now living. They are the children 
of Obadiah and Nancy (Vaughn) Vaughn, who died 
when William R. was about fourteen years of age, 
the former being a farmer by occupation, and 
served under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812. 
After his father's death William R. began working 
as a farm laborer, and in 1850 was married to 
Miss Susan Yandell, a daughter of William and 
Molly A. Yandell, immediately afterward removing 
to Scott County, Ark., where, in 1865, he unfortu- 
nately lost his wife, she leaving him with six chil- 
dren: George R., W^illiam O., James A., Stephen 



H. , John Z., and one that died unnamed. Of these 
children only Stephen and John survive. In 1866 
Mr. Vaughn took for his second wife Mrs. Luvicy 
(James) Jones, relict of James Jones, and daughter 
of Clayburn and Jennie James, but in 1887 this 
wife also passed from life, having borne Mr. 
Vaughn six children: Sarah F., Jessie V., Cansady, 
Isaiah, Benjamin F., and one that died in infancy 
unnamed. Of these children all are dead except 
Sarah, Jessie, Cansady and Isaiah. By his second 
wife Mr. Vaughn acquired 160 acres of land, of 
which about 60 are improved, and on which he 
raises corn and cotton, the former averaging fifteen 
bushels and the latter one-half bale to the acre. 
In May, 1888, he was married a third time, his 
wife being Mrs. Nancy E. (Rogers) Jones, widow 
of William H. Jones, who died in 1881. To them 
one child has been born, Riley Harrison. Mrs. 
Vaughn is a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, 
of which Mr. Vaughn was also formerly a member. 
His youngest son by his first wife, John Z., was 
born in Arkansas, in 1862, and at the age of 
eighteen years began for himself, marrying, a year 
later, Miss Louisa Cruse, who was born in Georgia, 
in 1859, a daughter of S. P. and Melissa (Lamm) 
Cruse. John Z. and his wife have now a family 
of five children: Stephen F., John Lawson (de- 
ceased), Reuben, Jesse Lee and Alena Bell. Mrs. 
Vaughn died on February 6, 1890, an earnest mem- 
ber of the Free- Will Baptist Church. Her husband, 
on July 20, 1890, married Miss Louisa Jones, who 
was born in Arkansas, in 1872, a daughter of W. 
H. and Nancy E. Jones. 

Carey N. Vise, farmer and ex-sherifP. One of 
the neatest and best kept farms in Hickman Town- 
ship is that owned and operated by Mr. Vise, con- 
taining 600 acres, about 200 of which are under 
cultivation, well improved, the rest being timber- 
land. On this land is an excellent young orchard, 
and in connection with his farming operations Mr. 
Vise is also engaged in stock-raising. He was born 
in Georgia, the oldest of six children born to John 
S. and Esther (Vise) Vise, both of whom were 
born in the Palmetto State, the mother's death 
occurring there in 1859. Mr. Vise afterward mar- 
ried again, taking for his second consort Miss 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



431 



Eliza M. Mason, by whom he became the father of 
one child. He served in the Confederate Army 
during the Rebellion, being in Capt. Robert 
Boyce's company of artillery, and taking part in 
the battles of Manassas, Antietam, Rappahannock 
Station and Jackson, Miss. After the war he fol- 
lowed farming in Georgia nntil 1874, when he 
came to Arkansas, his son. Carey N. , having pre- 
viously come here, and settled on a farm two miles 
from Waldron, on which place he died in 1883. 
Carey M. Vise was born in 1846, and was educated 
in the schools of South Carolina. He entered the 
Confederate Army at the age of sixteen years, 
being in a company of light artillery, commanded 
by Capt. Boyce and T. S. Jeter, and was in the 
same engagements in which his father partici- 
pated. He was captured at Asheville, N. C, 
but the war closed a few days later and he was re- 
leased. In the winter of 1807 he came to Ar- 
kansas, soon after purchasing 120 acres of land, 
fifteen miles west of Waldron, on Jones Creek. 
He was married in December of the same year to 
Miss Sarah A. Young, of South Carolina, and on 
the tract which he first purchased he lived for a 
long time, although he purchased other land and 
made numerous valuable improvements. Since 
1882, however, he has made the town of Waldron 
his home, where he has a pleasant and comfortable 
residence. He has always been interested in pol- 
itics, and for the last eighteen years has held 
ofiSce. He was assessor six years, justice of the 
peace, four years, and in 1882 he was elected 
sheriff of the county, a position he held by re- 
election until 1890. His children are as follows: 
Willie, Beatrice, John, Melissa, Charlie, Sadie and 
Benjamin. 

Sidney Wilson is one of the most influential 
men in Scott County, Ark., and he ranks among 
its most talented and successful lawyers. He was 
born in the Buckeye State, in 1835, being the eld- 
est of live children born to Sterns and Clarissa 
(Gilder) Wilson, both of whom were born in Vir- 
ginia, and removed to the State of Ohio during the 
early history of that region, being residents there 
of during the Black Hawk War. During this time 
they moved to Chicago, and owned a farm in what 



is now a portion and part of that city, but in 1846 
removed to Iowa, only to return to Illinois a short 
time after. He passed from life in Kansas, in 1878, 
his widow dying in 1880. Mr. Wilson was a drum- 
mer boy in the War of 1812, and was a drum-major 
in Taylor's command during the war with Mexico, 
but after taking part in the battle of Monterey, re- 
turned home on account of sickness. He became 
a substantial farmer, and was also something of a 
musician. Sidney Wilson was educated in the 
Chicago Catholic College, and in the academy at 
Wheatland, but in 1857 gave up all other branches 
to take up the study of law, and in 1860 was ad- 
mitted to the bar. In 1862 he went to Montana, 
soon after the Fairweather boys had discovered 
Alder Gulch, at Virginia City, and helped to 
make the first road from Red Buttes to the head- 
waters of the Yellowstone River. He had many 
encounters with the Indians, in one of which he 
was wounded. He has prospected in Arizona, New 
Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, and while in Mon- 
tana went 400 miles north to British America, and 
was at the Coutney Mines for three months, during 
which time the miners had frequent trouble with 
the Indians. In 1866 he went to St. Joseph, Mo., 
and was engaged in freighting goods across the 
plains to Salt Lake City and Montana until 1869, 
when he located in St. Clair County, where he 
taught two terms of school. He was admitted to 
the bar of Osceola, March 25, 1868, but prior to 
that had been admitted at Troy, Kas., in 1867. 
In 1869 he moved to Hermitage, Mo., where he 
entered on the practice of law. He has been ad- 
mitted to county, circuit and supreme courts, prac- 
ticed in the various places in which he has lived, 
and has had all kinds of cases. His many changes 
of residence have been made on account of ill health, 
but his health has been comparatively good since 
locating in Scott County, Ark., in the development 
and progress of which county he takes great in- 
terest. He served as prosecuting attorney of Hick- 
ory County, Mo., for four terms, his first appoint- 
ment being received in 1870, his elections taking 
place in 1872-73-74. He resigned in the spring 
of 1876, and moved to Lake City, Colo., and in 
September of the same year was admitted to the 



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432 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Supreme Court of that State. He -was also admitted 
to the bar in New Mexico, in April, 1879. In 1880 
he went to Scott County, Mo., but two years later 
returned to Colorado, and after residing at Aspin 
until 1883, he came to Greenwood, Ark. Since 
1884 he has been a resident of Waldron, and has 
been a leading practitioner of Scott County ever 
since. He prospected for minerals soon after com- 
ing here, and discovered the prospects for coal oil, 
and afterward became one of the stockholders of a 
company organized for its development. In 1889 he 
formed his present partnership with B. F. Wolf, 
and has since been associated with him. He has 
been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1872, 
and his wife, whom he married July 18, 1857, in 
Illinois, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Her maiden najne was Zerilda Harwood, 
a native of Indiana, and she has borne Mr. Wilson 
three children: Clara Isabelle (wife of J. J. Smiley, 
an engineer and bridge builder; he is now in Tam- 
pico, Mexico, where he has charge of harbor con- 
struction; his home is in Kansas City. Mo.), Hattie 
and Allie (the other two, now living with their 
parents). 

Benjamin F. Wolf is an eminent lawyer of the 
well-known firm of Wilson & Wolf, of Waldron, 
Ark., and although he has been a resident of the 
State in which he is now residing since 1867, he 
was born in the State of Tennessee in 1845, being 
the youngest of eleven children born to Henry and 
Nancy (Kinchelow) W'olf, the former a Virginian 
and the latter a native of Tennessee. Henry Wolf 
was a carpenter by trade, and upon his removal to 
Arkansas in 1867 he settled in Crawford County, 
where he followed his calling until his death, nine 
years later, his wife passing from life the same 
year, both having attained an advanced age. Mr. 
Wolf was a prominent politician while a resident 
of McMinn County, and during 1856 was sheriff 
of that county. The boyhood days of Benjamin 
F. Wolf were spent in his native State, his edu- 
cation being obtained in a high school. At the 
breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, he put aside 
personal considerations to enlist in the Confederate 
Army, and became a member of Company A, Third 
Tennessee Infantry, and was in many of the battles 



in which the Army of Virginia took part, among 
which may be mentioned Manassas. In 1862 he 
joined an independent company and was later at- 
tached to Forrest's command. He was captured 
near Calhoun, but after a very short time was re- 
leased. He was in many engagements in Tennes- 
see, and did much scouting and special duty. He 
was in the battle of Chickamauga, and after the 
battle of Missionary Ridge while at home on fur- 
lough and sick in bed, he was captured, but was 
soon after released, and shortly after rejoined his 
command, with which he served until the close of 
the war. After the termination of the war he re- 
turned to his home and began teaching school, 
and during this time, at odd moments, pursued 
the study of law. After closing up his father's 
accounts he came with him to Arkansas, and after 
residing in Crawford County until 1876, he went 
to Texas, where he remained three years. He then 
returned to Arkansas, and in the town of Mount 
Ida, Montgomery County, began the practice of 
law. In 1881 he came to Scott County, and lo- 
cated in Poteau Valley, being formally admitted 
to the bar in 1885, soon after taking up his resi- 
dence in Waldron. He owns some good town 
property, is a wide-awake and enterprising gentle- 
man, and as a lawyer is a deep thinker, keen and 
practical in his views and the thorough master of 
his profession. He was married in 1876 to Miss 
America Cavinous, of this State, but she died in 
1880, having borne one son, John (who is dead). 
His second marriage took place in 1882 to Mrs. 
Matilda Bird, a native of Arkansas, and a daughter 
of Z. Hembey, a i)ioneer of this county and a 
resident of Poteau Valley. Mr. Wolf is a mem- 
ber of the A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. fra 
ternities. 

Albert S. Wood. There is a number of men 
who are prominently identified with the mercantile 
interests of Scott County, Ark., but none of them 
is more deserving of mention than Mr. Wood, 
who, although not old in years, is yet a substantial 
businessman. He was Ijorn in Mississippi in ISSfi, 
to John T. and Delilah (Nations) Wood, they be- 
ing also Mississippians, the former an honest and 
progressive tiller of the soil. Their marriage, 



^ 



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SCOTT COUNTY. 



433 



which occurred in their native State, resulted in 
the birth of ten children, their names being as fol- 
lows: Albert S., Victoria (who died some years 
since), Daniel, Alice, J. Booker, Kate, Thomas, 
Stanford, Joseph and Nora. John T. Wood en- 
listed in the Confederate Infantry in 1861, and 
was on active duty until the close of the war. He 
first removed from his native State to Texas, and 
from that State came to Arkansas, in 1859, set- 
tling in Sevier County, but in 1868 came to Scott 
County, and is here now residing. He is a mem- 
ber of Cauthron Lodge No. 385, of the A. F. & 
A. M. , and ever since residing here has proved 
himself a man of progressive views and public 
spirit. Albert S. AVood came to this State with 
his parents when a small boy, and was principally 
reared on a farm, but besides being an attendant 
of the common schools near his home, he was given 
the advantages of the schools of Fayetteville in 
1884 and 1885. He has taught school, and farmed 
up to 1888, when he engaged in the mercantile 
business at Gipson, Scott County, Ark., and in 
May, 1889, was appointed postmaster of the place. 
He has done an exceedingly prosjjerous business, 
and has become well known for his honest, upright 
dealing with his patrons and for his interest in the 
welfare of this region. He is junior warden of 
Cauthron Lodge No. 385, of the A. F. & A. M., 
and also belongs to Poteau Lodge No. 27, of the 
I. O. O. F. 

M. Q. Workman is of that sturdy and inde- 
pendent class, the farmers of Arkansas, and no 
follower of that calling is possessed of more gen- 
uine merit and a stronger character than he whose 
name stands at the head of this sketch. He was 
born in North Carolina, May 6, 1834, being a son 
of M. P. and L. C. Workman, they being North 

Carolinians also, the former born in , and the 

latter in 1813. They were married in their native 



State, and the same year that their son, M. Q. 
Workman, was born, M. P. Workman died, and 
after some years his widow married S. S. Plum- 
mer, hj which gentleman she became the mother 
of eight children : Sarah A. (widow of Henry 
Eater), M. J. (wife of Mitchel Cross), L. C. (wife 
of William Condrey), L. S. (wife of Joseph Singel- 
tery), A. B., M. C. (wife of Henry Cauthron), M. 
H. (wife of W. H. Marr), and J. E. The mother 
is now living in Scott County, Ark, and she, her 
husband and all her children are members of the 
Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch was 
married in Catoosa County, Ga., in 1861, to Miss 
M. E. Pack, a Georgian, born in 1838. To them 
two children have been born: J. A. and W. M. , 
but in 1863 they were left motherless. Two years 
later Mr. Workman married, a second time. Miss 
P. J. Smith, a native of North Carolina, born in 
1843, becoming his wife, and in time, the mother 
of seven children, of whom are living: S. A., T. W., 
Ervin and J. P. J. L., H. W. and one that died 
in infancy are those not living. Mr. Workman 
was a soldier in the Rebellion, and in 1S62 en- 
listed in a company of infantry, serving in Georgia 
Regiment until the close of the war. He received 
one severe wound, a ball entering his left jaw and 
coming out on the right side of the mouth, cutting 
his tongue in two, which wound was received at 
the battle of Peach Tree Creek. After the war he 
returned home, and engaged in farming, which 
calling has been his occupation ever since. He 
owns 166 acres of land, with 70 under cultivation, 
his crops being corn, cotton, oats and wheat. In 
1870 he emigrated from Georgia to Arkansas, and 
settled where he now lives, where he has done well, 
and where he expects to make his future home. 
He and his wife are members of the Missionary 
Baptist Church, and socially, he belongs to Cauth- 
ron Lodge No. 385, of the A. F. & A. M. 



^^ 



j, >y 



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■ ■.^.-^-,.. -^ -.,.....■.■, -■- — .--.^r^..^^ 



'^ 



434 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Polk County— Location and Boundary— Topography, Streams. Springs and Water Supply- 
Timber— Soil— Farm Products— Public Lands— Minerals,' Gold, Silver, Manganese, etc.— 
Horticulture- Vineyards— Native AVine— Live Stock— U. S. Signal Sehvice- Cli- 
mate— Proposed Railroads — Taxable Wealth— Wild Animals— Settlement 
—Pioneer Settlers— First Mills— Pioneer Cabins— County Organiza- 
tion—County Seat— Public Buildings— County Officers— Elec- 
tion Returns— Population— Circuit Court— Legal Bar 
—Civil War— Dallas and Other Towns— Dallas 
High School— Educational Facilities- 
Religious Denominations. 



"We will revive those times, and in our memories preserve ami still keep 
fresh, like flowers in water, those happier days." — Richter. 




'he connty of Polk, in the 
State of Arkansas, lies on the 
western tier of counties, and 
is bounded north by Scott 
County, east by Montgomery 
and Howard Counties, .south 
by Howard and Sevier Coun- 
ties, and on the west by the In- 
dian Territory. According to the 
Government survey of the public 
lands it comprises all of Town- 
ships 1 to 4, inclusive, south of the 
•base line, in Ranges 28 to 32, in- 
clusive, west of the fifth principal 
meridian, and all of Townships 5 
and (5 soitth of the base line, in 
Ranges 31 and 32 we.9t, and also 
that part of Township 6 south, lying in fractional 
Range 33 west, containing in all an area of 870 
square miles, or 560,640 acres. A more definite 
description of the county is as follows: Beginning 
on the base line at the northeast corner of Town- 



ship 1 south, in Range 28 west; thence south on 
the range line to the line dividing Townships 4 and 
5 south; thence west on the township line to the 
line dividing Ranges 30 and 31 west; thence south 
on the range line to the township and correction 
line between Townships 5 and 6 south ; thence east 
on the correction line to the line dividing Ranges 
30 and 31 west; thence south on the range line to 
the line dividing Townships 6 and 7 south; thence 
west on the township line to the western boundary 
of the State; thence north on the State line to the 
base line; thence east on the Fourche la Fave 
Mountain Ridge to the place of beginning. 

Polk is in the same latitude as Montgomery 
County, a description of which is given in this 
volume, and it lies mostly in the ninety-fifth degree 
of west longitude. Its altitude above sea level in 
the vicinity of Dallas, the county seat, is al)out 
1,400 feet, and fourteen miles north of west from 
Dallas, Rich Mountain rears its lofty summit about 
2,700 feet above tide water, making it the highest 
point of land in the State. The surface of the 



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POLK COUNTY. 



435 



county is both hilly and level. A mountain range, 
known as the Fourche la Fave, running the entire 
length of the county, divides Polk from Scott 
County on the north. Through this range are two 
gaps, or accessible passes — Eagle or Foren — 
through which are wagon roads, and the grade is 
not too great for railroads through either. Rich 
Mountain, one of nature's curiosities, lies directly 
and immediately south of the western part of the 
Fourche la Fave range, and extends westward 
into the Indian Territory. This mountain has 
phenomenal features worthy of especial mention. 
On its summit are several hundred acres of rich 
lands, nearly level and very productive, resembling 
river-bottom land, both in soil, timber and vegeta- 
tion. Beech and linden, and all the other kinds of 
timber found on the bottoms of this region of the 
country, grow on the top of this mountain. Good 
cold springs of freestone and chalybeate water are 
also found there. The altitude being so great, a 
blanket covering is necessary to keep a person com- 
fortable on the warmest summer nights, and the 
days are very pleasant, not excessively cold even 
in winter. Several families live on this mountain, 
and have rich and valuable farms. Frequently 
they can enjoy the sunshine and look down on the 
clouds that are showering the lands below. 

The Kiomiche Mountain touches the county on 
the west, and through it are several nearly level 
passes, by which the Indian Territory is reached. 
South of Dallas, in the central part of the county, 
are the Silver Mountains, comprising a large pro- 
portion of the area of the county. Their conical 
shaped peaks, all covered with forest trees, with 
their beautiful foliage, are the loveliest of scenery 
as beheld from the valleys or lower lands. 

The county is well watered with as fine mount- 
ain streams as the world affords. The north cen- 
tral and northeastern part of the county is drained 
by the Ouachita or Washita River, which flows in 
an easterly direction into Montgomery County. 
This river has several tributaries, all beautiful 
streams of water, clear as crystal. The southeast- 
ern part of the county is drained by the head- 
waters of Caddo Creek and the Clear Fork of the 
Little Missouri, flowing in a southeasterly direc- 



tion. The southern portion is drained by the head- 
waters or streams of the Saline and Cossatot 
Rivers, and the Rolling Fork of Little River. The 
western part of the county is drained by Mountain 
Fork and other streams which flow westerly into 
the Indian Territory and thence into Little River. 
Big Creek drains a small portion of the northwest- 
ern part of the county and flows thence into Poteau 
River. The dividing ridge between the waters 
that flow northwardly and eastwardly by way of 
the Ouachita and its tributaries, and the waters that 
flow in all other directions from the county, extends 
a distance east and west near Dallas, mostly south- 
east thereof. The Fourche la Fave and Rich 
Mountain range form the dividing ridge or water- 
shed between the Ai'kansas River on the north and 
Red River on the^south. 

South of this mountain range, twelve miles in 
extent, is the Ouachita River Valley, which reaches 
to Dallas. Of this region Col. Thompson, of the 
Arkansas Forest and Farm, recently published the 
following: "One hundred miles north of Texar- 
kana, eighty- five miles south of Fort Smith and 
eighty miles west of Hot Springs on the west- 
ern border of Arkansas and over 1,400 feet 
above the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by the Cos- 
satot, Fourche and Rich Mountains, where the 
Cossatot, Ouachita, Poteau and the Mountain Fork 
of Little River all have their birth, winding their 
way by the four points of the compass to the ocean, 
it was here we found Dallas Park, a land fit for 
the home of the gods, where fruits, flowers, cereals 
and grasses are unexcelled anywhere in this broad 
land. The park is about twelve miles broad and 
eighteen miles long, but at present only about ten 
per cent is under cultivation, the remainder in 
timber of various kinds, all of fine growth. Water 
is abundant and as pure as ever dropped from the 
clouds, though mineral springs of various kinds 
are frequently found, some having been noted 
for years for their curative properties and visited 
by people from the low lands of this State, 
Louisiana and Texas. With easy access, the 
region would soon bee ome, among health and 
pleasure seekers, as the many now celebrated 
mountain resorts of the East. From one sj)ur of 



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436 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



the Cossatot, near the town of Dallas, we saw 
over forty springs, all within the sjjace of an acre 
orso. " There are good mineral and fresh- water 
springs throughout the county, and the water in 
the streams is so clear and pure that it is used by 
some families for domestic purposes. Good well 
water, except on the moiantain tops, can also be 
procured at moderate depth. Springs flow also 
from the mountain tops. 

The county was originally covered with a dense 
growth of timber, and as only a small portion of 
its area has been cleared there are still very ex- 
tensive forests of the best of pine, several varieties 
of oak, hickory, sweet and black gum, some wal- 
nut, cedar and other varieties. None of the tim- 
ber has been cut and shipped away. A few small 
saw-mills which saw lumber only for home use 
exist in the county. As soon as this section of 
country shall be traversed with railroads to give 
an outlet, a great industry in the lumber business 
will sjiring up. In the valleys along the streams 
the soil is alluvial, deep and exceedingly fertile, 
and on the higher lands it is composed of humus, 
sand and clay, and it produces well wherever the 
land lies level enough for cultivation. Even on 
the mountain tops plateaus of very productive 
land are found. In some places on the gently in- 
clining hillsides where the surface is so completely 
covered with small stones that strangers (without 
seeing the crops) would comdemn them as worth- 
less, heavy crops of corn are grown. Cotton, 
corn, oats and wheat are the chief products raised. 
^Vith proper cultivation the bottom lands will pro- 
duce a bale of cotton jier acre, and the uplands 
from a half to two-thirds as much; of corn the 
bottom lands could easily be made to produce from 
thirty to sixty bushels, and the uplands a less 
amount in proportion to their strength. However 
these results are seldom obtained, because scien- 
tific farming has not been adopted except by a 
very few individuals. It is said that clover and 
the tame grasses do well here, but as yet they 
have not been raised to any extent either for hay, 
pasture or for fertilizing the lands. The wild range 
where the stock lives the year round without care, 
is depended upon for pasture, and as the lands 



continue to produce fair crops with the old methods 
of cultivation, no extra efforts are made to raise 
more. Transportation — outlets by rail for the 
surplus f)roducts — is the thing most needed for 
the development of the resources of this part of 
the State. 

There are nearly 200,000 acres of land yet in 
Polk County subject to homestead entry, and im- 
proved lands can be purchased for from $3 to 18 
per acre. Mineral lands or such as are known to 
contain minerals are not subject to homestead en- 
try. Prof. J. Van Cleve Phillips of St. Louis, an 
eminent geologist, spent several weeks in Polk 
County in 1885, examining and investigating the 
geological formation, and afterward published the 
following: "Having been over portions of Pulaski, 
Saline, Hot Springs, Garland, Montgomery, Polk, 
Sevier and parts of adjacent counties, and studied 
the topography and ores so far as discovered, I am 
led to the conclusion that these counties include 
the central part of what will eventually prove to be 
the richest nickel, tin, silver and gold fields on 
the continent; that the metals here stored up 
have direct relationship to the coming population 
of the Mississippi Basin, where it will have 300 to 
the square mile; that mining parties who propose 
to develop these silver veins, must go to work to 
make silver mining a practical and permanent in- 
dustry, and that the town which will be most bene- 
fited by this industry will be where the most practi- 
cal knowledegeof nickel, tin, silver and gold mining 
and reducing these ores are made a daily discussion 
and study." 

Since the above was published several mines 
have been opened in Pope County, among which 
are those best known as the Worthingtuu Mines, 
located about two and a half miles south of Dallas, 
and the Burns Bros. ' Mines, situated twelve miles 
southeast of Dallas. The former produces gold 
and silver, and the latter manganese. At the 
Worthington Mines, Mr. Lee Worthiugton owns 
eight or ten claims, Mr. Clarence Swartout six, 
Martin Durham and others each several claims, 
and the Silver Leaf and Copper Queen mining 
companies have thi'ee claims each. Assays of the 
ores taken fiom the Worthington Mines give good 



"?|i 



POLK COUNTY. 



487 



results, all the way from §15 to 1200 of gold and 
silver per ton. The silver predominates. At these 
mines three tunnels and their cross cuts measuring 
10(* feet each have been made. 

Burns & Bro. claim for their mines the best and 
purest manganese in the world, having had it as- 
sayed in large (quantities by the best assayists in 
both Europe and America, it running all the way 
from fifty to seventy-six per cent of metallic man- 
ganese, and in some instances there being no phos- 
phorus and no sulphur, and only one per cent of 
silica and two per cent of earthy matter. As these 
mines are not yet in operation the quality onh', and 
not the extent of the manganese, is known. Seven 
different mines have been opened where the quality 
has been found to be excellent, and from all ap- 
pearances the quantity is abundant. Manganese, 
gold and silver, iron and other valuable mineral.? 
exist in other parts of the county than these men- 
tioned here. The owners of the mining claims so 
far as taken, are now doing the work thereon an- 
nually required by the Government in developing 
their mines, are taking care of the ores excavated, 
and awaiting the ingress of railroads, when they 
expect to obtain a rich harvest in fully operating 
their mines, and reducing the precious metals for 
the world's markets. 

Pertaining to horticulture in Polk County, 
Judge Thad. M. Carder, of Dallas, one of the lead 
ing horticulturists, thus writes: 

"There is seldom a failure of apples. The 
trees grow well, and but few die from the effects of 
the grub, when properly cared for. There being 
no market, but little attention has been given to 
the orchard until the past few years. Young or- 
chards are at nearly every farm house now. Peaches 
grow large, but are not a sure crop, say, as an aver- 
age, two crops in three years. Plums are not a sure 
crop. Pears and quinces do well ; all small fruits that 
have been cultivated give entire satisfaction. 

" This is the home of many varieties of grapes. 
The Ouachita, or Mountain grape, about the size 
of the Concord, grows wild on the mountain. The 
few vineyards that have started have given entire 
satisfaction, not a failure in eight years; large 
fruit and a fine flavor, no blight, mildew or insects, 



but few leaf rollers. The varieties that give the 
best satisfaction that have been tried^^ are the 
Concord, Ives Seedling, Hartford Prolific, Dela- 
ware, Norton's Virginia, Summerville and Amber. 
The east-face hill land is the best for all fruit 
crops. Nearly any of the ridges are rich enough 
without any fertilizers^ Strawberries grow wild 
wherever protected n'om stock. The few that 
have cultivated the strawberry have received ample 
reward for their labor in large and finely flavored 
berries and an abundant yield. ' ' 

Since the above was written a largeh' increased 
interest in the growing of fruits has been mani- 
fested. Thousands of young apple trees have been 
recently planted, and many have planted extensive 
vineyards. James Owens, of Dallas, is probably the 
largest apple-grower in the county. Among the 
varieties of this excellent fruit that succeed Isest in 
this part of the country are Kentucky Red, Lim- 
ber Twig, Red Pippin, Shannon, Winter Pear- 
main, Northern Spy and Arkansas Black. Grape 
culture has already been made a specialty, and an 
association for the better culture of the vine has 
been organized. Thad. M. Carder, M. J. Hop- 
kins, W. Nail and J. F. England, of Dallas and 
vicinity; T. J. Tate, W. C. Smith and O. T. Alli- 
son, in the neighborhood of Cove; S. C. Bates 
and M. V. Lee, at Egger post- office: James S. 
Standridge, on Big Fork, and about thirty others 
constitute the members of the association, and are 
the leading vine-growers. All of these have fi'om 
150 to 7,000 vines each. Judge Carder has 7,000 
vines under cultivation, about half of which are 
old enough to bear. There are 12U,500 grapevines 
growing in vineyards in the county, none of which 
contain less than half an acre, and nearly all of 
them were only three years old in the fall of 
1890. This industry is confined mostly to the 
localities of Dallas and Cove. A considerable 
quantity of native wine has already been manu- 
factured, and much will be made in the near fu- 
ture. 

Judge Carder also writes the following quota- 
tion: "Range or wild grass. Stock run at large, 
plenty of grass in the spring or summer. Beg- 
gar lice and peavines in the fall. Cattle and 



^ 



I 



« ^ 



.u 



438 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



horses do well on the range from April to October, 
and sometimes later, owing to the fall. Some cat- 
tle go through the winter without feed. There is 
a large amount of wild land in the mountains, and 
in fact all over the country, that will likely not be 
enclosed for many years. Hogs run at will and 
thrive on the mast and vegetables and roots, and 
but few hogs are fed, only those that are intended 
for bacon, and many kill their meat from the 
woods. The acorn crop seldom fails." 

The number of domestic animals assessed for 
taxation in Polk County in 1889 was as follows: 
Horses, 2,284; cattle, 11,931; mules and asses, 
909; sheep, 3,505; hogs, 17,801. This is a very 
good showing in the raising of live stock in a rural 
county so far from railroad markets. The exten- 
sive range, mild climate, many streams and other 
favorable conditions make the county a very favor- 
able place for raising live stock to advantage. 

There is a United States signal service station 
at Dallas, with Judge Thad. M. Carder, as super- 
intendent. The tower on the mountain a short dis- 
tance south of the Judge's residence, is 1,892 feet 
above the sea, and 480 feet above the common level 
surrounding it. The average temperature at Dal- 
las, for the year 1889, was fifty nine degrees, and 
the rainfall was forty-one and a half inches. This 
shows that the climate is mild, and that the rain- 
fall, even though in a montainous country, is amply 
sufficient. 

The Texarkana & Northern Railroad, with Fort 
Smith as its objective point on the north, must pass 
through Polk County when completed. On the 
southern end of this line the cars are running from 
Texarkana to Red River, and work is being done 
to finish the road several miles farther north, to 
reach the pine timber, and the probability is that 
ere long it will be built to its northern terminus. 
The line of another proposed railway known as the 
Memphis, Little Rock & Indian Territory, passes 
east and west through the county. Not until these 
railways, or others in their stead, are constructed, 
will the resources of Polk County become fully de- 
veloped. 

The taxable property of Polk County was 
assessed in 1889, for taxation, as follows: Real 



estate, $273,088, personal property, 1452,195, mak- 
ing a total of 1725,283. To approximate the real 
value of the taxable wealth of the county, this 
amount should be trebled, as the property was 
assessed at only about one-third of its true value. 
The total amount of taxes charged in the county 
in 1889, as shown by the tax books, was $27,308. - 
80. The number of acres taxed was 98,653, and 
the number of polls 1,797. 

Before the settlement of the county began 
"the Indian hunter pursued the panting deer and 
the wild fox dug his hole unscared. " Here then 
the wild beasts of the forest roamed over the 
mountains and valleys undisturbed by white men. 
When the first pioneers came, about 1830, the buf- 
faloes which had previously been so numerous, 
seemed to scent the approach of civilization, and 
took their final leave, and fled to the westward. 
The bears, also numerous, stood their grounds as 
best they could, and although many have fallen 
before the hunter's rifle, and have been used to 
partially supply the lai'ders of the early settlers and 
later citizens, a few still remain in their mountain 
fastnesses, and bear steak is yet occasionally served 
on the tables. Wolves were once very numerous 
and very pestiferous to the settlers, being de- 
structive of pigs and sheep, but they are now 
scarce. The panthers also are nearly all gone. 
The deer and wild turkeys formerly very numerous 
and so useful for food for the pioneers, still remain 
in quantities sufficient to amuse and repay the 
hunter. Ducks, quails and other wild fowl still 
abound. Many of the smaller animals also abound 
and tine fish are found in the beautiful mountain 
streams. These remarks concerning wild ani- 
mals and wild fowls apply also to the counties of 
Scott and Montgomery. 

The settlement of the territory now composing 
Polk County began about the year 1830, or perhaps 
a little earlier. Thomas Griffith, from Illinois, 
settled near the present village of Dallas, and 
about the same time Jacob Miller settled two miles 
east of Dallas, where Ben Thompson now resides, 
and George Wiles settled in the same neighbor- 
hood. In December, 1833, James Pirtle from 
Tennessee settled on the farm where his son, B. 



'^^ 



-^iv 



POLK COUNTY. 



439 



F. Pirtle, now resides one-half mile north of Dal- 
las. The same year Isaac Pirtle and Ben Pirtle 
also from Tennessee, made their settlements — the 
former one mile north of Dallas, and the latter 
on Mountain Fork, near the camp-meeting ground. 
Also in the same year Walter Scott and Allen 
Trousdale, from Tennessee, settled on Board Camp 
Creek, east of Dallas. The same year Isaac Jones 
settled the site of Dallas, and a year or two later 
he sold his improvement to John B. Stewart, who 
settled thereon. 

About the year 1835 Mr. Cantrell settled in the 
Miller neighborhood, east of Dallas. Kennison 
Sulth, from Missouri, located on Six Mile Creek, 
near the present town of Cove, and Joseph Sulth 
settled on Mountain Fork, about twelve miles west 
of Dallas. About the same time William Cox. 
from Missouri, settled on the Ouachita, six miles 
northeast of Dallas, Thomas Edom settled four 
miles west of Dallas, and William Josling, from 
Missouri, settled two and one-half miles north of 
Dallas. Jacob Ritchie was a very early settler on 
the Ouachita, twelve miles east of Dallas. George 
M. Winter, from Missouri, settled seven miles 
west of Dallas in about 1833. Other pioneers of 
the thirties were Richard Powell, who came from 
Tennessee, and settled near the camp ground, in 
the western part of the county; Fred Lunsford, 
who settled a few miles east of Dallas, and Elisha 
Baker, who settled near Baker's Springs in the 
southern part of the county. In 1840 Isaac A. 
Morris came from New England and settled at 
Dallas, and near the same time Joshua Cox settled 
three miles southeast of Dallas. 

In the fall of 1854 Rev. H. C. Ridling came 
from Mississippi and settled on the Ouachita near 
where he now resides, about twelve miles east of 
Dallas. He informs the writer that at that time 
there was only one cotton-gin in the county, and 
that one was located three miles northeast of Dal- 
las, and was owned by one Kuykendall. This gin 
had no press, as the cotton was not then baled, 
and none was then raised except for home use. 
There was not a steam-mill in the county until 
about the year 1867, when the Ashford steam saw 
and grist-mill was put up on Dry Creek. There 



were then only three water-power mills in the 
county, two of them being on Big Fork and one on 
Two Mile Creek. The iirst mill erected in the 
county was one on Two Mile Creek, which had gone 
down prior to 1854. Before any of these mills 
were erected the pioneers ground their grain on 
steel hand mills which they brought with them. In 
those early days the settlers depended largely upon 
hunting for a living. Little Rock and Camden 
were the only trading points where store goods and 
groceries could be obtained. Peltry, venison, bear 
meat and the like were hauled to these points and 
exchanged for the ' ' necessaries of life, ' ' whisky 
being then considered one of the latter. 

The habitations of the pioneers were always 
made by logs, sometimes hewn on two sides and 
sometimes not hewn at all. When hewn, the logs 
were put up with the flat surfaces on the inside 
and outside of the building. The cracks were 
tilled with chinking, and this was daubed over with 
mud. The form of the cabin was always an ob- 
long square, with a huge fireplace in one end. 
The tire-place was set back in a crib composed of 
logs with the face even with the inner wall. This 
crib heavily lined with stone and mortar, stood upon 
a hearth made of flat stones. On top of the stone 
and mortar lining was made a stick-and-mud chim- 
ney, the latter always being entirely on the outside 
of the building, and extending a little above the 
comb of the roof. The cabin was only one story 
in height, and was covered with clapboards rest- 
ing on poles running the long way of the btiilding, 
and weighted down with other poles. One or two 
small openings were cut out for windows, in which 
greased paper, when it could be had, was often 
substituted for glass. The floor was made of 
puncheons, prepared wholly with an ax, and laid 
down on ' ' sleepers. " The door was made of light 
puncheons, or heavy clapboards, fastened together 
with pins and hung on wooden hinges. This is a 
fair description of the completed ''pioneer's 
cabin." All the tools required in building it 
were the axe, broadax, frow and auger. Many 
such a cabin was Imilt without the use of a nail. 

Cabins with later improvements are still in use 
in the county, and some of the best habitations 



I 



44=0 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



now consist of double cabins with a wide hall or 
entry between them and other extensions. Good 
frame houses are also in use, but the writer in his 
travels did not see any brick dwelling-houses in 
the county, though there may be a few. 

Polk County was organized in accordance with 
the provisions of an act of the General Assembly, 
approved December 30,1844. The temporary seat of 
justice was established at the house of James Pirtle, 
where there was a post ofiSce called Panther. This 
place was one-half mile north of the site afterward 
chosen for the county seat, which was named Dal- 
las in honor of Vice-President Dallas, the county 
having been named in honor of President James 
K. Polk. The permanent county seat has always 
been at Dallas. The court-house and records were 
burned during the Civil War. Another court- 
house was erected in 1869, and two or three years 
later it was also consumed by fire, together with 
the public records. The loss of the early records 
precludes the possibility of giving particulars con- 
cerning the organization of the county, the choos- 
ing of the permanent seat of justice, and other 
important historical facts. The present court-house 
was built in 1884 by Hudgins Brothers at a cost of 
14,500. It ia a neat and substantial two-story 
brick building, 40x40 feet in size, with a hall, 
stairway and offices on the first floor, and the 
court-room on the second. The county jail was 
constructed in 1888, under the supervision of Com- 
missioner J. G. Bell. It is a very strong brick 
house containing two iron cells, from which "jail 
birds ' ' can not escape. It cost about $3,000. It 
stands away firom the public square, southwest of 
the court-house and about 100 yards distant there- 
from. The county has no ' ' poor farm ' ' or asylum 
for the poor, and but little, if any, provision is 
made for paupers, they being almost " an un- 
known quantity." 

The following list contains the names of the 
county and other oflficers in succession, with date 
of terms of service annexed to each from the 
organization of the county to the year 1890: 

Judges— J. T. Hayden, 1844-46; * * * 
Samuel Nichols, 1848-52; Samuel Wilkins, 1852- 
54; John Bolin, 1854-56; William Nichols, 1856- 



58; D. Foran, 1858-60; D. B. Harrison, 1860-62; 
J. B. Barker, 1862-64; D. H. Howell, 1864-66; 
G. V. Bates, 1866-68; M. Morris, 1868-72; * * 
Thomas Mills, 1874-78; T. J. Robinson, 1878-80; 
Thad. M. Carder, 1880-84; G. B. Bates, 1884-86; 
J. D. Garland, 1886-88; T. R. Rowe, 1888-90. 

Clerks— J. Scott, 1844-46; J. M. Scott, 1846- 
48; I. A. Morris, 1848-50; E. E. Story, 1850-52; 
J. Brumley, 1852-54; D. B. Harrison, 1854-56; 
I G. S. Turrentine, 1856-58; D. B. Harrison, 1858- 
60; S. M. White, 1860-62; J. W. Miller, 1862-64; 
A. P. Alexander, 1864-72; W. J. Davis, 1872-76; 
H. G. Rind, 1874-79; J. M. Hilton, 1879-80; W. 
J. Davis, 1880-90. 

Sheriffs— B. Pope, 1844-46; B. F. Pope, 
1846-48; J. Pollock, 1848-50; J. S. Winton, 
1850-52; John Lewis, 1852-54; J. S. Winton, 
1854-56; A. D. Flinn, 1856-60; J. W. Earp, 
1860-64; D. M. Baird, 1864-68; A. D. Flinn, 
1868-72; G. R. Miller, 1872-74; J. R. Lane, 
1874-80; J. L. Pipkins, 1880-84; J. M. Hopkins, 
1884-90. 

Treasurer— J. Pirtle, 1844-48; E. Bull, 1848- 
50; H. W. Jones, 1850-56; J. Cagle, 1856-66; 
S. White, 1866-68; J. M. Morris, 1868-72; A. 
W. Cole, 1872-74; J. M. Hilton, 1874-76; S. B. 
White, 1876-80; L. Joplin, 1880-84; Minor Pip- 
kins, 1884-86; R. J. Robbins, 1886-88; Minor 
Pipkins, 1888-90. 

Coroners— H. Dixon, 1844-46; * * * B. 
M. Cravens, 1848-50; J. C. Thompson, 1850-52; 
J. R. Richards, 1852-54; L. Borton, 1854-56; J. 
McDonald, 1856-60; B. L. Tanner, 1860-62; J. 
Thompson, 1862-64; E. Young, 1864-66; J. J. 
Joslin, 1866-68; * * * B. C. Pylam, 1872- 
74; H. H. Hoover, 1874-76; S. Crawford, 1876- 
78; * * * J. W. Bates, 1880-84; F. M. 
Beavers, 1884-88; T. M. Edwards, 1888-90. 

Surveyors — D. Hamilton, 1844-46; H Overby, 
1846-48; W. G. McCanish, 1848-50; J. A. Mor- 
ris, 1850-54 * * * J. w. Eads, 1856-60; J. A. 
Morris, 1860-62; J. W. Eads, 1862-68; J. A. 
Morris, 1868-72; S. Posey, 1872-78; W. J. Bar- 
ton, 1878-84; J. W. Eads, 1884-86; S. M. Imoe, 
1886-90. 

Assessors — A. P. Alexander, 1862-64; M. C. 



-^^ 



r 






POLK COUNTY. 



441 



Duggan, 1804-60; G. H. Warren, 1866-08; J. F. 
Lane, 1868-71; R. C. Embry, 1871-72; D. T. 
Lawrence, 1872-78; M. Williams, 1878-80; W. M. 
Williams, 1880-90. 

Delegates in State Conventions — Archibald 
Ray in convention held March 4 to 21, and May 
to June 3, 1861; James Huey and Thomas 
Young in constitutional convention held January 4 
to January 23, 1864; Stephen C. Bates in constitu- 
tional convention held July 14, to October 31,1874. 

State Senators — A. J. Armstrong, for Sevier, 
Polk and La Fayette Counties, 1848-50; S. Mc 
Neely, same counties, 1850-52; B. F. Hawkins, 
same counties, 1852-56; * * * A.A.Penning- 
ton, Clark, Polk and Pike Counties, 1858-62; L W. 
Smith, same counties, 1862-04; L. D. Cantrell, 
same counties, 1864-00; A. A. Pennington, same 
counties, 1860-08; D. P. Beldin, Scott, Polk, 
Montgomery and Hot Springs Counties, 1868-76; 
M. J. Mulkey, Little River, Sevier, Howard and 
Polk Counties, 1876-80; Pole McPhetrige, same 
counties, 1880-84; J. H. Williams, 1884-88. 

Representatives in Legislature — Edward L. 
Pryor, 1846-48; Edward H. Featherstone, 1848- 
50; A. G. Atkins, 1850-52; J. T. Hayden, 1852-54; 
William Jernigin, 1854-56; Samuel Gray, 1856- 
00; Peter B. Allen, 1860-62; J. B. Williamson, 
1862-64; * * * J. D. Baker, 1800-08; J. V. 
Harrison and J. H. Demby for Scott,Polk,Montgom- 
ery and Hot Springs Counties, 1808-70; J. F. Lane, 
J. J. Sumpter and James M. Bethel, same coun- 
ties and Grant, 1870-72; L. D. Gilbraith, J. J. 
Sumpter and George G. Latta, same counties, 
1872-74; H. H. Barton and J. J. Sumpter, same 
counties except Grant, 1874. Polk County only 
hereafter: Calvin Cochran, 1874-76; Joseph G. Mc- 
Leod, 1876-78; E. H. Jordan, 1878-80; A. P. 
Alexander, 1880-82; J. E. Johnson, 1882-84; J. 
G. Hudgins, 1884-80; B. F. Thompson, 1888-90. 

The following election returns will show the 
political aspect of the county, and the successors 
elect of the present officers. 

At the September election in 1888, James P. 
Eagle, Democratic candidate for governor, re- 
ceived in Polk County 803 votes, and his oppo- 
nent, C. M. Norwood, 486 votes. At the presi- 



dential election in the same year the candidates 
for the presidency received votes as follows: Cleve- 
land (Dem.) 785. Harrison (Rep.) 126, Streeter 
(U. L.) 73, Fisk (Pro.) 3. 

Below is the vote by townships for the county 
candidates at the September election in 1890: 

Center — For representative, J. A. Norris 66, 
T. M. Carder 124; judge, T. R. Rowe 115, J. D. 
Garland 75; clerk, W. J. Davis 165, W. L. Wil- 
son 27; sheriff, J. M. Hopkins 103, Frank Pear 
son 86; treasurer, B. F. Pirtle 175, W. F. Eidling 
10; assessor, J. W. Cunningham 134, J. R. McMa- 
hen 00; surveyor, S. M. Imoe 192; coroner, J. 
R. Buchanan 185. 

Potter— Norris 39, Carder 62; Rowe 42, Gar- 
land 55; Davis 38, AVilson 39; Hopkins 39, Pear- 
son 65; Pirtle 90, Ridling 3; Cunningham 52, 
McMahen 49; Imoe 96; Buchanan 93. 

Eagle — Norris 25, Carder 1 7 ; Rowe 26, Garland 
17; Davis 25, Wilson 17; Hopkins 25, Pearson 17; 
Pirtle 29, Ridling 1 1 ; Cunningham 24, McMahen 
17; Imoe 42; Buchanan 43. 

Rich Mountain — Norris 5, Carder 10; Rowe 4, 
Hughes 11; Davis 5, Wilson 9; Hopkins 4, Pear- 
son 11; Pirtle 7, Ridling 0; Cunningham 6, Mc- 
Mahen 9; Imoe 14; Buchanan 5. 

Freedom — Norris 31, Carder 63; Rowe 25, 
Garland 07; Davis 44, Wilson 51; Hopkins 42, 
Pearson 57; Pirtle 87, Ridling 1; Cunningham 05, 
McMahen 24; Imoe 91; Bucbanan 75. 

Cove — Norris 75, Carder 07; Rowe 84, Garland 
56; Davis 89, Wilson 52; Hopkins 62, Pearson 82; 
Pirtle 127, Ridling 8; Cunningham 87, McMahen 
56; Imoe 127; Buchanan 123. 

White— Norris 49, Carder 119; Rowe 9, Gar- 
land 66; Hopkins 4, Pearson 126; Davis 83, Wil- 
son 78; Pirtle 105, Ridling 43; Cunningham 90, 
McMahen 59; Imoe 112; Buchanan 118. 

Ozark— Norris 23, Carder 100; Rowe 52, Gar 
land 65; Davis 31, Wilson 93; Hopkins 12, Pear- 
son 119; Pirtle 67, Ridling 43; Cunningham 55, 
McMahen 60; Imoe 102; Buchanan 109. 

Faulkner— Norris 24, Carder 7; Rowe 17, Gar- 
land 15; Davis 21, Wilson 8; Hopkins 18, Pear- 
son 12; Pirtle 20, Ridling 6; Cunningham 8, Mc- 
Mahen 14; Imoe 31; Buchanan 20. 



-i>f 



« k^ 



^4 » 



!>> 



442 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Gap Springs — Norris 17, Carder 13; Rowe 19, 
Garland 11; Davis 31, Wilson — ; Hopkins 17, 
Pearson 11; Pirtle 23, Ridling 0; Cunningham 14, 
McMaben 15; Imoe 30; Buchanan 27. 

Cedar — Norris 21, Carder 41; Rowe 26, Gar- 
land 35; Davis 29, Wilson 31; Hopkins 21, Pear- 
son 40; Pirtle 23, Ridling 30; Cunningham 25, 
McMahen 32; Imoe 31; Buchanan 29. 

Fulton — Norris 4fi, Carder 24; Rowe 44, Gar- 
land 32; Davis 62, Wilson 15; Hopkins 52, Pear- 
son 23; Pirtle 69, Ridling 4; Cunningham 41, 
McMahen 30; Imoe 72; Buchanan 68. 

Big Fork — Norris 44, Carder 54; Rowe 43, 
Garland 49; Davis 51, Wilson 46; Hopkins 41, 
Pearson 56; Pirtle 98, Ridling 0; Cunningham 47, 
McMahen 48; Imoe 83; Buchanan 67. 

Mountain — Norris 85, Carder 75; Rowe 80, 
Garland 75; Davis 81, Wilson 70; Hopkins 82, 
Pearson 76; Pirtle 98, Ridling 27; Cunningham 
85, McMahen 74; Imoe 92, Buchanan 109. 

Ouachita — Norris 43, Carder 43 ; Rowe 44, Gar- 
land 40; Davis 57, Wilson 14; Hopkins 43, Pear- 
son 42; Pirtle 39, Ridling 27; Cunningham 36, 
McMahen 49; Imoe 84; Buchanan 80. 

Gourd Neck — Norris 30, Carder 8; Rowe 33, 
Garland 0; Davis 37, Wilson 2; Hopkins 35, 
Pearson 4; Pirtle 36, Ridling 0; Cunningham 32, 
McMahen 7 ; Imoe 37 ; Buchanan 32. 

A recapitulation of the foregoing shows the 
following officers elected by majorities ranging 
from 81 for judge to 874 for treasurer: Thad. M. 
Carder, representative; T. R. Rowe, judge; W. J. 
Davis, clerk; Frank Pearson, sherifp; B. F. Pirtle, 
treasurer; and J. W. Cunningham, assessor. S. M. 
Imoe for surveyor, and J. R. Buchanan for coroner, 
having no opposition, received 1,236 and 1,183 
votes, respectively. The Democratic State ticket, 
with Gov. Eagle at its head, received a majority 
of about 300 voles in the county. 

The aggregate population of Polk County at 
the close of each census decade since its organ- 
ization, has been as follows: 1850, 1,263; 1860, 
4,262: 1870, 3,376; 1880, 5,857. The colored 
population of the county in 1860 was 172; in 1870 
it was 45, and in 1880 it was 61. The population 
of the county as ascertained by the census enu- 



merators of 1890, just taken, has not been pub- 
lished at this writing, and consequentlj' can not be 
given here. When published, the figures will be 
interesting to compare with the foregoing. 

Of the circuit court in the early days. Judge 
Carder speaks as follows: ''The semi-annual cir- 
cuit court was looked upon as the Greeks did the 
Olympic games, a pleasure to meet together and 
hear a few yarns from the bar, pass around the 
big brown jug, and return home." There was not 
much litigation, and as no man was sent to the 
jienitentiary until 1879, it is to be inferred that 
criminals did not always receive justice. Only one 
legal execution of a criminal has taken place in 
the county, and that was the hanging of MofFett, 
in 1885, for the murder of a man in the western 
part of the county. Polk County belongs to the 
Eighth Judicial District, consisting of the counties 
of Montgomery, Polk, Howard, Sevier, Little 
River, Pike and Clark. The resident attorneys 
constituting the legal bar of the county are Pole, 
McPhetrige, W. M. Matheny, F. M. Reeves, Col. 
Rice, and an attorney residing at Cove. 

When the Civil War of 1861-65 broke out many 
of the people of Polk County were found to be in 
favor of establishing and maintaining the "Southern 
Confederacy," and contributed liberally of her cit- 
izens to assist in composing the Southern Army. 
During that memorable struggle the county was, 
fortunately, outside of the field of war, and conse- 
quently it escaped the ravages that so many other 
counties were compelled to suffer and endure. Be- 
ing of primitive habits, used to economy, and ac 
customed to the manufacture of their own clothing, 
the citizens were better enabled to endure the pri- 
vations occasioned by the war, than were those of 
the older sections, nearer to and within the fields 
of war. The county was partially overrun by 
scouting parties and guerrilla bands, and some 
depredations were committed, otherwise she es- 
caped comparatively well. 

Dallas, the county seat, is beautifully located 
near the center of the county, and is eighty miles 
west, by wagon road, from Hot Springs, and ninety 
miles south, bearing a little east, from Fort Smith. 
The town was laid out soon after its site was se- 






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POLK COUNTY. 



443 



lected, for the seat of justice, but owing to its be- 
ing so far interior, so far from lines of transporta- 
tion, its dimensions have never grown to exceed 
that of a small village with a population not ex- 
ceeding 400. Close on the south lies the Silver 
Mountain range, the conical peaks of which fur- 
nish delightful scenery from the village. North- 
ward lies the fertile valley of the Ouachita, several 
miles in width, with its snug little farms, the 
happy homes of intelligent and quiet denisons. 
Beyond this valley lies the Fourche la Fave Mount- 
ain range and Rich Mountain, plainly visible, add- 
ing much to the surrounding scenery. Dallas con- 
tains the county buildings elsewhere described, a 
weekly newspaper, one dry-goods, one general and 
two drug stores, two grocery stores, two boot and 
shoe shops, three blacksmith shops, one furniture 
or cabinet shop, one hotel, several private boarding 
houses, a grist and saw-mill and cotton gin and 
planingmill combined, two church edifices — Meth- 
odist and Union, one school-house, a barber shop, 
a bed-spring shop, etc. ; also two physicians and a 
distributing post-oflS.ee. 

The town has a triweekly mail from Hot 
Springs, a semi-weekly mail from Cherry Hill and 
Nashville (the latter being in Howard County), and 
a daily mail from Cove and Waldron (the latter 
being in Scott County). The mail is distributed at 
the Dallas post-office to twenty-two other offices 
in the county, to one office in the western part of 
Montgomery County, and one in the Indian Terri- 
tory. 

The Dallas Courier, a seven-column folio news- 
paper, is published every Thursday at Dallas by 
its proprietors, W. Minor Pipkin and J. L. A. 
Grizzard. The rate of subscription is $1 per year. 
The paper is neatly printed and well edited, and 
it advocates Democratic principles. It is the only 
newspaper published in the county. At this writ- 
ing, September, 1890, it is in its seventh volume. 

The Dallas High School is situated at Bethesda 
Springs, one mile west of Dallas. It is a Method- 
ist district school in the Little Rock conference, 
and under the supervision of that body. The build- 
ing in which it is taught was erected in 1S83, for 
a hotel, but in 1889 it was turned into a school 



building for the Dallas High School. It is a very 
large frame structure, containing thirty-five rooms, 
and is well adapted for a boarding school. It 
stands on an eminence inclining southward, and 
mineral springs of several kinds are close to its 
doors. The first year of this school began Sep- 
tember 12, 1889, and lasted ten months. It opened 
with twenty-one pupils, but before the year closed 
the number had increased to 117. The second and 
present school year opened on Monday, September 
8, 1890, with forty-one pupils in attendance on the 
first day. The house has a capacity for 400 pupils, 
and it is hoped that a large and prosperous school 
will be built up. The faculty at present consists 
of Richard Baugh, A. M., L. L. B. , princijjal; B. 
M. Burrow, primary department, and Miss Sue A. 
Mills, teacher of music. The school is surrounded 
by moral and hospitable people, health-giving 
water and picturesque scenery. 

Bethesda Springs, a village one mile west of 
Dallas, might be considered a continuation of the 
latter. The town was commenced in 1881 on a 
tributary of the Ouachita where there are forty or 
more springs of the best mineral water of several 
kind.s, which for their health-giving qualities, the 
high altitude and beautiful surrounding scenery, 
might make the place one of the most famous 
watering places and health resorts in the country 
if there were only an easy way of transportation to 
it. When commenced the town had a prospect of 
a railroad, and at once it ' ' boomed. ' ' Several 
business houses were opened, all of which, on ac- 
count of the disappointment in not getting the 
railroad, have since been closed. A few dwelling- 
houses and families still remain. It is a beautiful 
place so far as nature has done her part. 

Cove is an enterprising and good business vil- 
lage sixteen miles southwest of Dallas. It con- 
tains five general stores, one drug store, a saw and 
grist-mill and cotton-gin, three blacksmith shops, 
a wagon shop, post-office, school-house, a union 
church-house where the Methodists, Baptists and 
Cumberland Presbyterians worship. 

Cherry Hill is a post-office in the eastern part 
of the county. 

Eagle Hill is a post-office six miles west of Dallas. 



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444 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Hatton is a post village twenty-five miles south- 
west of Dallas and fifty miles northwest of Nash- 
ville, the nearest railroad station and banking 
point. It was settled in 1883. 

Potter, five miles west of Dallas, contains two 
stores, a saw and grist-mill and cotton-gin, a Meth- 
odist Church, school-house and blacksmith shop. 

Ransom, four miles northeast of Dallas, con- 
tains a post-office, a saw and grist-mill and cotton- 
gin. 

Away up in the Fourche la Fave Mountains on 
the Tanner Hill trail is Quito, the mail town for 
the citizens near the gap or entrance to the county 
from the north. Baker, Egger, Big Bend, Big 
Fork, Rhodes and Mountain Fork are other post 
hamlets in the county. 

Prior to the inauguration of the free-school 
system, which took place at the close of the recon- 
struction jaeriod, but little interest was taken in 
educational matters, and in truth not much interest 
in this most important matter has been taken until 
within the last two years. Away back in the " fif- 
ties" a few subscription schools were taught in 
the most thickly settled portions of the county for 
three months in the year. They were poorly at- 
tended and at best were very inferior. Some sta- 
tistics taken from the last official report of the 
State superintendent of public instruction, it be- 
ing for the year ending June 30, 1888, will serve 
to show how the school system is being supported 
or was supported at that time. Scholastic popula- 
tion, white males 1,822, females 1,718; total, 
3,540; colored males 8, females 7, total 15; num- 
ber of pupils taught in the public schools, white 
males 946, females 808, total 1,754; colored, none. 
If these figures are to be taken as showing facts 
they prove that less than one half of the white and 
none of the colored scholastic population were 
taught in the public schools. But as only a few 
directors reported statistics fully, the official re- 
port does not contain all the facts, and probably a 
greater proportion of the scholastic population at- 
tended the public schools. The letter of the county 
examiner accompanying the foregoing statistics 
contains further statistics, and such good sugges 
tions that it is deemed well to here insert it in full : 



Dallas, Polk County, Ark., October 2, 1888. 
Hon. W. E. Thompson, 

My Dear Sir — My report for the year ending June 
30, 1888, shows that very few directors reported statistics 
as fully as the law requires, hence it is not possible to 
answer your letter of the 7th ult. with any degree of ac- 
curacy. My report will show: 

Amount paid teachers $2,744 66 

Average monthly wages to first grade male teach- 
ers $33 41 

Second grade male teachers $31 69 

Third grade male teachers $24 38 

Lady teachers, first grade $29 44 

Whole number of teachers reported 42 

Whole number of school-houses reported 19 

Value of .school-houses $980 00 

Number of school districts 61 

Many profitable changes in the school law might be 
suggested, but it appears to be very necessary to have 
something like a county superintendent in place of the 
present county examiner. At any rate the pay of the of- 
fice should not depend on the fees for examinations. 
Plainly the law intends that teachers licensed shall first 
convince the examiner that they are " competent to teach 
successfully" the branches required. And to become thus 
convinced, will, in many cases, require a patient examina- 
tion. There should be no temptation before the examiner 
to hasten and slight his work, nor to issue a certificate to 
an incompetent teacher. But it is to be feared that very 
many incompetent teachers have been licensed. An ex- 
aminer said to me that he gave up the ofHce because he 
became "tired of swearing lies. " 

Let the ofBce of examiner be abolished, or so modified 
that the examiner will be a man of unquestionable integ 
rity and scholarly attainments, who shall be paid a lib- 
eral salary, and hold his office at least six years. 
Very respectfully, 

E. L. Compere, 

County Examiner. 

Since the above was written 2 school districts 
have been added, making 63 in all, and about 55 
schools were taught in the year ending June 30, 
1890. For this year the scholastic population was 
white males 1,965, females 1,829, total 3,794; 
colored males 8, females 7, total 15; and "a larger 
percentage attended the public schools. The pres- 
ent county examiner is Rev. A. P. Alexander. For 
the last two years the colored scholastic population 
has had no increase, while the increase of the white 
scholastic population has been 254. 

The religious denominations having organiza- 
tions in Pope County are the Methodist Episcopal 
South, Missionary and Primitive Baptist, United 



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POLK COUNTY. 



445 



Baptist, Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist Prot- 
estant and Christian. The Methodist organiza- 
tions belong to the Washington District of the 
Little Rock Conference, comprising the counties of 
Polk, Howard, Sevier, Hempstead and Little River. 
There are three circuits of this church in Polk 
County, viz. : Dallas with nine. Potter with ten and 
Cove with eight appointments or preaching places. 
At this writing Rev. D. D. Warrick has charge of 
the Dallas Circuit, Rev. H. C. Ridings of the Cove 
Circuit and Rev. A. P. Alexander of the Potter 
Circuit. The organizations of this church within 
the county will average about thirty-five members 
each. The Missionary Baptists have about the 
same number of organizations in the county as the 
Methodists, and about the same numerical strength. 
The other denominations mentioned above have 
several organizations each within the county, and 
all have Sunday-schools or unite with others in 
union Sunday-schools. There are probably more 
of the latter than of strictly denominational Sun- 
day-schools. The churches are generally prosper- 
ous and united in doing good service in the " vine- 
yard of the Lord. 

The people of the county, having always lived 
80 far in the "backwoods," so far from city mar- 
kets, and the busy hum of civilization, are yet 
primitive in their habits, self-reliant, and to a great 
extent card their cotton and wool with hand cards, 
spin their own yarn, weave their own cloth, and 
manufactiu'e their own clothing as in the "days 
o'lang syne." Nothing is too good for their friends, 
the latch string hangs upon the outside, and a 
stranger is never turned away. They practice the 
economy of earlier times, and consequently have 
fewer wants, and live a retired, honest and com- 
paratively easy life. 



George H. Barnes, merchant. Cove, Ark. This 
substantial and very successful business man was 
born in Calhoun County, Miss., March 15, 1852, 
and is the son of Robert J. and Laura Ann (Lind- 
sey) Barnes, natives of Mississippi, in which State 
their nuptials were celebrated. They remained in 



their native State until 1851), and then moved to 
Ouachita County, and later removed to Nevada 
County, Ark., residing near Prescott until 1878. 
They then came to Polk County, and located in the 
neighborhood of Cove. The father has followed 
various occupations. When a young man he 
started out as a farmer, later he was engaged in 
merchandising, and during late years he has been 
engaged exclusively in agricultural pursuits. At 
this occupation he has been unusually successful. 
During the Civil War he was in the Twelfth Ar- 
kansas Infantry, and participated in several im- 
portant battles, serving in all four years. He was 
captured at Fort Hudson, and was slightly wounded. 
Mrs. Barnes died in August, 1878. Mr. Barnes is 
now sixty-two years of age, and is a member of 
the Methodist Church. In politics he adheres 
strictly to the Democratic party. George H. Barnes 
was the second child in order of birth of eight 
children. His father was married, the second time, 
to a Miss Frances Gaines, and five children are the 
fruits of this union. George H. spent his school- 
boy days in Nevada County, Ark. , and continued 
on the farm until 1873. He then entered his future 
store as a salesman, and merchandising has been 
his occupation since. He commenced business at 
Cove in 1879, and since that time he has been in 
business by himself. He has gained for himself a 
reputation as a solid and reliable tradesman, and 
one whose energy and enterprise must of necessity 
materially develop this enterprise. He was mar- 
ried in 1882, to Miss S. C. Wilson, of Polk County, 
and four children are the fruits of this union: El- 
bert L., Laiira L., Aragora and Josephine. Mr. 
Barnes is a steward in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, and is a Democrat in politics. 

B. H. Barton, a member of the firm of Gip- 
son & Barton, and one of the leading business men 
of Polk County, was born in Polk County, Ark. , 
on June 13, 1852, and is the son of Hardaman and 
Martha C. (McDamie )Barton, natives of Kentucky. 
The parents were married in that State, and moved 
from there to Polk County, Ark., in March, 1847, 
locating in a wilderness. They are now residents 
of Cove Township, and their home is two and one- 
half miles northwest of Cove. The father has al- 






A' 



446 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ways followed agricultural pursuits, and was a 
soldier in the late war during the latter part of the 
conflict. He was county supervisor in 1874, and 
then represented the county in the Legislature in 
the Brooks and Baxter War. He was, and is, a 
prominent citizen. He is a stanch Democrat in 
politics, and both he and wife are members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which he has 
been elder. He is a Mason, a member of Mount 
Meadow Lodge No. 218. He is now sixty-seven 
and she sixty-live years of age. Of the eight chil- 
dren born to their union B. H. Barton is second in 
order of birth. He spent his school days in this 
county and finished at Dallas. After this he 
taught school for a short time, and then com- 
menced to farm in White Township, where he now 
has 163 acres of well improved land. In January, 
1880, he and D. Barton formed a partnership and 
commenced to sell goods at Cove, and they were 
among the first to sell goods at that place. About 
one year later he abandoned merchandising and em- 
barked in farming and stock-raising. Two years ago 
he and Mr. Gipson and R. W. Johnson engaged 
in business again, and Mr. Johnson recently with- 
drew from the firm. The present firm, Gipson & 
Barton, are doing an extensive business and sell 
goods over a vast extent of territory — Sevier Coun- 
ty, Polk County and Choctaw Nation. In 1878 
Mr. Barton was elected justice of the peace, and 
has held that position since without solicitation on 
his part. Mr. Barton was married in November, 
1871, to Miss Mary F. Jones, of this county. They 
had eight children, but only six are now living: 
Hardaman A., William B., Dewitt, Wyatt C, B. 
H., Jr., and Ovie. Mrs. Barton is a member of 
the Methodist Church, and Mr. Barton is a Ma- 
son, a member of Mount Meadow Lodge No. 218, is 
junior warden and secretary of the lodge. He 
has represented his lodge at the Grand Lodge three 
times. In politics he is a Democrat. He held 
the position of postmaster at this place for a short 
time, and when the office was in the store. 

Dr. John Wesley Bates is a man of influence 
throughout Polk County, Ark., and as a farmer, 
no less than as a physician, he has obtained a rep- 
utation placing him in the front rank of the men of 



this section. He was bora in Pendleton District, 
S. C, in 1828, to W. M. F. and Mary (Whisnand) 
Bates, they being born, reared and married in 
South Carolina, moving, when the subject of this 
sketch was about four years of age, to Cherokee 
County, Ga. . and in 1852 to Polk County, Ark., 
where they spent the rest of their days, the father 
passing from life about 1882 and the mother two 
years later, both members of the Primitive Baptist 
Church, in which the former was a minister for 
perhaps forty years. He was a well-posted, self- 
made man, and helped to organize some of the 
pioneer churches of Polk County, doing a noble 
work in that cause. His father, Stephen Bates, 
was born on the Potomac River in Virginia, but 
lived a great many years in South Carolina, mov- 
ing, during the latter part of his life, to Georgia, 
where he died about 1848, a farmer and distiller 
by occupation. He was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary War for a short time, and was of English 
descent. Dr. John Wesley Bates was the second 
of nine children, and in his youth was reared on a 
farm receiving but little schooling. In 1852 he 
was married to Mary, daughter of James and Mary 
Baker, who died in Mississippi. Mrs. Bates was 
born in Georgia, and of the nine children she has 
borne her husband, one son and five daughters are 
living. Soon after his marriage Dr. Bates came to 
Polk County, and has since been a resident of his 
present farm of 420 acres, of which about 150 
acres are cleared, near the head of Big Fork, all of 
which property has been obtained by his own 
efforts. When a young man he studied medicine 
with an uncle. Dr. John R. Bates, of Georgia, for 
some time, and for forty years has practiced more or 
less, with success. During the seventies he served 
four years as coroner of Polk County. 

John Calvin Bates is a farmer, stock-raiser 
general merchant and postmaster at Big Bend, 
Ark. In the space allotted in this volume it would 
be impossible to give a detailed account of the 
career of this gentleman, but it is only just to say 
that in his walk through life his course has been 
marked by honesty, industry, and a manly, inde- 
pendent spirit. He was born in Cherokee County, 
Ga. , in 1845, to Judge George V. and Hortensia 



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M. (Walker) Bates, both of whom were born in 
South Carolina, the former in Pickens District, in 
1820, and the latter in Spartanburg District, in 
1822, respectively. They removed with their par- 
ents to Georgia, when young, and were there af- 
terward married in 1842, making their home in 
that State until 1852, when they came to Polk 
County, Ark., settling on a woodland farm on Big 
Fork, where they have since lived, both members 
of the Primitive Baptist Church. In 1865 Mr. 
Bates was elected county and probate judge, serv- 
ing a short time, and was again elected to the 
same position in 1884, serving two years. He was 
justice of the peace a good many years, and was 
postmaster at Big Fork for some years. His fa- 
ther, Stephen Bates, was a Virginian, but was mar- 
ried in South Carolina, and from there moved to 
Cherokee County, Ga., in 1834, where he followed 
the occupation of farming, was justice of the peace, 
and died in July, 1851. His father, William Bates, 
was probably a Virginian, who died in South Caro- 
lina. The maternal grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, Allan Walker, was born in North 
Carolina, and died in Cherokee County, Ga., about 
1848, a farmer. John Calvin Bates is one of eight 
surviving memljers of a family of ten children born 
to his parents, the other members being: Abraham 
R., Thomas J., Stephen, George W., Nancy E. 
(wife of Jacob Masters), Sarah J. (wife of VV. H. 
Smith, and Margaret (wife of W. L. Huddleston 
of Bell County, Tex.). John Calvin Bates was 
reared on a farm with very poor educational ad- 
vantages, and since 1852 has been a resident of 
Arkansas. He served for about fifteen months 
during the latter part of the war as third sergeant 
of Company B, Tenth Arkansas Cavalry, the 
greater part of the time being on detached service 
in Arkansas. He was married in 1864, to Miss 
Maliuda E. , daughter of Elijah B. and Lucretia 
Goss, who were South Carolinians, removing first 
to Georgia and in 1852 to Polk County, Ark., 
where Mr. Goss died in 1882, the death of his wife 
occurring six or seven years befoi'e, both members 
of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mrs. Bates was 
born in Lumpkin County, Ga., and of the eleven 
children she has borne her husband, nine are liv- 



ing: Mr. Bates lived on Big Fork until 1871, then 
i came to his present farm of ninety-two acres. Be- 
sides this he owns 120 acres, all of which he has 
I earned by his own efforts. He raises considerable 
j stock, and for several years has run a general store, 
j doing a business of about $4,000 annually. He is 
I one of the leading farmers of his' township and 
, holds progressive views on all topics of general in- 
terest, and is a member of the Primitive Baptist 
Church. 

Joseph G. Bell, one of Polk County's promi- 
nent citizens, was born in Burlington, Boone 
County, Ky. , on July 30, 1830, and is the son of 
Samuel and Lydia (Glenn) Bell, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and Ohio respectively. The parents were 
married in Cincinnati, Ohio, resided there for some 
time and then moved to Burlington, Ky. The 
father was born in 1808, and died in Evansville, 
Ind. , in 1852. The mother was born in 1810, and 
is now residing in Evansville, Ind., with some of 
her children. The father was a carriage and wagon 
maker by trade and worked at this business in 
Burlington, Ky. He moved to Ohio County, Ind., 
remained there a short time and then moved to 
Cape Girardeau County, Mo. A short time after- 
ward he started back to Ohio County, Ind. , and 
died on the way, at Evansville. He was a Whig 
in politics and was an elder in the New School 
Presbyterian Church. The Bell family is of 
Scotch-Irish descent. The mother has been a 
member of the Presbyterian Church since 1836. 
Nine children were born to their union of whom 
our subject is the second child. He spent his 
school-boy days in Cary's Academj' and Rising 
Sun, Ind., and received a thorough education. 
When sixteen years of age he left home, worked on 
a farm two years, and when eighteen years of age 
commenced to work on a steamboat on the Ohio 
and Mississippi Rivers. This he followed for five 
years and then went to California, where he was en- 
gaged in mining for two years. His trip west was a 
success, and in 1854 he returned to Evansville, Ind. 
He clerked for the Sherwood House for nearly a 
year, and then traveled as salesman in Southern 
Indiana and Illinois. He then went to Cincinnati, 
and was in a manufacturing house and made mule 






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448 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



collars for the Government. He was also engaged 
in the nursery business. Later he went back to 
Evansville and made collars there, later yet he was 
with Charles Babcock & Co. , in the hardware and 
carriage trade, in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ten- 
nessee, Alabama, Mississippi and other southern 
States. He then came to Western Arkansas, first 
locating near Cincinnati, Washington County, Ark., 
where he remained over one year. He then came 
to Polk County, located on 1 60 acres of land, and 
here he has since resided. He commenced to bid 
heavily on mail contracts in 1878, and since then 
he has had mail routes in eleven States, seventeen 
routes in Arkansas. Mr. Bel! is building commis- 
sioner of Polk County, and through his good judg- 
ment this county has recently built one of the 
cheapest and best jails in the State. Mr. Bell has 
always taken a deep interest in politics, voting and 
working for the success of the Democratic party 
and was chairman of Polk County, Third Con- 
gressional District in 1886-87. He was married 
in February, 1873, to Miss Louisa Smith, daughter 
of Thomas Smith of this county. To this union 
five sons and two daughters have been born: R. E. 
Lee, Sarah Addie, John G., Ruff. L., Marquis 
Lafayette, Thomas C. and Lydia M. Mr. Bell 
joined the Methodist Protestant Church in 1887, 
and is now steward of the same. He is located 
four miles southwest of Cove, in White Township. 
He learned his trade of saddler and harness-maker 
in Cincinnati and Rising Sun. 

Hon. Thad M. Carder. Among the much es- 
teemed and respected citizens of Dallas, Ark., 
stands the name of Mr. Carder, who, by calling, is 
a general mechanic and machinist, being now also 
engaged in horticulture and viticulture. He was 
born in Culpepper County, Va., in 1832. The pa- 
ternal grandfather, Ivison Carder, and his brother, 
George, who came to this country, were born in 
France, but under the noble Marquis de Lafayette 
came to America, and fought for the independence 
of the colonists, afterward settling in Virginia. He 
died at the age of one hundred and six years. Hon. 
Thad M. Carder was the only child born to his par- 
ents, and was reared to a farm life until thirteen 
years of age, receiving but little schooling. At 



this age he left home and served an apprentice- 
ship at watch and clock making, and spent some 
years as a journeyman. He was married in 1856 
in East Tennessee, to Miss Matilda, daughter of 
Jacob and Nancy Kinser, who were natives of Ger- 
many. She was born in Greene County, Tenn., 
and has borne her husband ten children, four sons 
and four daughters living. After the war Mr. 
Carder removed to Magnolia, Ark., and ten years 
later to Hope, and in 1876 to Dallas, where he has 
since lived, engaged in putting up machinery, also 
following the calling of a horticulturist on 135 acres 
of fine land which he owns. From 1881 to 1885 
he held the office of county and probate judge, and 
was also notary public for some years. In 1890 
he was elected to represent Polk County in the 
State Legislature against great odds, and is now 
discharging bis duties. He is an active worker for 
schools, and for the general advancement of his 
section, and is liberal in his contributions to what 
he considers worthy enterprises. He is a member 
of Dallas Lodge No. 128, of the A. F. & A. M., 
and in this organization is a member of Hot 
Springs Chapter and White Council No. 8, at Mag- 
nolia. He also belongs to Anchor Lodge of the I. 
O. O. F. , at Hope. He is one of the most progres- 
sive men in his views in this section, and besides be- 
ing one prominent in establishing the first printing 
office in Polk County, he, in 1888, erected a tele- 
phone line from Potter to Waldron, a distance of 
forty-six miles, which he has since controlled, and 
which was the first line in the county. He is now 
signal officer of the Polk County volunteer signal 
station. His worthy wife is a member of the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church, but Mr. Carder is 
not .a member of any church, but believes in the ex- 
istence of a Supreme Architect, and thinks duty to 
please God is to treat his fellow man right. 

Dr. R. T. Connally, a prominent physician and 
minister of Freedom Township, Polk County, Ark., 
who ministers to the spiritual as well as the physical 
wants of his fellow-men, was originally from Cass 
County, Ga., his birth occurring November 30, 
1844. His parents, Thomas and Clementine (Ven- 
able) Connally, were natives of Georgia, the father 
born in Gwinnett County in 1813, and the mother 



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z 



'k 



POLK COUNTY. 



449 



in Jackson County in 1807. They were married in 
their native State and moved from there to Arkan- 
sas in the winter of 1846, locating in Polk County 
in what is now Freedom Township, where they 
cleared a farm. The old homestead is now in the 
hands of our subject. Here the mother died in 
September, 1886. She was a member of the 
Methodist Protestant Church. The father was or- 
dained a minister in this State several j'ears ago, 
and has had charge of the church in the neighbor- 
hood ever since. He had held the office of justice 
of the peace in Georgia and served in the Florida 
War. He is a Mason, Mountain Fork Lodge No. 
409, and in politics is a stanch Democrat. He is 
strong and hearty, and bids fair to live many years 
longer. The family is of Irish-Dutch extraction. 
The grandfather of om- subject, Thomas Connally, 
was a native of the Old Dominion, and was a farmer 
and cooper by occupation. He died in Georgia 
many years ago. Dr. R. T. Connally received his 
education in the schools of this county and by self 
study. In June, 1863, he joined Col. Dawson's 
regiment of infantry, in which he remained until 
cessation of hostilities. He served in Arkansas, 
Texas and Louisiana, and was in the Lone Star 
State at the time of the surrender. He was in the 
battles of Pleasant Hill and Mansfield, La., and in 
numerous skirmishes around Camden. His resri- 
ment was disbanded at Marshall, Tex., in May, 
1865. After the war Dr. Connally began farming 
on land where he now lives, and this occupation he 
has since continued. He is now the owner of 300 
acres of some of Polk County's best land, and has 
100 acres under cultivation. During the war he 
joined the society at the Camp Church near Little j 
Eock, and afterward joined the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church South, was licensed an exhorter in 1867 
and a preacher in 1870. Six years later he com- 
menced the study of medicine, and in 1880 com- 
menced the practice of his profession, his preceptor 
being Dr. S. T. McDaniel of this county. His 
practice is extensive and covers a wide scope of 
territory, in fact, more than one man can attend to. 
He was married November 9, 1865, to Miss Sarah 
Castleberry, and to them have been born five living 
children: John W. (with his father), David W. 



(reading medicine), Cullan B., Sarah F. and Clem- 
entine E. One child, Thomas W. T., died when 
three years of age. Dr. Connally is a member of 
the Masonic fi-aternity, Mountain Fork Lodge No. 
409. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. 

William J. Davis is the clerk of the circuit 
court of Polk County, Ark., but by birth is a 
Georgian, born in Dade County, in 1838, to Will- 
iam and Margaret (Cox) Davis, who were born in 
North Carolina, in 1787 and 1804, respectively, 
their marriage being consummated in Alabama, 
from which State they afterward moved to Georgia, 
where Mr. Davis died io 1852. His widow sur- 
vived him until 1873, when she, too, passed away, 
her death occurring in Dallas, Ark., she as well as 
her husband, being a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church; The maternal grandfather, Rich- 
ard Cox, was a North Carolinian, who moved to 
Georgia, and died at his grandson's home, a 
brother of the subject of this sketch, in 1848, hav- 
ing been a farmer throughout life, a Revolutionary 
soldier, and a member of the A. F. & A. M. He 
was of Scotch descent, was well to do, and reared a 
large family of children. William Davis, the fa- 
ther of William J., was married twice, and had 
ten childi-en by his first wife and four by his last, 
his son, William J. , being the next to the youngest 
by his last wife. He was reared on a farm with 
the advantages of a good schooling, but upon the 
death of his father he left school and began to 
farm for himself. In 1857 he came to Polk 
County, Ark., where he was married in 1861, to 
Miss Belle, daughter of John B. and Sarah Vaught, 
both of whom were born in Northern Alabama, 
and in 1847 came to Arkansas, the death of the 
father occurring in Montgomery County, in 1881, 
and that of the mother in 1885. Mrs. Davis was 
born in Alabama, and died in 1868 leaving three 
children, two of whom are living. His second 
marriage took place in 1874, and was to Miss Alice, 
daughter of Thomas and Mary Pate, the former 
born in Alabama and the latter in Connecticut, 
their marriage being celebrated in Texas, from 
which State they came to what is now Howard 
County, Ark. , where Mrs. Pate still lives, her hus- 
band having passed from life at Pine Bluff, while 



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450 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



serving in the Confederate Army during the Re- 
bellion. Mrs. Davis was born in Texas and has 
borne Mr. Davis five children, all of whom are 
living. In July, 1861, Mr. Davis joined Company 
K, Twenty-fourth Arkansas Infantry, in Arkansas, 
and was in all the engagements in which that array 
participated, being in the Georgia campaign and 
in the battles of Franklin, Nashville and down to 
Mobile, Ala. He was wounded several times, but not 
severely until the last tight at Bentouville, N. C, 
when he lost his left arm and right hand. He was 
captured four times, but made his escape each 
time with the exception of the time he was 
captured at Arkansas Post, on December 31, 1862, 
when he was imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio and 
at Fort Delaware. At the end of about six months 
he was exchanged at City Point, Va. Although 
he was commissioned first lieutenant, he com- 
manded his company the most of the time, and 
was a brave, faithful and intrepid soldier. After 
the war he taught school in Dallas a short time, 
then gave some years to merchandising in that 
place. In 1871 he served as deputy clerk and the 
following year was elected to that position, serving 
faithfully until 1874. He was re-elected in 1880, 
and has held that office with credit to himself and 
to the general satisfaction of all concerned up to 
the present time. He owns 'j!40 acres of good land, 
and is otherwise well fixed financially. His wife 
is a member of the Methodist Church. 

M. A. Dilbeck. Among the many sturdy and 
energetic agriculturists of Polk County, Ark., 
who ha\e attained their property by hard labor 
and economy, may be mentioned Mr. Dilbeck, who 
was born in Lumpkin County, Ga., in 1840, a son 
of John and Salina (Goss) Dilbeck, the former born 
in North Carolina and the latter in Georgia, their 
marriage taking place in the latter State, where 
they lived until about 1851, when they came to 
Polk County, Ark. , and settled on Big Fork. Here 
Ml'. Dilbeck made his home until his death in Au- 
gust, 1890. his widow surviving him, both having 
been members of the Missionary Baptist Church 
for a great many years. Mr. Dilbeck was a wag- 
on-master in the Confederate Army, and at the 
battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo., was captured. His 



father, David Dilbeck, died in Georgia, a farmer. 
The mother's father, Benjamin Goss, came to Polk 
County, Ark., before the Rebellion, and passed 
from life on his farm on Big Fork. The subject 
of this sketch is the eldest of seven children, l)ut 
received l>ut very little schooling. In 1850 he was 
married to Eliza, daughter of Fleming and Mary A. 
Bates, North Carolinians, who first moved to South 
Carolina, then to Georgia, and in 1853 to Polk 
County, Ark., where the mother's death occurred 
in 1884, and the father's in 1882, the latter being 
a minister of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mrs. 
Dilbeck was born in Georgia, and has borne her 
husband ten children, five sons and two daughters 
now living. In 1862 Mr. Dilbeck joined Company 
C, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, and fought at Mur- 
freesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the 
Atlanta campaign, Franklin, Nashville and Mo- 
bile, after which he rejoined Johnston, with whom 
he remained until the final surrender. On his way 
home the train was wrecked in East Tennessee, 
and both of his arms were broken. He lived in 
Big Fork Township until 1876, but since that time 
his home has been in Mountain Township. He is 
the owner of three good farms on each of which is 
an excellent steam cotton-gin, saw and grist mill, 
the steam mill on his home place being the first 
erected in this vicinity. He is the wealthiest man 
in the township, and his property is all the result 
of his own unaided efforts. Socially he is a mem- 
ber of Cherry Hill Lodge No. 107 of the A. F. 
& A. M., and also belongs to the Farmers' Alli- 
ance. His wife belongs to the United Baptist 
Church. 

Nathan A. Gann, a prominent citizen of Eagle 
Township, Polk County, Ark. , was born in Pauld- 
ing County, Ga. , on August 27, 1844, and is one 
of five living children born to Hiram and Elizabeth 
(Goggins) Gann, natives also of Georgia, the father 
born in 1824, and the mother in 1820. The father 
is still living, is a resident of Eagle Township, 
Polk County, Ark., but the mother died in this 
county in 1879. They resided in Georgia, until 
1857, and then moved to Marion County, Ala., in 
1807. From there they moved to Hardin County, 
Tenn., thence in 1869 to Cook County, Tex., and 



^"i 



w 



POLK COUNTY. 



451 



thence to Polk County, Ark., in the latter part of 
the same year. The father has always followed 
farming and for fifteen years was engaged in mer- 
chandising at which he was very successful. He 
is a Mason, a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church, being clerk in the same, and is a Democrat 
in politics. Of his children, William A. is a farm- 
er in Archer County, Tex., Melissa is the wife of 
J. B. Green of this county, John D. is a farmer 
of this county and Hiram F. , is also in this county. 
Nathan A. Gann received a good practical education 
in his youth, and in 1862 joined the Fourth Mis- 
sissippi Cavalry. Eighteen months later he joined 
Pierce's battalion and was lieutenant until cessa- 
tion of hostilites. He was in the battle of Thomp- 
son' s Station in Middle Tennessee, and was very 
seriously wounded bj' a bullet which entered just un- 
der the left collar bone and passed clear through. 
His recovery was considered a miracle. He served 
in Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. After 
the war he commenced working for himself as a 
farmer and after residing in Alabama, Tennessee 
and Texas he came to Arkansas and located in Polk 
County, on Two Mile Creek, where he bought a 
claim. Later he sold this and settled at Eagle 
Hill, where he is splendidly located and where he 
has 600 acres with good houses and outbuildings 
on the same. He owns another tract of 200 acres 
south of his present residence. He has been in 
the mercantile business most of the time for the 
last twelve years and was postmaster at Eagle Hill 
for five years. On March 17, 1864, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary E. Hughes of Alabama, a na- 
tive of Marion County of that State, born in 1842. 
By this union they have five children: John K. 
(farming with our subject), James H. (also at 
home), Celia Melissa, Nathan F., Jr., and Mary 
who is usually called Mollie. Two children are 
deceased: William H. and Laura L. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gann, are members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church, and in his political views the former is 
strictly Democratic. 

Ben F. Gipson, senior member of the firm of 
Gipson & Barton, general merchants of Cove, was 
born in Scott County, Ai-k. , on August 16, 1854, 
and is a son of William C. and Sarah P. (Ivy) Gip- 



son, natives of Tennessee and Alabama, respect- 
ively. The parents were married in Scott County, 
Ark., in 1852. The father went to that county 
when a young man, and his death occurred in Polk 
County in 1889 when sixty six years of age. The 
mother is still living on the home place. They 
moved to Texas in 1867, and from there to this 
county in 1871. The father was a soldier in the 
Mexican War, going from Tennessee, and during 
the late war he was captain of an Arkansas com- 
pany during the last two years of that struggle. 
He was a life-long farmer and mill man, operating 
a mill in this and Scott Counties. In his political 
views he affiliated with the Democratic party. Of 
his eight children that grew to maturity Ben F. 
was the eldest. The latter spent his school days 
in the Lone Star State and in Arkansas. He re- 
mained and assisted his father on the farm until 
twenty-four years of age, and then started out as 
an agriculturist for himself. In 1887 he com- 
menced business as a , and two years later 

engaged in merchandising with Johnson and Bar- 
ton. Later Johnson retired, and the firm has 
since been Gipson & Barton. They are live busi- 
ness men, and are very successful. Mr. Gipson 
started a poor boy, but by honesty, industry and 
good business ability, he has become one of the 
prominent business men of Cove. He has been 
deputy sheriff under Sheriff Pitkins, filling that 
position six years, and also the same position under 
Hopkins for four years. He was married in 1878 
to Miss N. E. Jones, daughter of Isaac Jones, of 
this county. To this union seven children were 
born — six daughters and one son — all living: Lona 
C, Minnie L., Bertha C, Bessie' L., Maggie B., 
William Isaac and Dora D. Mr. Gipson is a Ma- 
son, and a member of Mountain Meadow Lodge 
No. 218. In j)olitics he is a stanch Democrat. 

John B. Graves needs no special introduction 
to the readers of this volume, for he is well known 
throughout this section. That the following brief 
sketch of his honorable and eventful life is afforded 
a place here, will be a matter of much interest to 
the many who have come to know him so inti- 
mately, and felt the influence of his life and gen- 
erosity. Born ten miles west of Lebanon, Tenn., 



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^ 



452 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



February 17, 1849, he is a son of George B. and 
Nancy (Brown) Graves, who were natives of Ten- 
nessee, and is a grandson of John G. Graves, the 
latter moving from North Carolina to Tennessee at 
an early day, where he was not only one of the 
earliest settlers, but also one of the first and most 
successful merchants. George B. Graves inherited 
English blood from the paternal side of his family. 
While farming was his vocation in life, he figured 
to some extent as a Whig politician, and besides 
holding various local positions of honor and trust, 
was sheriflF of Wilson County for a number of years. 
Socially, he belonged to the fraternity of Odd Fel- 
lows, who conducted the funeral rites at his death. 
His demise left a widow and two children to sur- 
vive, the former yet living. There were live chil- 
dren in all, their names being: Louisa (a talented 
lady, member of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
and the deceased wife of W. H. Harrington, of 
Wilson Count}', Tenn. ), Elizabeth (died when quite 
young), Mary G. (who died in Tennessee, the wife 
of T. Legon), Byron (a farmer, of Wilson County), 
John B. (is the third in this family). He spent his 
school days in his native county, receiving his edu- 
cation in Silver Springs Academy. After attain- 
ing man's estate he turned his attention to farming 
and stock-raising, and that calling has since con- 
tinued. He moved to Bowie County, Tex., in 1874, 
but two years later came to Polk County, Ark., 
and here has since made his home on his present 
farm, which_^is situated two miles south of Potter, 
and contains 11)0 acres of land, a considerable por- 
tion of which is under cultivation. He has served 
two years as constable, and has also been a school 
director of his district. He was married in 1874, 
to Miss Martha Jetton, of Wilson County, Tenn., 
by whom he has four children : Beady, George D., 
Arthusa and Alice T. Mr. and Mrs. Graves are 
members of the Christian Church, Mr. Graves be- 
ing also an elder. He is a member of the Farm- 
ers' Alliance, is lecturer of his lodge, and is a 
Democrat. He has traveled far, and in early life 
was acquainted with Andrew Johnson. Graves 
End, London, was named in honor of his family. 

Hon. Jesse M. Green is a resident of Bethesda 
Spring, Polk County, Ark. , but was born in Chero- 



kee County, Ga. , April 7, 1836, being a son of 
William W. and Hannah (Dover) Green, the former 
born in North Carolina, being a great grand son of 
Gen. Green of Revolutionary fame, and the latter in 
South Carolina, their marriage taking place in Geor- 
gia, from which State they moved to Texas in 1867, 
locating in Comanche County. Here they resided 
until 1869, when they came to Polk County, Ark., 
Mr. Green devoting his attention to tilling the soil. 
Both became members of the Primitive Baptist 
Church in early life, Mr. Green being ordained a 
minister in early life, and preached the gospel until 
his death in November, 1887, at the age of seventy- 
four years. He was instrumental in bringing many 
souls to the feet of Christ, and in the affairs of 
every day life he was also successful. In his polit- 
ical views he was a Democrat. His widow, who 
survives him, is a member of the Primitive Baptist 
Church. He has thirteen children living.of whom 
the subject of this sketch is the second. He spent 
his school days in Murray County, Ga. , but at the 
age of eighteen left his home in that State and 
went to Western Texas, of which region he was one 
of the pioneer settlers. He was in Comanche Co. 
during the entire trouble with that tribe of Indians 
and took part in a number of fierce battles with 
the Comanches. He lost several valuable horses by 
thieving Indians, also numerous cattle, as he was 
engaged in the stock business there from 1855 to 
1868. He was the first judge of Comanche 
County, and was also captain of a company of 
rangers which was organized by the State for the 
protection of the settlers against the depredations 
of the Indians. In July, 1862, he joined Col. 
Gurley's Thirtieth Texas Cavalry, became lieuten- 
ent of Company G, and was in the service a short 
time before the close of the war, his operstions be- 
ing confined to the west side of the Mississippi 
River, being at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, 
in the Indian Territoi'y and Arkansas, taking part 
in the battles of Camden, Poison Springs and 
others. In 1868 he came to Polk County, Ark., 
and located on Mountain Fork in what is now Cove 
Township, where he has a considerable portion of 
his 180-aere farm under cultivation. He makes a 
specialty of raising stock, especially cattle, and is 



D V 



_( 9 




noted for being a thrifty agriculturist. In 1888 
he was elected to represent this county in the lower 
house of the State Legislature, and was on several 
important committees, among which may be men- 
tioned mining, manufacturing and retrenchments. 
He introduced bills taxing incomes for school pur 
poses, and may with truth be said to have made 
a wide-awake, intelligent and incorruptible legis- 
lator. He was married in 1852 to Miss Cynthia 
Dean, but she lived only a short time. While in 
Texas he was married to Miss Frances Isham, who 
died in this county in 1878, leaving eight children 
— five sons and three daughters. In 1880 Sallie R. 
Ward became his wife, and by her he has four sons. 
He has been a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church since 1864, and in 1872 was ordained a 
minister of that denomination, and has since had 
charge of Two Mile Church with the exception 
of one year, when he traveled as a missionary in 
Scott, Montgomery, Logan and Sevier Counties, 
and the Indian Territory, organizing churches. 
He is a member, and has been master of Mountain 
Meadow Lodge No. 218, of the A. F. & A. M., 
and has always been a stanch Democrat. 

Capt. James W. Higgason. In reviewing the 
various business interests of Polk County, Ark., 
the name of Higgason is found to be among the 
most prominent, for since 1877 he has been one 
of the leading merchants of this section. He was 
born in Mississippi, in 1833, to Dr. George and 
Mary (Davis) Higgason, the former born in Vir- 
ginia, and the latter in Alabama, their marriage 
taking place in the last named State, after which 
they removed to Mississippi, in which State the fa- 
ther passed from life in 1844. the death of his 
widow occurring in Polk County, Ark., in 1873, 
she being a worthy member of the Missionary Bap- 
tist Church. Dr. Higgason was a successful phy- 
sician of many years' standing, and in whatever lo- 
cality he resided he soon became well known and 
prominent. He was at one time member of the 
Mississippi Legislature, and as early as eighteen 
years of age was with Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. 
Capt. James W. Higgason was the eldest of their 
seven children, but his early educational advantages 
were limited. In 1861 he became a member of 



Company A, of a Mississippi regiment, with which 
he served in the capacity of quartermaster until 
May, 1863, when he was captured at Chickasaw 
Bayou, and was kept a prisoner on Johnson's Is- 
land until the close of the war. For some years 
thereafter he followed the occupation of clerking, 
but in 1869 went to Sebastian County, Ark., where 
he conducted a mercantile establishment until 1871, 
moving then to Dallas, and there continuing the 
business for six years. He then came to Cherry 
Hill, and by honest business methods and a desire 
to accommodate his patrons he has hnilt up a good 
and paying trade. He fully deserves all the suc- 
cess that can befall him for he possesses all the at- 
tributes of an upright and substantial citizen. His 
sister, Margaret L., lives with, and keeps house 
for him. 

William P. Hilton. This successful planter 
and stockman of Polk County, Ark., of which he 
has been a resident since 1852, is well and favora- 
bly known to the many citizens of Fulton Town- 
ship. He was born twelve miles east of Hot 
Springs, Ark. , in 1847, being the fourth of eight 
children born to Wade Hampton and Anna (Terry) 
Hilton, they being born in East Tennessee, in 
1806, and Illinois, in 1813, respectively, their mar- 
riage taking place in Arkansas about 1840. After 
coming to Polk County, Ark., in 1852 they settled 
near Silver Center, where Mrs. Hilton still lives, a 
member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. 
Hilton left his home about nineteen years ago, 
and as he has not been heard of for seven years, it 
is supposed he is dead. He was well to do in 
worldly goods, and was thrifty and industrious. He 
was a small boy when his father died, the latter 
being a Kentuekian. Mrs. Hilton's father, John 
Terry, removed from Illinois to Missouri, and in a 
very early day came to Pirlaski Coiinty, Ai'k. , but 
both he and his wife ended their days in Hot 
Springs County. William P. Hilton has been a 
resident of this county since he was six years of 
age, and since reaching mature years has identi- 
fied himself with every interest of this section. He 
obtained a common-school education, and served 
about one year in Monroe's regiment of Arkansas 
Cavalry, and after being on duty in Arkansas, 



»nv 



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454 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Louisiana aad Texas, he surrendered at Dallas. 
Tex. , at the close of the war. He was married in 
1868, to Rachel Ann, daughter of John Hargrove. 
She was born in Mississippi and died in this 
county, May 12, 1886, an earnest member of the 
Baptist Church. His second marriage took place 
in 1886, to Miss Kate Rebecca, daughter of Thomas 
and Martha Ann Fite, formerly of Tennessee, but 
afterward becoming residents of Dallas County, 
Ark., where they now live, having been residents 
of Polk County for five years. Mrs. Hilton was 
born in Dallas County, and has borne her husband 
two children. Since 1808 Mr. Hilton has lived on 
his present farm which contains 200 acres of land, 
all of which he has earned himself, 100 acres be- 
ing under cultivation. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the United Missionary Baptist Church. 

John A. Huddleston is an excellent example of 
the success attending hard work and faithful and 
persistent endeavor, and he is now one of the 
wealthy planters of Polk County, Ark., of which 
he has long been a resident, although his birth- 
place is Madison County, Tenn., where he was born 
in 1844. His parents, M. D. and Margaret (Ham- 
mond) Huddleston, were born, reared and married 
in Tennessee, and about 1846, came to Montgom- 
ery County, Ark., and settled down to tilling the 
soil of a farm at the head of Caddo Creek, and 
on this farm the father was called away by death, 
in 1808, at the age of sixty-two years, his widow 
surviving him, being about sixty-three years old. 
They were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church for many years, and he was one of the 
successful pioneer farmers of the county. He 
was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and was a 
son of David Huddleston, who died in West Ten- 
nessee. John A. Huddleston was the second of 
thirteen children born to his parents, six sons and 
six daughters being now alive, nearly all of whom 
reside in Scott and Polk Counties. Although he 
received but little early schooling, he was given a 
practical knowledge of farming, on this father's 
home place, and by the time he entered the army, 
in 1862, his out-door life had been of great benefit 
to him, and he was eminently fitted to bear the 
privations of a soldier's life. He became a mem- 



ber of Company B, Second Arkansas Infantry, and 
operated in Arkansas and Louisiana, until the close 
of the war. His marriage, which took place in 

1866, was to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas 
W. and Telitha Cobler, who were Tennesseeans, 
the birth of the former occurring in 1816. They 
were married in 1838, in Gibson County, Tenn., 
and in 1846 came to Montgomery County, and 
settled on a woodland farm, and although he is 
living in the same vicinity, it is on another farm. 
He was justice of the peace some years, and just 
after the war was county and probate judge and 
a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1874. 
Mrs. Huddleston was born in Montgomery County, 
and died there in 1876. They had three children, 
two now living. His second marriage took place 
in 1876, and was to Martha, daughter of John and 
Sarah Cotton, who removed from Mississippi to 
Polk County, the mother's death occurring here, 
but the father is still living. Mr. Huddleston's 
second wife was born in Calhoun County, Miss. , and 
died in 1881, leaving two children. He married 
his present wife in 1883, her name being Alice, 
daughter of Silas and Araminta E. Hughes, who 
came from their native State of Tennessee to Mont- 
gomery County, Ark., in 1876, and are now living 
in Polk County. This union has resulted in the 
birth of two children. Since 1806 Mr. Huddles- 
ton has lived in Polk County, fifteen years being 
spent in Mountain Townshija, where he owns 350 
acres of land, of which about 140 are under culti- 
vation, all of which he has earned by his own ef- 
forts. He belongs to Hill Lodge No. 160, of the 
A. F. & A. M. His wife is a Methodist. 

Hon. Joseph G. and Holder Hudgins con- 
stitute the firm of Hudgins & Bro. , at Dallas, 
Ark., which has been in existence since about 

1867, their well selected and extensive stock of 
general merchandise bringing them the sum of 
$75,000 annually. They comprise one of the best 
known firms in Western Arkansas, and in connec- 
tion with this they do an extensive farming and 
milling business, being the owners of about 5,000 
acres of land in Arkansas, and a large amount in 
Kansas. They have an excellent saw, grist-mill 
and cotton-gin at the town of Dallas, also an ex- 



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f 



:r 



^^ 



POLK COUNTY. 



455 



I 



cellent gin and saw-mill and shinglo machine two 
miles from the town. They are large live-stock 
dealers also, and their property is the result of 
their indefatigable efforts to do well in everything 
they undertake. They pay out to their employes 
from S50 to §75 per day, and have in their employ 
a large force of men. They came to Dallas soon 
after the war and almost immediately engaged in 
general merchandising, and for some years also 
had charge of the mail routes centering at Dallas 
from nearly all directions, long distances over the 
mountains and streams. For the first few years 
Joseph G. was also extensively engaged in stock 
trading in the Indian Territory, and the southwest 
frontier, and on foot would drive his stock to Mem- 
phis and other points. He vsras born in Jackson 
County, Ga., in 1837, and his brother in the same 
place in 1849, their early lives being spent on a 
farm where they received but little education. 
They are truly self-made men in every sense of the 
term, and the liberal fortune which they ai'e now 
enjoying is the result of their own earnest endeav- 
ors. In the family of which they were members, 
there were six sons and four daughters, Joseph G. 
being the eldest of the family. He was married in 
1871 to Miss Cynthia E., daughter of Berry and 
Margaret Cecil, her father being one of the ablest 
attorneys in Arkansas and one of Polk County's 
most prominent citizens. He died about 1861, his 
widow surviving him. Mrs. Hodgins was born in 
Carroll County and has borne her husband six chil- 
dren, one of whom is deceased. Mr. Hudgins 
figures prominently in every enterprise that tends 
to elevate and advance the general interests of 
Polk County, and as he has at all times evinced excel- 
lent business qualifications and principles, he is one 
of the wealth}^ residents of this section of the 
State. He is a prominent Mason and an active 
worker for the Democratic party. In 1876 he was 
elected to the State Legislature but did not qualify, 
and in 1884 was again elected to the same position 
and served with credit for one term, being on rail- 
road and other important committees. His parents, 
Holder and T. Caroline (Albright) Hudgins, were 
born in Georgia, where they lived until about 
1870, when they came to Dallas, where they passed 



from life in 1881 and 1874, respectively, members 
of the Methodist Church for a great many years. 
The father was a successful farmer, and served a 
short time in the Confederate Army. His father, 
Beverly Hudgins, was born in Virginia, but at 
an early day removed to Jackson County. Ga., 
where he successfully followed the occupation of 
planting, and died at an advanced age. He was 
of Irish extraction, and at the age of six years was 
left an orphan, therefore never received the advan- 
tages of schooling. The maternal grandfather, 
Jerry Albright, was a Georgian, and throughout 
life was a farmer. He and his wife both died be- 
fore Joseph G. Hudgins was born. The Hudgins 
brothers have built every public building of con- 
sequence that has been erected in this county since 
1870. J. G. Hudgins was largely engaged in the 
cattle business in Texas for a time; then he sold, 
realizing by the investment nearly §50,000. 

Malcomb McAllister, farmer. Eagle Hill, Ark. 
Mr. McAllister was born in Blount County, Tenn. , 
on April 3, 1831, and is a son of James B. and 
Margaret (McRae) McAllister, natives of Tennessee 
and North Cai'olina, respectively. The parents 
were married in the former State, and when Mal- 
comb was eighteen months old they moved to Car- 
roll County, Ga. , where they passed the remainder 
of their days. The father was a farmer all his life 
and in 1836 and 1837 was a soldier, assisting in 
removing the Indians west of the Mississippi. He 
died in 1860, at the age of about sixty years, and 
his widow followed him to the grave in 1870 at 
about the same age. Her death occurred in Car- 
roll County, Ga. Both were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he was an 
exhorter and class leader for many years, also 
superintendent of the Sunday-school. As a farmer 
he was practical, industrious and successful. In 
politics he was a Democrat. Of the ten children 
born to his marriage, Malcomb was the fifth in 
order of birth. He was educated in Georgia, and 
when twenty-one years of age commenced for him- 
self as a tiller of the soil. This he has since con- 
tinued. He then read medicine from 1857 to 1859 
under Dr. J. G. W. Brown, and in 1859 and 1860 
he attended the medical college at Macon, Ga. 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Later he commenced practicing in Benton County, 
Ala., and in 1861 returned to Georgia. He en- 
listed in the Seventh Georgia Cavalry, Confederate 
Army, and remained vpith the same all through the 
war, serving princiiially in Virginia, and being at 
all times in the thickest of the light. He was in 
quite a number of battles, and in numerous skir- 
mishes and raids from Cape Fear to James River. 
He was on the raid when his command captured 
2,700 head of cattle at Petersburg, on the James 
River, from the rear of the Union Army. He was 
one of the forty detailed to go home after horses, 
and while there the army surrendered. After the 
war Mr. McAllister went to Hunt County, Tex., 
and after residing there one year moved to Polk 
County, Ark., locating on the head of Mountain 
Fork. There he remained for nearly two years, 
and then moved to Scott County, Boles, where he 
remained for another year-. He subsequently 
moved back to this county and located on the head 
of Mountain Fork in 1875. He there has 160 
acres of land, and has about 40 acres under culti- 
vation. He abandoned the practice of medicine 
about ten years ago, and now gives his attention 
strictly to agricultural pursuits. In 1884 he was 
elected justice of the peace, and re-elected in 1890. 
When about thirteen j'ears of age he joined the 
Methodist Episaopal Church South, and has been 
a great church worker ever since. He was mar- 
ried on May 5, 1851, to Miss Nancy J. Chance of 
Georgia, and she died at this place on December 
4, 1884. To this union six children have been 
born: Martha H. (wife of James Watson, a farmer 
of this county), J. D. (now in Texas), Mollie (wife 
of William McBride now,Jn Texas), Sarah Alice 
(wife of John Coffman, a farmer of this county), 
AVillie (at home), and Patty (also at home). Mr. 
McAllister was married again on November 8, 1885, 
to Mrs. Sarah C. Tyson of Rush County, Tex. She 
is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South. Mr. McAllister is a Democrat in 
politics. 

William P. Mcintosh is one of the representa- 
tive business men of Potter, Ark. , and spares no 
pains to give every satisfaction to his customers. 
He was born in Chickasaw County, Miss., on Jan- 



uary 3, 1840, and his parents, Elias and Catherine 
(Brooks) Mcintosh, were natives of North Carolina, 
They were married in that State, and moved from 
there to Chickasaw County, where they remained 
for some time, and then, in 1848, moved to Sevier 
County, Ark. , being among the first settlers. The 
father was justice of the peace of that county, 
treasurer for several years, and filled other posi- 
tions of honor and trust. He was a Democrat in 
politics. He was born in 1812 and died in 1851, 
and the mother was born in 1815 and died in 1876. 
She was a member of the Christian Church. The 
Mcintosh family is of Scotch descent, three broth- 
ers having come from Scotland and located in 
North Carolina jarior to the Revolutionary War. 
William M. Mcintosh, theseeondof seven children, 
passed his boyhood and youth in Washington, Tex., 
attended the college at that place, and then com- 
menced to read medicine, but the war breaking out 
put an end to his studies. He joined the First 
Texas Legion, in which he served all through the 
war, being east of the Mississippi River all the 
time. He was in many battles, was never wound- 
ed, but was taken prisoner at Corinth, and con- 
veyed to Bolivar, Tenn. He was paroled at the 
close of the war. Not having the means to pursue 
his medical studies, he commenced farming, and 
this has continued up to the present time. In 
1870 he came to Polk County, located at Eagle 
Hill, and engaged in general merchandising, in 
connection with agricultural pursuits. He is the 
owner of nearly 1,000 acres, and is one of the most 
extensive farmers in the county. He has a beau- 
tiful place, a nice residence, good barns, etc., and 
everything to make life enjoyable. He moved his 
business to Potter a year ago, and has since been 
very successful. He was postmaster at Eagle Hill 
three years. He was married, in 1870, to Miss 
Hettie Terrell, of Sevier County, and three chil- 
dren are the result: John E., Florence O. and 
William P., Jr. Politically he is a Democrat. 

Pole McPhetrige, attorney at law, is one of the 
leading and most influential members of the bar in 
the town of Dallas, and adds strength to the legal 
fi-aternity throughout this section. He was born 
in Tazewell County, Va., in 1840, to Alfred and 



# 



Mary (Latham) McPhetrige, the former probably 
born in Kentucky, and the latter in Washington 
County, Va., their marriage taking place in the 
mother's native county, where the father's death 
occurred in 1865, he having been a hardware mer- 
chant and a soldier in the Federal Army during the 
Rebellion. His father, William McPhetrige, was a 
Scotchman who > nt some years in Kentucky af- 
terward moving to Virginia, where he spent the rest 
of his days engaged in farming. The mother's 
father, Edward Latham, was a Pennsylvanian who 
died in Washington County, Va., in 1864, on a 
fine plantation which he owned there. He was of 
English origin and was of old Presbyterian stock. 
Pole McPhetrige is the eldest of five children, 
three now living, and when very young he began 
the battle of life for himself, but was given good 
educational advantages in Henry and Emery College 
and in Key's High School in Washington County. 
From his native State he fii'st went to Missouri, 
later came to Arkansas, and after some years spent 
in teaching school in different counties, during 
which time he pursued the study of law, he, in 
1875, was admitted to the bar in the Eighth Circuit 
by Judge T. M. Gibson, but did not practice much 
until 1881, but has since built up a large practice 
and now ranks among the foremost criminal law- 
yers of Western Arkansas. In 1888 his numerous 
warm friends and admirers elected him to the Sen- 
ate from the Twenty-second District, and in that 
capacity he served with distinction for four years. 
Since that time has given his attention to his pro- 
fession, with highly satisfactory results. He was 
married in 1875, to Miss Sallie, daughter of W. J. 
and Louisa Cooper, who were formerly I'esidents 
of Tennessee, but came to Northeastern Arkansas, 
and are now residing in Polk County. Mrs. Mc- 
Phetrige was born in Lawrence County, Ark., is a 
member of the Methodist Church, and by Mr. 
McPhetrige is the mother of five children. Mr. 
McPhetrige is a member of the A. F. & A. M. of 
Dallas. At the early age of fifteen years he left 
school to espouse the cause of the Confederacy, 
contrarj' to the desire and views of his father, and 
for some time served in Company F, Forty-eighth 
Virginia Infantry, the original division of Stone- 



wall Jackson. He afterward attached himself to 
the Second Kentucky Cavalry, and served as ad- 
jutant, participating in many engagements, being 
wounded four times, one of which crippled him 
for life. A part of bis service was with Gen. 
Longstreet in East Tennessee and Northern Geor- 
gia, taking part in the battles of Chickamatiga, 
Missionary Ridge, etc. He was captured in North- 
ern Georgia, and after being kept at Nashville for 
some time, was removed to Joliet, 111. , and after- 
ward to Rock Island, where he was taken with 
i smallpox. He was then taken to the pest-house 
j in Baltimore, Md., but at the time of the final sur- 
render he was in Northern Georgia. 
! James E. McRae. In the list of names which 
have made Pope County, Ark., one of the most 
populous and prosperous of the State, Mr. McRae' s 
name holds a prominent place. He was born in 
Marlboro District, S. C. , about 1816, a son of 
Colin and Frances (Harper) McRae, who were born 
in Marlboro and Chesterfield Districts, S. C, 
respectively, from which State they removed to 
Alabama, when their son, James E. , was about one 
year old. The latter was left fatherless when 
about thirteen years old, and his mother afterward 
married Jackson Hobson, with whom she came to 
Ashley County, Ark., where she died about 1876, 
a worthy Christian lady and a member of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church. Mr. McRae was a black- 
smith, and in an early day was captain of a com- 
pany of militia. The paternal grandfather, James 
McRae, was a native of Scotland, but during the 
early history of this country came to America and 
settled in South Carolina, where he farmed through- 
out the remainder of his life. The maternal grand- 
father, John Harper, was born in South Carolina, 
but died in Alabama, he being also a farmer by 
occupation. James E. McRae is one of five chil- 
dren born to his parents, was reared on a farm, 
but, owing to the early death of his father, he re- 
ceived a very limited education. He was married 
in 1840 to Miss Lucinda, daughter of Jesse and 
Fereby McLain, the father being a South Caro- 
linian, and the mother a native of Ohio. They 
died in Polk County, Ark., and Alabama, respect- 
ively. Mrs. McRae was born in Alabama, and has 



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458 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



borne her husband six children, three of whom are 
living: Fereby E. (wife of Dr. M. M. Wimberly), 
James T., and Elizabeth (wife of Warren Wat- 
kins). The eldest child, John Colin, died in prison 
at Camp Chase, Ohio, having held the rank of 
captain of his company. The other children that 
are deceased are Mary C. , who died in 1863, aged 
about eleven years) and an infant. In 1854 Mr. 
McRae removed to Texas, but two years later came 
to Ashley County Ark. , and in 1868 to Polk County, 
where he has since lived. His farm comprises 400 
acres in all, is excellent and fertile land, the result 
of his own toil, as he started out for himself with 
no means. He split rails for his first cow, and his 
wife did weaving for their first feather bed. They 
had to deny themselves many conveniences and 
luxuries, but their early struggles have been re- 
warded, and they are now in independent circum- 
stances. Mr. McRae is a member of Dallas 
Lodge of the A. F. & A. M., and since 1845 has 
been a member of the I. O. O. F. His wife has 
been an earnest member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church for many years, and is a true Christian 
lady. 

Richard A. Mitchell is a farmer and miller of 
Ouachita Township, Polk County, Ark., but first 
saw the light of day in Chester District, S. C, 
January 24, 1827, being the third of seven chil- 
dren born to William and Anna (Thomas) Mitchell, 
the former born in Chester District, S. C, in 1804, 
and the latter in Buncombe County, N. C, in 1794, 
their marriage taking place in the father's birth- 
place. When the subject of this short sketch was 
about two years of age his parents removed to 
Troup County, Ga., eight years later to Harris 
County, then to Heard County, and when Richard 
A. was still a youth, they removed to Talladega 
County, Ala., where Mr. Mitchell died in the sev- 
enties, his widow afterward coming to Polk County, 
and dying soon after, both having been members 
of the Missionary Baptist Church a great many 
years, the former a well-to-do farmer. He served 
in the Seminole War of 1836. Richard A. Mitch- 
ell was reared on a farm, with a limited country 
education, and about 1851 was married to Martha, 
daughter of Washington and Mary Johnson, of 



Talladega County, Ala., but in 1857 removed to 
Calhoun County, Ark., where Mr. Johnson died, 
and his widow is still living. Mrs. Mitchell was 
born in Talladega County, Ala. , and died in Sa- 
line County, Ark., in 1858, having borne four chil- 
dren, three sons living: Knu, John and Pinckney. 
In 1860 Mr. Mitchell's second marriage was cele- 
brated, his wife being Rebecca, a daughter of 
Thomas and Louisa Harris. She was born in Ala- 
bama, and has borne Mr. Mitchell six children, the 
following of whom are living: Richard, Robert, 
Demetris, Charley, Claude and Nora L. Mr. 
Mitchell resided in Talladega County, Ala., until 
1857, when he came to Saline County, Ark., mov- 
ing, one year later, to Calhoun County, later to 
Montgomery County, and in 1869 to Polk County, 
where he settled on a partly improved farm. He 
now has 440 acres of valuable land, 160 acres of 
which are cleared. About 1 880 he built a water, saw 
and grist-mill, on the Ouachita River, which he still 
owns and operates. During the war he was de- 
tailed to see after matters at home. He is one of 
the most enterprising farmers of Polk County, and 
has, at all times, shown an honorable, upright 
spirit. Mrs. Mitchell's mother, who was born in 
South Carolina, went with her parents to Alabama, 
where she married Mr. Harris, removing afterward 
to Mississippi, and then to Kentucky. After a 
five-years residence in this State they went to Mis- 
souri, and about 1850 to Calhoun County, Ark., 
and in 1868 to Polk County, where they took up 
their abode on a farm, on which Mr. Harris died, 
about 1873, and his widow in 1884, members of 
the Baptist and Methodist Churches, respectively. 
James M. Owens is classed among the success- 
ful tillers of the soil and stock raisers of Gourd 
Neck Township, Polk County, Ai-k., but was born 
in Van Buren County in 1844, to William Jackson 
and Fannie (Davis) Owens, the former born in 
Missouri, and the latter in Middle Tennessee. 
When young both went to Van Buren County, Ark., 
where they met, married and lived until about 
1855, after which they spent a short time residing 
in different counties, and about 1862 settled in 
Polk County, Ark. In 1862 they started for Texas, 
but Mr. Owens died before they located, and after 



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POLK COUNTY. 



459 



the war the family returned to Polk County, Ark. , 
where Mrs. Owens and four of her children still 
reside. Mr. Owens was a farmer and teacher, 
and was justice of the peace for some years. He 
was, as is his wife, a member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church, and was a soldier in one of 
the early Indian wars. His father, Horner Owens, 
died in Missouri, of Scotch-Irish origin, and his 
wife's father, Jesse Davis, was one of the earl}' 
settlers of Van Buren County, Ark., where he died, 
a farmer. James M. Owens is the eldest of three 
sons and five daughters, his brothers and sisters, 
that are living being as follows: Mary, Sarah C. (wife 
of William Reed), William Pinckney, Martha (wife 
of James Barlow), and Huldah F. (wife of Frank 
Werber of Hot Springs). Although James M. was 
reared on the farm, he was given rather more mea- 
ger educational advantages than is usually given the 
farmer's boy, but being naturally intelligent and a 
quick observer, her is an exceptionally well-in- 
formed man. He resided on the Texas frontier 
during the war, and for three years served in the 
Home Guards in Burnett County. His marriage, 
which took place in Polk County, Ark. , was to Miss 
Angelana, daughter of Raleigh M. and Louisa L. 
(Dearberry) White, both of whom died in Polk 
County, Ark., when Mrs. Owens was a little child, 
her father having been a farmer throughout life. 
They were among the early settlers in this section, 
and on the farm on which they first settled, the 
subject of this sketch and his family are now re- 
siding. Mrs. Owens was born in Mississippi, and 
has borne her husband eleven children, seven of 
whom are living. They have been occupants of 
their present farm since 1868, it being situated 
seven miles north of Dallas on the Ouachita River, 
and comprising about 400 acres, with 100 acres 
cleared. He is a well-known and prosperous farmer 
of this section, and as a neighbor and citizen, too 
much can not be said in his praise. His land is well 
improved, and excellent buildings are the rule and 
not the exception, his fences and orchard being also 
of the best. Nearly all his land that is under culti- 
vation he has cleared himself, and all his property 
has been obtained by his own industry and with 
the aid of his wife, who has proved a true help- 



mate to him. He belongs to Dallas Lodge of the 
A. F. & A. M., Owens Chapel Lodge of the 
Farmers' Alliance, and has been steward in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church for a number of 
years, his wife being a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church. 

Samuel Rind is a well-known merchant of Polk 
County, Ark. , but was born in Sevier County, of 
this State, on July 26, 1854, being a son of Henry 
Y. and Rebecca (Rowsey) Rind, natives of Virginia, 
who moved from there to the Choctaw Nation in 
1835. While a resident of his native State Henry 
Y. Rind began preparing himself for the ministry, 
graduating from a college of that State, and was 
afterward sent by the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South to the Choctaw Nation, and spent ten years 
as a missionary among the Indians. He then 
moved to near White Oak, Tex., but after two 
years spent in that State he came to Arkansas, be- 
ing a resident of Sevier County until during the 
war, when he moved to Dallas, Polk County, Ark. 
After four more years spent in the Choctaw Nation 
he once more returned to Polk County, where he 
passed from life about 1879. While in Sevier 
County he was clerk of the circuit court, a position 
he also held in Polk County, his service in this 
capacity extending over a period of twent}- years. 
He also filled other minor positions, and during the 
Rebellion was in a regiment of Arkansas cavalry. 
He was captain of a company, and served east of 
the Mississippi River the most of the time, taking 
part in many battles. In politics he was a Dem- 
ocrat, and socially he was a Mason and a member 
of the I. O. O. F. His widow is still living, and 
resides with the subject of this sketch, being now 
seventy-four years of age, a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. Their children are: 
Joshua (a farmer of Franklin County, Ark.), 
George, (a farmer of the Chickasaw Nation), and 
Fanny Redding (wife of Henry Redding, of Greer 
County, Tex.). Samuel Rind spent his school 
days in Polk County, Ark., and the Indian Terri- 
tory, his father and mother being his principal 
teachers. At the age of eighteen years he com- 
menced to farm and raise stock, a calling he has 
since followed. He moved to where he now resides 



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460 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



4 



'A 



4 



in 1886, and although his farm is small it is admir- 
ably conducted, and yields a much larger income 
than many more pretentious places. He engaged 
in merchandising about 1885, and to this calling 
has given considerable of his attention ever since, 
aud has built up a prosperous trade. He was mar- 
ried in 1876 to Miss Frances Cooper, who died 
about one year later, leaving one child, a son 
named William F. His second marriage was con- 
summated in 1881, Miss Roxie Barber becoming 
his wife, and in time the mother of his three chil- 
dren: Florence, Nola G. and Robert F. Mr. Rind 
has always been a Democrat, and as a prosperous, 
law-abiding citizen ranks among the leading men 
of this section. 

Judge Thomas R. Rowe, probate and county 
judge of Polk County, is a resident of Cove Town- 
ship, his home being located two miles west of the 
town of Cove. He was born in Monroe County, 
Ga. , on August 29, 1833, and is the son of James 
aud Narcissa (Lewis) Rowe, natives of Edgeiield 
District, S. C. The parents were married in the 
Palmetto State, and when still young people 
moved to Monroe County, Ga., where they resided 
for some time. They then moved to Meriweather 
County of that State, and there passed the bal- 
ance of their days, the father dying in 1872 at the 
age of eighty-two years, and the mother in 1878, 
when eighty-four years of age. The father was a 
very successful and extensive planter. Both were 
members of the Bapti.st Church, and the father 
was a deacon in the same from the time he was a 
a young man until his death, a great many years. 
He was a life- long Democrat, and took a deep in- 
terest in polities, but would never accept an office, 
preferring a quiet life on his farm. He had three 
brothers who were prominent political men, and 
who held nearly all the political offices in the 
county. The Rowe family is of Scotch origin. Of 
the eight children born to the above-mentioned 
couple, all are living, and the eldest is probably 
seventy-eight years of age and the youngest is 
fifty-one years: Harriet T. (resides in Northern 
Texas), Mary A. (is in Monroe County, Ga.), Nar- 
cissa S. (in Meriweather County, Ga.), James A. 
(is a farmer in the last named county), Oliver P. 



(is a farmer), Andrew J. (is in Georgia), and Sarah 
E. (is also in Georgia). Judge Thomas R. Rowe, 
the sixth in order of birth of the above-mentioned 
family, was reared and educated in his native 
county, and when twenty-one years of age com- 
menced to work for himself as a farmer in Meri- 
weather County, Ga. He remained there until No- 
vember, 1881, and then moved to Franklin County, 
Ark., near Ozark, where he remained two years. 
He then came to Polk County and bought the 180 
acres that he now owns, on Six Mile Creek, a con- 
siderable portion of which is under cultivation. 
While a resident of Meriweather County, Ga. , he 
held the office of justice of the peace eight years, 
and soon after coming to this county he was elected 
to the same position, holding the same for four 
years. He was then elected county and probate 
judge, and so great was his popularity and so well 
did he fill this honorary position, that he was re- 
elected in 1890. During the Civil War Judge 
Rowe was lieutenant of Brown's State Militia. He 
had three brothers in the regular service, and the 
oldest brother was captain, he surrendered with 
Gen. Lee. The second was a lieutenant in the 
same company, and lost his arm at Chancellors- 
ville being afterward discharged. The third brother 
was in the First Georgia Cavalry, and was soon 
made forage-master of the brigade, serving as such 
all through the war. He was wounded near Rich- 
mond, Ky. On December 15, 1853, Judge Rowe 
was married to Miss Mary A. Malcolm, of Meri- 
weather County, Ga. , and to this union were born 
seven living children, viz. : Alexander J., Robert 
A., Sarah E. (wife of Marion B. Allen, who is a 
merchant of Cove), Luther M., Mary S. (at home), 
Hugh (in Texas), and Earnest (at home). One 
child, John B. , was struck by lightning, and one died 
in infancy. Mrs. Rowe is a member of the Primitive 
Baptist Church. The Judge is a Democrat in his 
political views, and he is a member of Mountain 
Meadow Lodge No. 218, A. F. & A. M., of which 
he is secretary. 

Isaac J. Steele has attained wealth as a farmer 
and stock-raiser, by honest labor, and is a gentle- 
man who commands the respect and esteem of all 
who know him. He was born in the year 1887, in 



If^ 



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POLK COUNTY. 



461 



Perry Coiinty, Tenn., to Isaac and Catherine (Fau- 
cett) Steele, the former born in South Carolina, in 
1802, and the latter in Tennessee, their marriage 
occurring in Maury County, Tenn., where they 
were reared. The}' soon after moved to Perry 
County, and in 1848 came to what is now Van 
Buren County, Ark. , where Mr. Steele passed from 
life February 16, 1857, his widow dying Novem- 
ber 29, 1875, both members of the Methodist 
Church of many years' standing. Mr. Steele was a 
blacksmith by trade, but at the time of his death 
was following merchandising. His father, Michael 
Steele was of Irish descent, a South Carolinian by 
birth, and died in Maury County, Tenn., of which 
he was one of the early settlers, a gunsmith and 
farmer by occupation. He was a soldier in the 
Creek War. Richard Faucett, the mother's father, 
was a tiller of the soil of Maury County, Tenn., 
and there passed from life. Isaac J. Steele was 
the sixth of seven children, but as he was compelled 
to labor hard on the farm in his youth, he received 
but little schooling. Since the age of eleven years 
he has been a resident of Arkansas, and from here 
enlisted in the Confederate Army, in 1861, becom- 
ing a member of Company K, Tenth Arkansas 
Infantry, and served in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ala- 
bama, Mississippi and Louisiana, taking part in the 
battles of Shiloh, Port Hudson, and some others. 
He was wounded and captured at Port Hudson, but 
after being paroled he returned home, and did not 
again enter the service. In 1866 he was married 
to Huldah, daughter of Michael and Nancy Ful- 
kerson, both of whom were born in Tennessee, in 
which State Mr. Fulkerson also died, his widow 
afterward coming to Arkansas, dying in Van Buren 
County. Mrs. Steele was born in Tennessee, and 
of a family of five children born to her union with 
Mr. Steele, one son and two daughters are living. 
Mr. Steele lived five years in Washington County, 
five years in Franklin County, but since 1887 has 
been one of the prominent and substantial residents 
of Polk County. His admirably kept farm, which 
is situated one mile east of Dallas, comprises 320 
acres, 240 acres being in the home farm, with about 
100 acres cleared and under the plow. This land 
is well improved with suitable buildings, good 



fences, etc., and the entire property is the result 
of his own efforts. His wife is a member of the 
Methodist Church. 

William H, Stiewig, a native of Osage County, 
Mo., was born December 22, 1842, son of William 
Theodore and Mary (Dugan) Stiewig, who were 
natives of Germany and Osage County, Mo., re- 
spectively. The father died at the age of sixty - 
five years in Red Willow County, Neb., in 1878, 
preceded by his wife in August, 1855, when only 
thirty years old. From Missouri the family moved 
to Titus County, Tex., in 1845, where Mrs. Stie- 
wig' s death occurred. Later Mr. Stiewig returned 
to Missouri, settling in Franklin County, but in 
1869 located in Red Willow County, Neb. , where 
he kept hotel, conducted a furniture store and 
served as probate judge. He also, in his various 
locations, served his calling as a minister of the 
Christian Church. He was an honest, industrious 
man, well liked by all those who knew him inti- 
mately. After the death of his first wife he wed- 
ded Miss Nancy Ladd, of Texas, who is now resid- 
ing in Colorado. The father of William T. Stie- 
wig was a native of Germany, but immigrated to 
this country and died in Nebraska. William H. 
Stiewig was the eldest of eight children, and his 
early education was obtained in Texas. From 
early youth he manifested much interest and pro 
ficiency in mechanics, and during the Rebellion 
was detailed to work on machinery and engineer- 
ing. He remained in Titus County, Tex., until 
1878, when he came to Polk County, Ark., and 
has since made it his home, being engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. Since 1883 he has resided on 
his present farm, which consists of 240 acres of 
arable land, which he has improved and rendered 
more valuable by so doing. To Mr. Stiewig' s mar- 
riage with Catharine Tedford, of Titus County, 
Tex., six sons and five daughters have been born. 
He is perhaps one of the very best posted men in 
his county; is quite a reader, an independent and 
intelligent voter, a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and he 
and wife are members of the Christian Church. 

Dr. Wiley S. Stinnett, physician. Eagle Hill, 
Ark. Few, if any, industrial or professional pur- 
suits have within the last few years made such 



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462 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



rapid strides as that of the profession of medicine, 
and among the leading physicians of Polk County, 
Ark., who have availed themselves of all nevp ideas 
and put them in practice, may be mentioned Dr. 
Stinnett. He was born iu Marion County, Tenn., 
on September 7, 1826, and is the son of Hiram and 
Sarah (Walker) Stinnett, natives of Pike County, 
Tenn., and Botetourt County, Va., respectively. 
When a girl the mother was taken to Marion 
County, Tenn., by her parents, and there when 
grown she was married to Mr. Stinnett. In 1836 
Mr. and Mrs. Stinnett moved to De Kalb County, 
Ala., thence in 1845 to Polk County, Ark., and 
settled in a wilderness on Mountain Fork. There 
they received their final summons, the father in 
1865 at the age of sixty-live years, and the mother 
in 1862 at the age of fifty-four. The father was 
an extensive and successful farmer, and in his 
political views was a Democrat. He was the son 
of Marion Stinnett, who was a native of South 
Carolina and a farmer. The latter served in the 
War of 1812 and was in the battle of New Orleans. 
He died in Tennessee. Of the ten children born 
to his parents Dr. Stinnett is the elder of the two 
now living. His brother, Silas M., is a farmer and 
resides on the old homestead. Dr. Stinnett was 
educated in Marion County, Tenn., and De Kalb 
County, Ala. After growing up he turned his 
attention to farming, and this occupation he has 
continued to the present day. On June 20, 1846, 
he joined Col. Yell's regiment iu the Mexican War, 
and was near when Col. Yell was killed. He was 
in the Buena Vista battle, and was discharged from 
the service on June 20, 1847, at Camargo, Mexico. 
He returned home by New Orleans. He then 
commenced to teach school in this county and car- 
ried this on in connection with farming for ten 
years. At the same time he read medicine, and iu 
connection with tilling the soil has practiced his 
profession ever since. He has been very success- 
ful, and has a lucrative practice. During the late 
war be was not a secessionist, and remained out of 
the ranks on account of being justice of the peace 
in the county, but he was elected captain of a com- 
pany of militia in the county. He was elected 
justice of the peace in 1854, and held the office 



twenty- five consecutive years or until he positively 
refused to serve any longer. On Atigust 29, 1849, 
he married Miss Malinda S. Winton, daughter of 
George Winton, one of the first settlers of the 
county, coming here from Tennessee as early as 
1832. To this union were born eight children, 
three of whom are now living: George M. (a 
farmer of this county), Ben F. (also a farmer of 
this county), and Anna Belle (wife of H. A. 
Learned). Those deceased were Frances M., Hi- 
ram M., Helen M., Martha C. and G. G., all of 
whom lived to be grown except the last named. 
Dr. Stinnett is a member of the Christian Church, 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mountain 
Meadow Lodge No. 218, and has been master of 
his lodge a number of times. He is decidedly a 
Republican in politics. 

Hon. Benjamin F. Thompson is not only one 
of the successful and substantial farmers of Polk 
County, Ark. , but he is also respected and esteemed 
for his many admirable traits of character. His 
life has been a useful one, and he has at all times 
endeavored to follow the teachings of the Golden 
Rule. He first saw the light of day in Morgan 
County, Ala., in 1836, being the ninth of twelve 
children, ten now living, born to the marriage of 
Benjamin W. and Keziah (Jackson) Thompson, 
both of whom were born in South Carolina, the 
former in 1793, and the latter in 1801. They 
were reared and married in their native State, 
and from there moved to Morgan County, Ala., 
where Mrs. Thompson died on August 17, 1878, 
Mr. Thompson passing fi'om life two years later, 
both members of the Missionary Baptist Church 
for many years. He was a successful farmer, a 
soldier in the War of 1812, and was with Jackson 
at New Orleans. His father, Benjamin Thompson, 
was a Virginian, who died in North Carolina, a 
farmer by occupation. He was a Revolutionary 
soldier for five years, and was of Welsh descent. 
The maternal grandfather, John Jackson, removed 
from South Carolina to Alabama, in which State 
he died just before the subject of this sketch was 
born, a farmer by calling, and a soldier in the War 
of 1812. Hon. Benjamin F. Thompson obtained 
a fair education in the common schools during his 



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POLK COUNTY. 



463 



boyhood, and was brought up to a knowledge of 
farm life by his father. In August, 18(Jl, he 
joined Company H, Twelfth Alabama Infantry, and 
was in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, seven days' fight 
around Eichmond, Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, and 
many others. He was never captured, but at the 
battle of Gettysburg was wounded in the left 
shoulder. He surrendered in Northern Alabama, 
being unfit for further service after he received his 
wound. He farmed in Alabama until 1877, then 
came to Polk County, Ark., and in 1873 was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Eliza A. Wright, daughter of William 
and Mahala Joplin, Mississippi ans, who came to 
Polk County, Ark., in 1856, where the father died 
before the war, a farmer, his widow still surviving 
him. Mrs. Thompson was born in Mississippi, 
and has borne her husband nine children, one be- 
ing deceased. Since 1871 Mr. Thompson has 
lived on his present farm of 400 acres, 100 acres 
of which are cleared. This is one of the finest 
farms in this section, and is the result of honest 
and persistent toil. In connection with farming 
he is engaged in stock-raising to some extent, in 
which branch of industry he has met with good 
success. In 1886 he was elected on the Demo- 
cratic ticket to the State Legislature, and served 
one term, being on several important committees. 
He is a member of Dallas Lodge No. 128, of the 
A. F. & A. M. , and for some years was senior 
warden. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church, and his wife is a Methodist. His place is 
supposed to be the first one settled in the county, 
about seventy five years ago, by Jacob AVild, at 
which time the country was very sparsely settled, 
the woods being inhabited by Indians and wild 
animals of all kinds. 

James Brit. .Watts. In former years, the life 
of a farmer was considered a laborious one, but in 
this progressive age, with such improvements in 
machinery, he can do his work with half the dis- 
patch or labor as in the time of his father, and, in 
fact, works but little harder than the average man 
wjio strives to make a living. Besides all this, he 
is independent, which is one of the much sought- 
for conditions of life. Mr. Watts is a successful 



farmer, who has kept fully apace with the times, 
and has reached the conditions of life mentioned 
above. He was born in Cherokee County, Ala., in 
1843, a son of Daniel D. and Frances (Philips) 
Watts, the former born in North Carolina, and the 
latter in Cherokee County, Ala., their marriage 
taking place in the last named State, where they 
are still living. The father was a farmer, and 
served in the Rebellion until the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, where he was disabled for life. His father, 
Levi Watts, was born in North Carolina, and died 
in Marshall County, Ala., a German by descent, 
and a farmer and Indian trader. The mother's 
father, Brit Philips, is still living, in Blount 
County, Ala., a farmer. James Brit Watts was 
the second of nine children, and as he was com- 
pelled to labor hard on his father's farm in his 
youth, he received but little schooling. In 1861 
he joined Company C, Forty-eighth Alabama In- 
fantry, being in the same company with his father, 
and served until the close of the war, surrendering 
with Gen. Lee. The most of the time he acted as 
color bearer, and as such was in the battles of 
Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Gaines' Mill, 
Newmarket, Bermuda Hundred, South Petersburg, 
Gettysburg, Antietam, being in all about thirty- 
two general engagements. He was twice wounded, 
and was captured three times, but soon managed to 
effect his escape each time. After the war he re- 
turned to the farm in Alabama, and was there mar- 
ried in 1867, to Miss Martha J., daughter of Will- 
iam J. and Eliza Medford, who came to Polk 
County, Ark., in 1870, and here are still making 
their home. Mrs. Watts was born in Cherokee 
County, Ala., and has borne her husband nine 
children, eight of whom are living. In 1867 Mr. 
Watts removed to Drew County, Ark., but at the 
end of one year went to Desha County, and two 
years later, or in 1870, came to Polk County, and 
for six years has resided on his j)resent farm of 
335 acres, of which 120 acres are cleared. He has 
improved his farm greatly, and his buildings and 
fences are all in good repair. This property has 
been earned by his own efforts, for which he de- 
serves much credit. He was postmaster of Big 



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464 



HISTORY OF AEKANSAS. 



Bend for some years, but otherwise has not as- 
pired to office. He belongs to the Primitive Bap- 
tist Church. 

The following description of the military career 
of Mr. Watts is here given in his own graphic lan- 
guage and style: 

" I wish to state a few words in regard to the 
battle of Gaines' Mill. I will say that I was a 
sharpshooter and a scout from Company C, Forty- 
eighth Alabama Infantry up till the battle of 
Gaines' Mill, and our battalion of sharpshooters 
charged the Federal sharpshooters and drove them 
back in their breastworks, wherein myself and 
comrades were so near the enemy that it seemed 
like it was almost impossible for us to make our 
escape. While thus exposed to the heavy fire from 
the artillery and rifles of the Federal lines, our 
boys were coming in a full breast at a charge 
bayonets and yelling, but my comrades were re- 
pulsed and retired, to rally and come again, which 
they did, but were repulsed again. All this time 
myself and comrades were in forty yards of the 
Federal breastworks, pouring a tire upon them with 
our Whitney rifles. In about five minutes I looked 
back and saw the Confederate line charging with 
determination. This charge was the third charge 
of the Confederates. As they charged within 
fifteen steps of my rear I saw the last man in my 
old Company C fall; his name was John Barton; 
he was first lieutenant of Company C, Forty-eighth 
Alabama. In this engagement we had six of as 
good southern soldiers to fall with our flag as ever 
lived. When my lieutenant fell forward with the 
flag he raised himself up as high as possible and 
waved his flag. I could not stand it any longer, 
so I rose up and made a few leaps backward and 
seized our colors. At that moment my lieutenant 
spread himself flat to the ground. He had received 
a deadly shot. At that moment as he sank down 
his dying words were to ' stamp the flag on the 
Federal works. ' As I seized the flag and leaped 
forward to stamp it on the Federal works the flag- 
staff was shot in two, but I regained hold of the 
fractured end and ran forward. In a few leaps I 
reached the Federal works and planted my staff 
within three feet of the Yankee line. At that 



moment a Yankee captain seized hold of our flag 
and while myself and the Yankee captain were de- 
fending ourselves from each others blows, tussling 
over the flag, one of my comrades shot and killed 
the captain, and in another instant my comrade fell, 
shot dead. In another moment I was yelling and 
waving our colors for my boys to rally to the old 
Forty-eighth flag. At the same time I heard Major 
Carrie cry out to the Forty-seventh Alabama to 
rally to the aid of the flag of the Forty-eighth, for 
it was stamped upon the Federal works. So the 
boys raised a terrible yell and here they came with 
bayonets presented. Then came the death struggle 
while I held the banner. It was a hand-to-hand 
fight, but quickly over. I was the only man left 
in Company C, Forty-eighth Alabama Regiment. 
After this, and from that very hour, I was chosen 
as color-bearer for the Forty-eighth Alabama Reg- 
iment. I was the only man left in Company C,and 
there had six brave boys fallen from under that flag 
at this battle. Besides this the Forty-eighth had lost 
three men over half of her number. It seemed like 
the solemn hour had come, for we left home with 127 
men in Company C, and now was cut down to 
one man only. We were the winners of the victory. 
The regiments that suffered in this battle were the 
Forty-eighth, Forty seventh and Fifteenth Ala- 
bama, the Third, Fourth and Fifth Texas, and the 
Third Arkansas. We were fighting against odds — 
five to one. Besides the Federals were mixed 
troops of negroes, Indians and New Yorkers, and 
they all fought at the point of the bayonet. 

Capt. W. M. Williams lumberman and farmer 
of Ransom, Ark., is doing a thriving business. 
He was born in Jackson County, Ala., in 1842, to 
Thomas and Margaret (Boze) Williams, the former 
born in East Tennessee, in 1805, and the latter in 
Alabama, in 1814, their marriage taking place in 
Jackson County, of the latter State, their home be- 
ing also there until 1847, when they came to Mont- 
gomery County, where Mrs. Williams succumbed 
to the destroyer, Death, in 1853, her husband fol- 
lowing her to the grave in 1885, passing from life 
in Polk County, Ark., where he had made his home 
since 1872. Both he and his wife were members 
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and he 



ipr 



POLK COUNTY. 



465 



was a successful farmer, a soldier in the Florida 
War, and socially was a member of the A. F. & A. 
M. Thomas Williams, his father, died in Jackson 
County, Ala., about 1846, a farmer. The mater- 
nal grandfather of W. M. Williams, was Benja- 
min Boze. The subject of this sketch was the 
fourth child in a family of four sons and three 
daughters, three children now living, born to his fa- 
ther's first marriage. The latter' s second union 
was to Elizabeth Baggs, who with four sons and 
three daughters, in a family of ten children sur- 
vives him. W. M. Williams received but a few 
months' schooling in his youth, and in July, 1861, 
joined Company F, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, in 
which he served as lieutenant and captain until 
July, 1862, when he lost his right leg by the blow- 
ing up of a steamboat. This ended his military 
career and he returned home, having been an act- 
ive participant in the battles of Pea Ridge and 
Corinth. He followed farming exclusively until 
1867, then engaged in saw-milling on the Caddo 
Eiver in Montgomery County, afterward at Mount 
Ida until 1874, when he came to Polk County, and 
followed the same calling in the west part of the 
county for a few years. The following five years 
he gave his attention to farming, and in the mean- 
time was elected assessor of Polk County, a posi- 



tion he held twelve years, being a resident of Dal- 
las. In October, 1888, he again engaged at his 
present stand, three miles northeast of Dallas, 
where he is doing a good business. He is the 
owner of 120 acres here and 160 acres on Mount 
Fork, which property he has acquired by honest 
aud persistent toil. He was postmaster of Ransom 
for a short time and for four years was internal- 
improvement commissioner of Montgomery County, 
also holding the position of treasurer of the coun- 
ty three years, when he resigned to remove to 
Polk County. He was married first in 1867 to 
Perlina, daughter of George Gordon, who came 
from Mississippi to Montgomery County, Ark., in 
an early day, in which county he died about 1865. 
Mrs. Williams was born there and died at Dallas 
on November 13, 1881, having borne six children, 
four of whom are living. Jane L. Litton, a daugh- 
ter of Samuel J. Litton, became Mr. Williams' 
second wife, she being a native of Mississippi, and 
by Mr. Williams the mother of one child. Her fa- 
ther was born in Mississippi, and moved first to 
Texas, and then to Polk County, Ark. , where he is 
still living, engaged in farming. He lost his wife 
in Texas. Mr. Williams and his wife are church 
members. 



I 




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466 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



' « igcr 



Montgomery County— Location— Boundary— Area— Description, Resources and Productions- 
Soil— Streams— Freestone AND Mineral Springs— Water Power— Timber— Minerals— Live- 
stock Raising— Statistics— Fruit-Growing— The Grape and Its Product— Diversified 
Farming — Settlement — Early Settlers— Slaves— Public Lands — First Tax 
Book— Present Taxable Wealth— County Organization— Early Records- 
County Seat— Commissioners to Locate County Seat— Municipal Town- 
ships—County Boundary Lines— County Buildings— County Ofpi- 
CERS— Political Status— Election Returns— Population- 
Circuit Court— First Court Sessions— First Grand and 
Petit Juries — Civil War Period — Towns — 
Schools— Religious Denominations— Etc. 



a 



" Oh! the waves of life danced merrily, 

And had a joyous flow. 
In the days when we were pioneers. 
Fifty years ago!" 



m^^M^--^^ 




ONTGOMERY is one 

of the counties of Ar- 
kansas which lie in 
the west central part 
of the State, and is 
bounded north by 
Scott, Yell and Gar 
land Counties, east by Garland and 
Hot Springs Counties, south by 
Clark and Pike Counties, and west 
by Polk County, the latter separat- 
ing it from Indian Territory. It also 
lies in north latitude 35°, and west 
)ngitude 94 , having a climate 
of equitable temperature, with- 
out the extremes of heat and 
cold which characterize the lower 
and higher latitudes of the country. The area of 
the county is about 920 square miles, covering, as 



it does, according to Government survey, portions 
of Township 1 north, and Townships 1 to 4, inclus- 
ive, south of the base line, and portions of Ranges 
21 to 27, inclusive, west of the fifth principal mer- 
idian. Of this vast area only a small percentage 
has been settled and cleared for cultivation. 

From a well-written article prepared by a well- 
posted citizen, and published recently in the Mont- 
gomery County Herald, the writer is enabled by 
permission of the publisher, and from information 
from other sources, to give the following descrip- 
tion of the county, its resources, etc. : 

The surface of the country is highly diversi- 
fied and picturesque, being variegated with mount- 
ains, foot-hills, uplands and valleys. All the val- 
leys which margin the numerous water courses 
flowing through the county are characterized by a 
deep, rich, alluvial soil, very prolific, and easy of 
cultivation, invariably yielding ample and very 



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MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



467 



gratifying returns to the agriculturist who avails 
himself of the treasures contained in the broad 
acres spread out by nature as an inviting field and 
home for the enterprising husbandman from every 
land and clime. While lands contiguous and in 
closest proximity to the many streams are the most 
desirable for agricultural purposes, there is still a 
large area of choice uplands suscejatible of culti- 
vation, and vrhich, with proper tillage, produce 
excellent crops of cotton, tobacco, all the cereals, 
esculent roots, and vegetables indigenous to this 
latitude. All the varieties of land and the differ- 
ent kinds of soil they contain are easily cultivated, 
and only require seasonable and judicious manage- 
ment to yield handsome returns for the labor ex- 
pended by the careful and industrious farmer, 
whose livelihood depends upon utilizing our 
natural farming resources to the best advantage. 
Nature, with a lavish hand, has provided the 
means for acquiring a competency by the hardy 
tiller of the soil, and if he fails to attain what is 
within his reach, it is not the fault of a bountiful 
Providence. 

The Ouachita River which flows from west to 
east through the north-central portion of the county, 
is the most important water course. There are 
several tributaries of this river which water a large 
portion of the county, all of which are bordered 
by the richest arable lands. South Fork running 
eastwardly through the central portion of the 
county by way of the county seat, is the largest of 
these tributaries, and along its banks are some of 
the finest farms in the county. The Caddo, which 
flows southeasterly and drains the southern por- 
tion of the county, is also an important stream, 
and a finer one is rarely met with, the water being 
soft and clear as crystal, margined by farming 
lands of the richest quality, some of which are in 
a high state of cultivation. Streams of less note 
— the Mazarn, Brushy Fork, Williams Creek, Col- 
lier's Creek, Walnut Fork, Twin Creek, Gap 
Creek and numerous others — all rapidly flowing 
streams, form quite an item in the general estimate 
of the agricultural and grazing facilities, besides 
affording a vast motor power for driving the heav- 
iest machinery for milling and all kinds of manu- 



facturing purposes. There are so many bold 
streams crossing the country in all directions that 
every neighborhood could have its own mills and 
factories if enterprise and capital were only brought 
to bear in that direction. These mountain streams 
have great fall, and, consequently, are very rapid 
in their flow from head to source. The water 
power which can be utilized in running machinery 
is immense, and when transportation facilities are 
furnished our almost unlimited forests of valuable 
timber that cover the wild, uncultivated lands, will 
be made a source of wealth to the lumbermen and 
manuf actxu-ers who have the enterpise to avail them- 
selves of so important a factor in the natural re- 
sources of Montgomery County. There are nu- 
merous springs of good water within the county, 
but well water is generally used for domestic pur- 
poses. The later is usually obtained in great 
abundance, except on the mountains, at a depth 
of from twenty to thirty feet. The following are 
noted mineral springs: May berry Springs, Crys- 
tal Springs, seventy-five in number; Ryder's Blood 
Springs, fifty in number, and Iron's Sulphur 
Springs, six in number. Ryder's White Sulphur 
Springs, said to be the finest and coolest sulphur 
water in the county, were recently purchased by 
Gen. William D. Ryder of Kansas City, who in- 
tends making them an attractive resort in the near 
future. Besides the above there are many others 
of minor notoriety. 

The almost illimitable forests of choice timber, 
as yet comparatively undisturbed, are a source of 
fabulous wealth, and are destined, at no remote 
period of time, to subserve the interest of man. 
Only the lack of adequate means of transportation 
for marketing the lumber which can be manufact- 
ured in immense quantities prevents this timber 
from being utilized and made a source of revenue 
of paramount importance. Here are found every 
variety of oak, gum and hickory, besides pine, ash, 
walnut, elm, cedar, locust, birch, cherry, and many 
other kinds of forest trees of tall, thrifty growth, 
well adapted to lumbering, building and manufact- 
uring purposes. No finer timber for cabinet work, 
in the manufacture of all kinds of furniture, can 
be found in the State or elsewhere. With the con- 



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468 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



structioa of the several railroads through the 
county, now in contemplation and partially located, 
timber resources will be made available, and found 
to be an element of wealth hardly inferior to any 
other of the natiiral resources of the county. There 
are a few small saw-mills in the counly which cut 
a sufficient supply of lumber for domestic purposes, 
but none for shipment. 

While it is a conceded fact that Arkansas, or 
that portion of it embraced within the great mineral 
belt that traverses the State and extends into the 
Indian Territory, has immense mineral resources, 
it is no less true that Montgomery County possesses 
the richest mineral fields yet discovered. There is 
not a localitj' in the State where developments have 
yet been made at all commensurate with what are 
clearly wan-anted by the indications and discoveries 
of valuable ores. Some mining operations have 
been carried on in Montgomery County, more with 
a view to speculating in mining property than to 
develop paying mines. Silver-bearing ores consti- 
tute the leading ores of a great [portion of this 
county, which are found as float mineral; also in 
blanket, contact and fissure veins. Argentiferous 
galeua, gray copper, chloride and bromide of silver 
have been discovered here in various localities, and 
in many places have been struck in paying quanti 
ties. Some mines have been in successful opera- 
tion, the output of gold and silver-bearing quartz 
being sufficient to more than pay the expense of 
mining from the very grass roots, the ore increas- 
ing in both quantity and quality as the work pro- 
gresses. It is a lamentable fact that the greater 
portion of the labor expended in mining enterprises 
in Montgomery County has been misdirected, 
consequently the results attained have been very 
meager. Parties without experience or practical 
knowledge of mining have hitherto conducted all 
operations here, and it is not at all surprising that 
no tangible results should follow the efforts of 
such unskilled labor. When men of business 
cajiacity, backed by capital, take hold of some of 
the best properties, all the indications point to the 
conclusion that the situation will be entirely differ- 
ent, and that good paying mines will be rapidly 
developed. Speculating in undeveloped mining 



properties is a thing of the past. All the enter- 
prises now in contemplation and already in prog- 
ress, are destined to result in lasting benefit to the 
mining interests of the entire county. Large de- 
posits of manganese said to be of the finest quality 
also exist in Montgomery County. 

The facilities which this county affords, in 
common with numerous other counties of the 
State, for raising live stock can hardly be sur- 
passed by any locality in the country. The differ 
ent varieties of nutricious grasses which grow 
luxuriously, furnish both summer and winter range 
for stock, thus involving little expense in raising 
animals for market. Only in the event of an 
unusually severe winter is it found necessary to 
feed grain to stock running on the range. The 
mast, which is generally produced in great abun- 
dance, is sufficient to fatten all the pork for home 
consumption, besides furnishing a large quantity for 
sale. The soil is well adapted to the growth of 
timothy, red-top, bermuda, blue grass and clover, 
but as yet these tame grasses have not been culti- 
vated to any considerable extent. The clear rapid 
streams which abound afford an abundance of pure 
water for live stock, and with all these advantages 
there is nothing to hinder stock-raising from being 
a great source of profit even without railroad facil- 
ities at home as the stock can easily be driven to 
railroad lines. 

The following statistics prove very conclusively 
that this industry is being developed. In 1886 the 
number of animals within the county assessed for 
taxation was as follows: Horses, 1,189; mules and 
asses, 574; cattle, 8,080; sheep, 1,332; hogs, 
7,884. In 1889 the number assessed was as fol- 
lows: Horses, 1,677; mules and assess, 616; cattle, ■ 
11,215; sheep, 2,337; hogs, 13,883. This shows 
the gain in the three years to be 488 horses, 42 
mules and asses, 3,135 head of cattle, 1,005 sheep 
and 5,999 hogs. As a further evidence of pros- 
perity the records show that in 1886 there were 
646 pleasure carriages in the county, and in 1889 
the number had increased to 896, a gain of 250 — 
and all this notwithstanding the cry of "hard 
times." 

All the varieties of fruit and grapes grown in 



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MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



469 



this latitude can be raised here in great abundance 
and the highest state of perfection. Lands not so 
well adapted to the raising of grain are found to 
be excellent for orchards and vineyards, and the 
fruit and grape-growing industry has proven highly 
remunerative to all who have engaged in it. While 
Montgomerj' County has not made a specialty of 
fruit growing, like some other counties of the 
State, it can make a creditable display in that line. 
The growing of grapes especially, and the manu 
facture of wine bids fair to become a great indus- 
try in the county. 

The farmers of this county are wisely adopting 
a system of diversified farming, instead of confin- 
ing themselves exclusively to the raising of cotton 
for the market. While farmers in other counties, 
more especially those cultivating the bottom lands 
along the banks of our navigable rivers, can make 
a specialty of cotton raising and find it j)rotitable, 
Montgomery County farmers prefer a variety of 
crops, such as can be quickly raised, to one that 
requires the entire year, or nearly so, to get it off 
their hands. Most of the lands here produce ex- 
cellent crops of cotton, but our farmers realize that 
grain, vegetable and stock farms are more profita- 
ble and self-sustaining than a farm devoted en- 
tirely to cotton growing, with its grain bins and 
smoke-houses in St. Louis or Chicago. Hence 
diversified farming is superseding the old cotton- 
growing specialty to a considerable extent. 

The settlement of the territory now composing 
Montgomery County began early in the decade of 
the thirties, but on account of its being far from 
river communication in the early days, and far 
from railroad facilities in the latter, the settlement 
has always been slow and gradual, and as yet only 
a small percentage— as has been stated — has been 
settled and cleared. The settlements are confined 
mostly to the lines of the streams where the best 
lands are located. Prominent among the early 
settlers were Granville Whittington, Andrew 
Boles (the first county judge), Henry Brewer, John 
Boggs, Samuel Cunningham, James Hutson, James 
Gaston, David Mayberry, Robert McConnell, Jesse 
Oilier, George Pointer, Benjamin Polk, Frederick 
Salyers, George Fisher (the first clerk), and J. I. 



McClendon, all of whom settled in the original 
municipal township of Sulphur Springs, embrac- 
ing the north-central and northwestern part of the 
county. Mr. Granville Whittington came from 
Boston and settled in 1835. Ira Bowlin, Dennis 
Carroll, Lewis Carroll, J. W. Embry, James Fair, 
Benedict Harroll, John H. JefFrey, James May. 
Taylor Polk, Charles Smith, Elisha Tweedle, and 
John Shipp, were the prominent early settlers of 
Caddo Cove municipal township, which embraced 
the southern portion of the county. T. H. Bled- 
soe, Cornelius Cane, Solomon Kerby, Joseph 
Lamb, Ira K. , and G. K. Robinson, Isaac Ship- 
man and Jefferson Cunning were among the lead- 
ing pioneers of Mountain Township, which em- 
braced the eastern part of the county, including 
also that portion since set off to Garland County. 

The pioneer settlers came mostly from the 
southern States bordering on the Atlantic and the 
Gulf, Kentucky, Tennessee, and some from Mis- 
soiiri. Jefferson Collier and George P. McKinney, 
two very old citizens, were among the first persons 
born in what is now Montgomery County. A few 
of the early settlers brought slaves with them, and 
others procured slaves after coming. In 1845, as 
shown by what appears to be the first tax book of 
the county, there were fifty-four slaves therein. 
Of these fifteen were owned by Lewis Carroll, and 
seven by Taylor Polk, both of Caddo Cove Town- 
ship. There were twenty-one persons then in the 
county owning slaves — several having only one 
each. The pioneer settlers all wore homespun 
clothing, and many of the citizens still continue to 
manufacture much of their wearing apparel. The 
hum of the spinning wheel and the clatter of the 
shuttle in the loom is still heard in many a house- 
hold. 

The tax book of 1889 shows that of the total 
acreage of the county, which is about 590,000, 
only 108,051 was owned by individuals and sub- 
ject to taxation. Of the residue, however, a con- 
siderable amount is owned by homesteaders who 
have not as yet "proved up" and received their 
titles. Perhaps two-thirds or more of the whole 
area of the county is public land subject to entry. 
Much of this, however, is in the hills and mount- 



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470 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ains, and not suitable for cultivation. There is 
also a large amount of fairly good land yet subject 
to entry by homesteaders. 

The tax book of the county for the year 1845, 
consisted of ten sheets of paper the size of " fools- 
cap," sewed together. The whole number of tax- 
payers was 205, and the amount of taxes charged 
for State purposes was S59. 72, and for county pur- 
poses $369.76 making a total of $429.48. The 
number of taxable polls was 190, and the amount 
of taxable property was $42,869. In 1889 the real 
estate of the county subject to taxation was assessed 
at $231,457 and the personal property at 1329,804, 
making a total of $561,261 as the taxable wealth 
of the county. There were also 1,521 taxable polls. 

Montgomery County was organized under the 
provisions of an act of the General Assembly of the 
State approved December 9, 1842, out of territory 
taken from Hot Springs County. It seems, how- 
ever, that the county was not fully and actuallj' 
organized until some time in 1844. No record of 
the county court has been preserved prior to July, 
1^45, and only a part of the record of the July 
term of that year is preserved. At this term the 
commissioners previously appointed to select a site 
for the county seat, made their report, having se- 
lected the site where Mount Ida now stands. The 
report was accepted and approved so far as it 
related to the location of the site, but rejected as 
to the matter it contained about laying out the site 
into town lots. Robert McConnell was then ap- 
pointed commissioner to let the contract and su- 
perintend the erection of a "log building" to 
"temporarily accommodate the holding of courts. " 
The original name given to the county seat was 
Montgomery, and the tract of land on which it 
was located was entered at the land office at 
Washington in Hempstead County, for the county, 
by Robert McConnell, who was paid $10 for go- 
ing to Washington for that j)uiTose. The names 
of the commissioners who located the county seat, 
were William C. Hall, Charles Maddox, Robert 
McConnell and J. J. McLendon, and each was 
paid the sum of $3 for his services. 

Soon thereafter the town of Montgomery was 
surveyed and laid out into lots and streets by the 



county surveyor, in obedience to orders from the 
county court. A sale of town lots was ordered to 
be made in 1847, and subsequently the commis- 
sioner of public buildings was authorized to sell 
the remaining unsold lots, from time to time, under 
prescribed stipulations. The county seat contin- 
ued to be called Montgomery until July, 1850, when 
the coimty court changed the name to Salem, and 
in October of the same year the court changed the 
name to Mount Ida, which it now bears. 

Among the first duties of the county court, 
after its organization, was the subdivision of the 
county into municipal townships and road districts. 
Accordingly the county was subdivided into the 
following named municipal townships: Sulphur 
Springs, Caddo Cove and Mountain. Each town- 
ship was subdivided into road districts. Some 
changes in the boundary lines of the county have 
been made since its organization, and a consider- 
able portion of the original county was set off to 
Garland, when that county was organized, in 1873. 
The following is a correct description of the bound- 
ary lines of the county, as now located : 

Commencing on the township line at the corner 
of Sections 4 and 5, in Township 1, north of the 
base line, and Range 22, west of the fifth princi- 
pal meridian; thence west on the township line to 
the line dividing Ranges 22 and 23 west; thence 
south on the range line to the corner between Sec- 
tions 12 and 13, iu Township 1, north. Range 23 
west; thence west on section lines to the dividing 
ridge of the Ouachita Hills or Mountains; thence 
following the dividing ridge of these mountains in 
a southwesterly direction until it intersects the 
base line in Range 27 west; thence west on the 
base line to the line dividing Ranges 27 and 28 
west; thence south on the range line to the line divid- 
ing Townships 4 and 5 south; thence east on the 
township line to the line dividing Ranges 22 and 
23 west; thence north on the range line to the line 
dividing Townships 2 and 3 south; thence east on 
the township line to the corner between Sections 
33 and 34, in Township 2 south. Range 21 west; 
thence north on section lines to the corner of Sec- 
tions 9, 10, 15 and 16, in Township 1 south, 
Range 21 west; thence west on the section line to 



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JZ 



'liV 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



471 



the corner of Sections 8, 9, 16 and 17, in Township 
1 south, Range 22 west; thence north ou section 
lines to the place of beginning. 

The formation of municipal townships has 
undergone many changes since the organization 
of the county, it being now subdivided into town- 
ships or precincts named as follows: South Fork, 
Washita, Polk, Big Fork, Caddo, Missouri, Parks, 
Gap, Caney, Mazern, Crystal, Bear, Mountain, 
Leverney, Sulphur Springs and Center. The coun 
ty buildings consist of only a small — though suffi- 
ciently large — two-story frame court house, with a 
hall and county offices on the first floor, and the 
courtroom on the second. When it was erected, 
which was several years ago, the old one-story 
court-house, which had been used for many years, 
was moved south of the public square, where it 
has since been used as a school-house and church. 
Its use for church purposes has been discontinued 
since the erection of the new Methodist Church. 

Following is a list of the names of officers of 
Montgomery County from its organization to the 
year 1890, together with dates of terms of service: 

Judges — Andrew Boles, 1844-46; J. S. Har- 
ris, 1846-48; H. Graves, 1848-50; J. B. Garrett, 
1850-52; Andrew Boles, 1852-56; Thomas Farr, 
1856-58; W. J. Willoughby, 1858-62; J. A. Free- 
man, 1862-64; G. Whittington, 1864 to November; 
N. W. Cabler, from November, 1864, to August, 
1865; C. R. Kymes, from August, 1865, to March, 
1867; N. W. Cabler, from March, 1867; M. Us- 
sery, 1868-72; * * * J. H. West, 1874-78; 
J. B. Fulton, 1878-84; A. S. Logan, 1884-86; 
Silas P. Vaught, 1886-90. 

Martin Mondy and then John Cook were judges 
for a short time before Garrett. 

Clerks— George Fisher, 1844-46; J. I. Mc- 
Lendon, 1846-48; J. Fleming, 1848-50; J. S. 
Fleming, 1850-52; E. L. Hughes, 1852-54; D. 
A. Woolard, 1854-60; J. A. Stall, 1860-64; J. J. 
Laird, 1864-65; D. S. Campbell, 1865-67; G. D. 
Goodner, 1867-68; Z. I. Cotton, 1868-72; G. W. 
Gray, 1872-74; G. D. Goodner, 1874-90. 

Sheriffs— N. F. Robinson, 1844-46; James 
Hudson, 1846-48; J. H. May, 1848-54; J. B. 
Garrett, 1854-60; W. C. Simpson, 1860-65; T. 



L. Martin, 1865-68; William Reeves, 1868-72; G, 
H. Speers, 1872-74; J. B. Fulton, 1874-76; H. 
S. Goodner, 1876-82; George W. Golden, 1882-90. 

Treasurers— J. M. Fleming, 1844-46; J. Col- 
lins, 1846-48; D. Farr, 1848-50; James A. Stall, 
1850-56; J. F. Fleming, 1856-60; A. Jones, 
1860-68; H. H. Williamson, 1868-72; W. W. 
Sanders, 1872-74; W. M. Williams, 1874-75; O. 
H. Overstreet, 1875-78; J. A. Watkins, 1878-82; 
J. M. Anderson, 1882-84; S. M. Smith, 1884-90. 

Coroners — A. Langsford, 1844-46; S. Cun- 
ningham, 1846-48; J. McKinley, 1848-50; D. W. 
Stockton, 1850-52; V. Isenhour, 1852-58; J. M. 
Amerson, 1858-60; M. Isenhour, 1860-62; Will- 
iam Smith, 1862-64; J. Standridge, 1864-68; C. 
W. Cearley, 1868-72; S. Standridge, 1872-74 
H. S. Autrey, 1874-76; Q. C. Rowton, 1876-78 
J. A. Coffman, 1878-80; W. J. Hay, 1880-82 
N. B. Rifle, 1882-84; Joseph Shirley, 1884-86 
C. H. Greene, 1886-88; Frank Gross,' 1888-yO. 

Surveyors.— J. M. Harris, 1846-48; J. J. Mc- 
Lendon, 1848-50; A. Boles, 1850-52; R. S. Burk, 
1852-56; Robert Burk, 1856-00; R. S. Burk, 
1860-62; Robert Burk, 1862-64; R. S. Burk, 
1864-66; J. Cogburn, 1866-68; L. Melson, 1868- 
-74; H. R. Collier, 1874-78; L. Melson, 1878-80; 
W. H. Highsmith, 1880-88; H. R. Collier, 1888- 
90. 

Assessors — N. A. Penland, 1868-72; Stephen 
Muse, 1872-74; C. Snider, 1874-76; J. F. Rob- 
ins, 1876-80; G. B. Willis, 1880-86; J. N. Wasson, 
1886-88; G. B. .Willis, 1888-90. 

Delegates in State Conventions — A. M. Cling- 
man represented the county in the State conven- 
tion held March 4 to 21, and May 6 to June 3, 
1861, for the purpose of considering the question 
of the secession of the State from the Union. J. 
C. Priddy and R. Lamb represented the county in 
the constitutional convention held January 4 to 
January 23, 1864, and J. C. Priddy represented 
Montgomery and Perry Counties in the constitu- 
tional convention held January 7 to February 18, 
1868. Nicholas W. Cable represented Montgom- 
ery County in the last constitutional convention- 
held July 14 to October 31, 1874. 

State Senators — S. VV'. Rayburn, 1846-50; J. 



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4. 



472 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



W. Crow, 1850-52; M. Bozeman, 1852-54; W. F. 
S. Barkman, 1854-58; W. H. Hammond. 1858- 
60; J. F. Fagan, 1860-62; F. Leach, 1862-64; 
E. H. Vance, 1864-66; J. M. Smith, 1866-68; D. 
P. Beldiu, 1868-74; O. D. East, 1874-78; C. A. 
Gantt, 1878-82; Jesse A. Ross, 1882-84; G. W. 
Baxter, 1884-88. 

Representatives in State Legislature — Gran 
ville Whittington, 1846-48; James Hudson, 1848- 
50; H. A. Whittington, 1850-52; R. S. McFar- 
lane, 1852-54; W. Satringfellow, 1854-56; Henry 
Heffington, 1856-60; D. A. Woolard, 1860-62; C. 
G. Hurt, 1862-64; J. C. Priddy, 1864-66; G. K. 
Robinson, 1866-68; J. V. Harrison and J. H. 
Demby, 1868-70; J. F. Lane and J. J. Sumpter, 
1870-72; L. D. Gilbreath, J. J. Sumpter and 
George G. Latta, 1874-74; H. H. Barton and J. 
J. Sumpter, 1874-75; Alfred Jones, 1875-76; AVill- 
iam R. Cubage, 1876-78; J. H. Demby, 1878-80; 
A. C. King, 1880-82; John A. Watkins, 1882-84; 
William P. Birch, 1884-86; N. H. Harley, 1886- 
88. 

For representation in the State Senate Mont- 
gomery County has always been districted with 
other counties, and the counties composing the 
senatorial district have been frequently changed. 
The district now consists of Montgomery and Gar- 
land Counties. Prior to 1868 Montgomery Coun- 
ty was represented singly in the Lower House of 
the General Assembly, after which she was repre- 
sented in a district with other counties up to 1874, 
and since the latter date, under the new constitu- 
tion, she has been represented singly. F. Leach 
represented Hot Springs, Montgomery and Saline 
Counties in the Senate of the special session of the 
Confederate Legislature held at Washington in 
Hempstead County, from September 22 to October 
2, 1864; and at the same time and place C. G. 
Hurt represented Montgomery County in the Lower 
House. 

The political status of Montgomery County is 
fully shown by the votes cast for the several candi- 
dates at the following elections : At the September 
election, in 1888, James P. Eagle, Democratic can- 
didate for governor, received 769 votes, and his 
opponent, C. M. Norwood, 426 votes. At the pres- 



idential election in the same year, the candidates 
for President received votes as follows: Cleveland, 
806; Harrison, 161; Streeter; 2, Fisk 1. 

The full returns for the county, at the Septem- 
ber election in 1890, are as follows: For governor, 
James P. Eagle, 851; N. B. Fizer, 372; for secre- 
tary of State, B. B. Chism, 882; J. M. Pittman, 
316; State treasurer, R. B. Morrow, 884; T. J. 
Andrews, 316; auditor of State, W. S. Dunlop, 
880; O. S. Jones, 318; attorney-general, W. E. 
Atkinson, 884; T. P. Chambers, 313; commissioner 
State lands, C. B. Myers, 884; C. M. B. Cox, 313; 
commissioner of agriculture, M. F. Locke, 869; 
G. B. Farmer, 304; superintendent of public in- 
struction, J. H. Shinn, 882; T. M. C. Birming- 
ham, 315; associate justice Supreme Court, M. H. 
Sandels, 885; W. R. Coody, 312. 

Judicial officers : for circuit judge, R. D. 
Hearn, 941; prosecuting attorney, James D. 
Shaver, 918. 

County officers: for representative, G.Witt, 803, 
L. Melson, 434; county judge, W. O. Diffle, 864, 
G. W. Hughen, 331; circuit clerk, J. S. Nelson, 
1,141; coroner, J. R. Bates, 945; William Webb, 
32; sheriff, J. N. Wasson, 749, W. P. Birch, 465; 
county treasurer, S. M. Smith, 1,167; assessor, 
G. R. Miller, 1,193; county surveyor, H. R. Col- 
lier, 993. 

The population of Montgomery County at 
the end of the several census decades since its 
organization has been as follows: 1850, 1,958; 
1860, 3,633; 1870, 2,984; 1880, 5,729. These 
figures show that from 1850 to 1860 the popula- 
tion nearly doubled, and from 1860 to 1870 it ma- 
terially decreased, while from 1870 to 1880 it 
nearly doubled again. The population of 1890, 
under the new census, will soon be published, and 
will show a material increase since 1880, thoi;gh 
probably not so great as from 1870 to 1880, for 
the reason that in 1880 there was a considerable 
mining population in the county that has since 
moved out. It will be interesting, however, to 
compare the figures of the new and forthcoming 
census report with the foregoing. The colored 
population of the county in 1860 was 92, in 1870, 
120, and in 1880 it was 258. The 92 colored peo- 



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A 



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MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



473 



pie in the county in 1860 were slaves, who, in con- 
sequence of the emancipation proclamation and 
subsequent legislation obtained their freedom. 

The first term of the Montgomery Circuit Court, 
as shown by the record, convened on Monday, 
March 17, 1845 (it being the third Monday of the 
month), with Judge John J. Clendenin presiding. 
The first business of the court was the empaneling 
of the following first grand jury of the county: 
Granville Whittington, foreman; John Baggs, 
James Jeffrey, Daniel McHuddleston, David May- 
berry, David Sigman, Silas Baker, Edward Ship- 
man, Jesse Royls, John McKinley, Benedict Har- 
rell, Isaac Denton, E. D. Holloway, Willis Webb, 
John Hawkins and Samuel Cunningham, "sixteen 
good and lawful men of Montgomery County. ' ' 
George C. Watkins, the attorney-general, was ab- 
sent, and James C. Curran was appointed attorney- 
general pj'o teni. The first case on the record was 
State of Arkansas vs. Levi Meredith, on an in- 
dictment for murder; the next case was Isaac 
Tweedle vs. Malinda Tweedle for divorce; the 
third was State vs. Job Harrell for perjury; then 
followed two cases for assault and battery, and one 
more for divorce. All these cases were continued 
and the court adjourned. At the time provided by 
law for the holding of the Sej^tember term of court 
following, the judge did not appear, and no fur- 
ther holding of the circuit court was had until 
March, 1846, when the judge appeared, opened 
court, and proceeded to business, his first decree 
being the granting of a divorce to Isaac Tweedle. 
The other cases above mentioned were again con- 
tinued, and several new cases were filed. 

The first petit jury in the county was empanneled 
at the September term, 1846, of the circuit court. 
Their names were Henry Raper, Uriah Coots, 
George Hall, Levi Coots, G. W. Sanders, J. W. 
McConnell, Jesse Royls (?), James Laston, Fred 
Salyers, Allen Wempel (?), James McConnell and 
V. Isenhour. [The names are so poorly written 
on the record that it is difficult to decipher them, 
hence some of them may not be exactly correct. J 

When Montgomery County was organized it 
became a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit or 
District. The districts have frequently been 



changed since. It now belongs to the Eighth 
District, composed of the counties of Montgomery, 
Polk, Howard, Sevier, Little River, Pike and 
Clark. The present judge is R. D. Hearne, of 
Arkadelphia, and the present prosecuting attorney 
is W. M. Green, former!}' of Dallas. The resident 
attorneys, constituting the legal bar of Mont- 
gomery County, are John A. Watkins, G. Witt, A. 
C. King, W. P. Birch, S. P. Vaught and John 
Van Steenwyk. 

Being a rural county, with a small rural popu- 
lation, and without railroads and large towns, the 
number of crimes committed in the county has 
been comparatively small. No one has ever been 
legally executed within the county for the offense 
of crime. The citizens are law abiding, and the 
laws are easily enforced. The circiut court holds 
two terms annually, and five or six days each are 
sufficient to keejp the docket clear. The small bar 
and small amount of litigation are indicative of the 
peaceful attitude of the citizens in general. 

Upon the approach of the Civil War of 1861- 
65, the people of Montgomery County, with a very 
few exceptions, were in favor of the Southern 
cause, and a liberal percentage of them joined 
and served in the Confederate armies. Toward 
the close of the war, when the Federal Army con- 
trolled the greater portion of the State, a few men, 
some of whom deserted from the Confederate 
Army, went out of the county and joined the 
United States forces. During the war a few raids 
were made into the county by small bodies from 
each of the contending armies, and the guerrillas 
prowled about to some extent, and a few individ- 
uals were killed, but little or no damage was done to 
property. Aside from the few individuals that 
were killed the county well escaped the ravages of 
war, and when the struggle was over the people 
had no more trouble such as was the case in many 
portions of the State following the close of the 
war. The people here did not suffer the priva- 
tions endured in many other sections of the coun- 
try, as they manufactured their own clothing, and 
in the main raised their own jirovisions. 

The writer of the article heretofore referred to 
as published recently in the Montgomery County 



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474 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



^ 



[ 



Herald, desriptive of the county, etc., gives the 
following truthful description of the "principal 
towns and mining camps " in the county: 

Bear City is situated near the eastern border 
of the county, and about sixteen miles from Hot 
Springs. The population is composed mainly of 
miners and others interested in the reduction of 
the gold and silver ores so generously distributed 
Ijy nature in the hills and mountains surrounding 
the town, which, however, have proved to be of a 
refactory nature, besides being condemned by the 
State geologist as non paying, the effect of which 
has been disastrous in the extreme to the growth 
and prosperity of the camp until very recently. 

Bear contains numerous hotels, prominent 
among which are the Grand Central, W. H. Trigger- 
son proprietor, and the Golden Wonder and Ozark, 
of which Mr. Joseph Bartenschlaeger and Col. C. 
F. Britsch are the respective hosts. The last two 
named are now doing a good and steadily increas- 
ing business, consequent upon the large influx of 
visitors since the testing of the ores by the new 
process began at the plant recently erected. Bear's 
"Model Garden" is located on a part of the 
grounds of the Ozark Hotel, and Col. Britsch, its 
owner and designer, has reason to be proud of the 
many flattering compliments that visitors pay his 
fine vegetables and plants, who, by reason of its 
fame, never fail to make a tour of the garden. 

Harley & Ward, dealers in dry goods, groceries, 
i^tc, and John Q. Carter (old Sin-Duda), dealer in 
drugs, medicines and fancy goods, are the principal 
merchants. A chair factory and saw and planing- 
mill are also located in Bear. The following is a 
partial list of the "Old Guard," who have stood 
by the camp in all its trials and tribulations: John 
Tillman, D. J. Dannelley, Capt. A. L. Hunt, J. O. 
Bartenschlaeger, H. Moscowitz, N. H. Harley, W. 
H. Price, Lew Mallaby, W. P. AYilson, Col. C. F. 
Britsch. J. Q. Carter, Gen. S. B. Sherer, C. C. 
Woods, Col. E. P. Snow, Orson Hager, Eddie 
Beam, A. M. Beam, Samuel Aughey, I. E. Arnold, 
Frank Wise, W. C. King, J. B. Jewell, C. C. 
Chapin, E. J. Adams, Eldredge & Warner and C. 
G. Grove. 

The surrounding country is reasonably fertile. 



and yields good returns in crops of corn, wheat, 
oats, cotton, Irish and sweet potatoes and vegeta- 
bles of all kinds. Small fruits of every variety 

I common to the temperate zone, as grapes, pears, 
plums, apricots, persimmons, etc., grow wild and 
in abundance in the woods about the town, and are 

j in many instances equal in flavor to the cultivated 

fruits of the North. The adjoining forests are 

filled with many varieties of wood valuable for 

building purposes, the manufactureof furniture, etc. 

Prof. A. M. Beam and Samuel Aughey, old pi- 

I oneers of the camp, whose implicit faith in the 
existence there of gold and silver in paying quan- 
tities has never wavered or faltered, have toiled on 
and labored earnestly for the last two years under 
the most trying circumstances, endeavoring to ob- 
tain a solution of the problem of how to save the 
values in sufficient quantities to invite the attention 
and investment of capital in the development of 
the vast mineral resources of Bear Mountain Dis- 
trict, and their efforts seem about to be crowned 
with success in the discovery of what is known as 
the ' ' Beam Electric Process. ' ' A plant has been 
erected at what was formerly known as the Smith 
smelter, and continued runs for the last month, on 
the various ores of the district, in quantities rang- 
ing from 200 to 1,000 pounds have been made, and 
our information from reliable sources up to the 
hour of writing this article, is that they have been 
entirely satisfactory to all interested. 

The mineral deposits of this vicinity are new to 
this age and generation, and when the attention of 
capitalists is called to them, as it will be if it is 
once clearly and plainly demonstrated that profits 
can be secured from the ores by the electric proc- 
ess, the future of the country will no longer be in 
doubt, and Bear City will become the emporium of 
the great mining regions of Arkansas. 

Crystal Springs lie at the foot of Crystal Mount- 
ain, and are equidistant between Hot Springs and 
Mount Ida, and some four miles from Bear. A 
more attractive spot for a home can not be imag- 
ined, and the pure, health giving waters that 
abound here have already acquired a fame equal 
to those, if not superior, of noted and frequented 
watering places. 



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MONTGOMEKY COUNTY. 



475 



P. W. Williamson, dealer in dry goods, gro- 
ceries, etc., is the leading representative of the 
mercantile interests, and is largely interested in 
some of the best mining properties of this mineral 
region. 

This is also a mining district, and immense 
bodies of ore are found here, of which the sand- 
rock predominates. Here is located MofPett's 
smelter, erected at an outlay of $30,000, and in 
the event of its being finally demonstrated that 
paying values can be obtained from these ores, 
Oliver Moffett, son of Col. Moffett, and a mining 
man of large experience ^t Joplin, Mo. , who is now 
on the ground, will at once erect a large plant. 

Crystal has a fine school, and also church-house, 
and its people are noted for their generous hos- 
pitality to visitors. Among its prominent citizens 
may be mentioned SherifF Peden, Col. E. R. Mof- 
fett, W. H. Thorp, E. Spiva, G. L. Avarett and 
Col. C. H. Jacobs, all largely interested in mining 
property in the district. Many fine farms are lo- 
cated in this vicinity. 

A few miles from Crystal Springs is the famous 
Crystal Mountain, from whose summit the scene 
presented to the vision of the tourist is beautiful 
and grand beyond description. In this region are 
found crystals of the purest water, without fault 
or blemish, that are said, by old crystal diggers, 
to rival those of the crystal fields of the West. 

Silver City is eight and one-half miles from 
Mount Ida and thirty-two miles from Hot Springs, 
and ten years ago was a mining camp of considerable 
magnitude, but owing to misdirected efforts and bad 
management has of late been practically abandoned. 
The ores of this district consist of galena, gray 
copper, chlorides, etc., and assay up in the thou- 
sands. Old miners assert that all the indications 
point to the fact of rich mineral being deposited in 
and around Silver City, and the mining that has 
been done would seem to confirm this. The 
following are some of the mines it is claimed can 
be made producers, by the assistance of capital: 
The Waterloo, Silver King, Montezuma (patented). 
Mammoth, Walnut, Diamond Jo, and several other 
properties whose names we have not at hand. 
State Geologist Branner, in his report upon this 



mineral district, pronounces it meritorious and 
worthy of development. About one mile from 
Silver City is situated Elnora City, where the 
famous Elnora mine is located. This mine needs 
only the assistance of capital, to a limited extent, 
to put it on a paying basis, and it is believed that 
the coming fall will see the Elnora resume opera- 
tions. Dr. J. C. Bates, the physician and surgeon 
located here, Capt. Frank Pease, Judge J. J. 
Hayes and J. H. Fisher, of the Diamond Jo Hotel, 
are largely interested in mining property in Mount 
Ida Mining District, and capitalists seeking invest- 
ment or desiring information concerning the camp, 
should address them at Silver City. This is also a 
good farming country, and many of Montgomery 
County's substantial farmers reside in this neigh- 
borhood. 

Mount Ida is about equi- distant from Hot 
Springs on the east and Dallas on the west, Wal- 
dron on the north and Arkadelphia on the south. 
Situated as Prof. Branner says: " Upon the gravel 
terrace of an ancient river or lake, apparently at 
the mouth or in the course of a tributary stream 
from the south," it is, nevertheless, high, level and 
dr}'; and overlooking, as it does, the beautiful 
valley of the South Fork of the Ouachita River, and 
in sight of splendid farms and beautiful mountain 
scenery, it is instinctively decided to be a health- 
ful and delightful hamlet. Within the last two 
years it has doubled its poj)ulation and business, 
and to-day is evincing greater signs of progress 
than at any time in the past. Being the county 
site — centrally situated in the county — in the very 
heart of the mining belt, with the Ouachita River 
(South Fork), Twin Creeks and Williams' Creek, 
all with their rich fields and valleys close by, we 
do not exaggerate when we claim that the next few 
years will very greatly augment its population. 
Watkins Bros., and Mrs. G. W. Golden, dealers 
in dry goods, groceries, etc., and C. A. Abernathy, 
dealer in lumber, lath and shingles, and also in 
flour, represent the mercantile interests; Watkins 
& Witt, attorneys at law, and R. C. Roberts, phy- 
sician and surgeon, the professional; and N. B. 
Riffe, general blacksmith and wood-worker, the 
mechanical. The Mount Ida High School takes 



A 



476 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



rank as a first-class educational institution, under 
the able direction of Prof. "W. G. Fail and Lis ac- 
complished daughter, Miss Annie. A commodious 
and elegant church building, erected by the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, used alike by 
the several Christian denominations composing the 
population of the village and adjacent country, 
adorns and beautifies the southwestern part of the 
town. 

We venture the assertion there is no town or 
village in the I^Qited States of the same age that 
can say as much for the health of its citizens. We 
are told that none of its citizens or business men, 
while living here, except Sheriff Golden, have 
shuffled off this mortal coil, although it has been 
a small town for about fifty years, and many of its 
citizens have resided here for a long time. The 
Montgomery County Herald is published here, and 
has a large and steadily increasing circulation. It 
is now in its first volume, is a five-column folio, 
neatly printed and well edited, and is the only 
newspaper in the county. Col. William Cochran 
is the editor, and G. Witt, business manager. 

Caddo Gap is eighteen miles from Mount Ida 
and thirty-five miles from Hot Springs and one- 
quarter of a mile below the famous Gap, west of 
the river. Splendid farms are to be seen in all 
directions, the soil and climate being admirably 
adapted for cereals and cotton. Fruits of all 
kinds yield prolifically in the Caddo Valley. 
Above the noted Gap is situated the Caddo Cove, 
and the picturesque and romantic scenery that is 
presented to the vision at this point is entrancing; 
it embraces an area of six miles north and one to 
three miles east and west, and is said to be one of 
the most fertile spots in the county. The Caddo 
is a favorite resort for disciples of Izaak Walton, 
the choicest varieties of the finny tribe inhabiting 
its waters. The following are some of the substan- 
tial farmers of this vicinity: W. A. Hopper, John 
Welch, J. F. Hopper, W. S. Duling, Mart Hol- 
den,Vaught Brothers, Bob Peel, J. N. Wasson, 
W. S. Autrey, Jeff Collier, W. O. Diffie, Judge 
Vaught and Judge West; J. F. Hopper and S. M. 
Collier represent the mercantile interest, and Dr. 
A. S. Logan the professional. 



Black Springs is nine miles southwest of Mount 
Ida on the Hot Springs and Dallas road and near 
the Caddo River, near the center of the valley of 
the Caddo, noted for its fertility and heretofore 
described. The population is about 250 and the 
surrounding country is well settled up. It is near 
the survey of the Fort Smith & Gurdon Railway, 
and bids fair to become a commercial center of 
some note if the road is built. F. Gross carries 
one of the largest stocks of general merchandise 
in the county, and the Rowton Bros, are also 
wideawake and enterprising merchants, doing a 
good business. Its altitude is about 1,000 feet 
above the sea level, is high, dry and healthy, with 
good schools and good society. It is about six 
miles from the State House Mountain, supposed to 
be rich in manganese. 

Buckville is a flourishing little town eighteen 
miles east of Mount Ida, and twenty two miles north- 
west of Hot Springs. Many of the solid farmers 
of the county reside in this locality. Cotton and 
corn are the principal products. The population is 
estimated at about 100. In the event of the electric 
process becoming an assured success this region 
will become a great mining district, as there are 
inexhaustible mineral deposits here, sand rock pre- 
dominating. J. W. Freeman represents the mer- 
cantile interest, also having a large cattle ranch; 
J. W. Martin is the mill man. 

Cedar Glades has a population of 250, is twenty- 
two miles east of Mount Ida and twenty miles north- 
west of Hot Springs, and is surrounded by a good 
farming country. There is a good school-house 
here. Speer Brothers, A. J. Cotnam and William 
Ray represent the mercantile interest, and R. J. 
Housely is the mill man, and B. F. Carrollton the 
cabinet workman; Sharp & Boone, general black- 
smiths and woodworkers. 

Chapmondville is a flourishing village in Sul- 
! phur Township, situated ten miles from Mount 
i Ida and forty miles from Hot Springs, on the 
! Danville and Mount Ida road. This is a splendid 
,' farming country — the Ouachita River running 
I through the township. The principal products 
are cotton and corn. Considerable live stock, 
principally cattle, is raised here. Several churches, 



^' 



^k. 



MONTGOMEKY COUNTY. 



47\ 



of almost every denomination, and also a flourish- 
ing Sunday-school, are in this vicinity. There are 
also several good public schools. Thomas L. 
Chapmond is the general merchant at Chapmond- 
ville. G. W. Maddox has a cotton-gin, saw and 
grist-mill, and Dr. A. J. Poole, physician and 
surgeon, is located here. 

Hickory Station is thirty-three miles from Hot 
Springs and twenty-two from Mount Ida. In this 
locality will be found some of the finest upland in 
Montgomery County. There is an abundance of 
fine water, and the country is well timbered. The 
population of this vicinity is about 500. Good 
school facilities exist here. G. A. Tackett is the 
general merchant and mill man, and Assessor 
George B. Willis resides here. Lucky is a little 
hamlet of about fifty souls; has a steam saw and 
grist-mill with cotton-gin attached, owned by 
Short & Montgomery; has also a post office and 
"pin-hook" store. It is situated twenty-five 
miles southwest of Mount Ida, twenty-five miles 
west of Hot Springs, and is peopled and sur- 
rounded by an industrious people. A correspond- 
ent writes us that this would be a good location 
for a general merchandise business. Oden is lo- 
cated some twelve miles west of Mount Ida, and 
has a population of about 150. The mercantile 
interests here are represented by H. S. Goodner, 
Philpot & Sims and James Allen. The latter car- 
ries a large stock of general merchandise. This 
village is situated on the survey of the Fort Smith 
& Gurdon Eailroad. 

The first thing found on record pertaining to 
education in the county was the appointment, in 
January, 1846, by the county court of three school 
commissioners, being the following named gentle- 
men: Isaac Denton, Granville AVhittington and 
John Shipp. There were no free schools, how- 
ever, supported by taxation until the free school 
system was inaugurated after the close of the Civil 
War of 1861-65. Prior thereto a few subscription 
schools were taught in the settlements having 
enough children to compose a school. The teach- 
ers were paid directly by the parents or guardians 
of the children sent to school, and, consequently, 
the children whose parents were not able thiis to 



pay for educational facilities, were deprived of 
school advantages. The following statistics, taken 
from the last published report of the State super- 
intendent of public instruction, it being for the 
year ending, June 30, 1888, will serve to shov? the 
extent of the educational facilities of the county 
under the present school system: Scholastic pop 
ulation, white males, 1,446, females, 1,377; total, 
2,823; colored males, 64, females, 79; total 143. 
Number of pupils taught in public schools: white, 
males, 792; females, 637; total, 1,429; colored, 
males, 30; females, 22; total, 52. Number of 
school districts, 59; number reporting, 31 ; num- 
ber of teachers employed, males, 27; females, 
2; total, 29; average monthly salaries paid teach- 
ers, first grade, males, $38.75; females, none em- 
ployed; second grade, males, 133.20, females, 
$25; third grade, males, $33.31; females, $24.15. 
Revenue received for the support of the com- 
mon schools: / 

Amount on hand July 1, 1887 f 4,090 81 

Common school fiintl 2,28175 

District tax 975 60 

Poll tax 1,179 90 

Othersources 26 60 

$8,554 66 

Revenue expended for the support of the com- 
mon schools: 

Teachers' salaries $3,731 .33 

Building and repairing 91 38 

Treasurer's commission 89 27 

Other purposes 28 85 

*Total expended |3,980 83 

Balance on hand f 4,573 83 

These statistics make it appear that only about 
one-half of the white and a little over one-third of the 
colored scholastic population were taught in the pub- 
lic schools. But the report is not full and does not 
give the whole number of children attending school. 
In submitting his report, in September, 1888, to 
the State superintendent of public instruction, 

* The official report above referred to, after giving tlie items ex- 
pended, gives the aggregate at .SS.SST.SS, and the balance on hand at 
.S4,G16.83 ; hence an error exists in tlie figures, either in the items or 
aggregates. 



^^ 



IV 



4 



« ki. 



478 



^. -. .. — — _ f, , -. _-^ . ,, ,- ^ 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



*k^ 



Prof. W. G. Fail, county examiner, wrote as fol- 
lows: 

Dear Sir— I herewith enclo.9e ray annual report 
for the year ending June 30, 1888. 

The report is incomplete, and this is due to the fact 
that the directors do not recognize the importance of 
maldng full reports. The people of this county are 
awakening to their educational interests, and the last few 
years have developed such an interest in schools as to 
warrant the assertion that Montgomery will soon be in 
the front rank in point of schools and education. A ma- 
jority of the districts vote a 5 mill tax, and the public 
school system is rapidly growing iu favor. 

I have no .suggestion to make in regard to a change in 
the school law, unless it be amended so that the districts 
be made larger, the number of directors be reduced to 
one, and that one be required to attend more minutely to 
the duties of the office, and receive compensation for 
same. 

Although Montgomery County can not boast of 
fine school-houses and numerous church spires 
towering heavenward, it has schools and church 
oganizations in every settlement where there is a 
sufficient population to maintain them. Here and 
there can be found an unpretentious school-house, 
erected near a fine spring of living water, the 
building serving also the purpose of a house of 
worship for whatever denomination of Christians 
may congregate there for that purpose. The lead- 
ing religious sects in the county are the Methodists, 
largely in the ascendancy. Baptists, both Primitive 
and Missionary, Christian and Church of God. 
Only a few church houses have been erected, the 
location of most of them having been mentioned in 
connection with the villages. In the early days 
religious services were held in private houses and 
in "the leafy grove," and later in the school- 
houses and church edifices, where they still con- 
tinue to be held. Although there has long been a 
church organization at Mount Ida, the county seat, 
the first edifice — a fine large frame structure — ever 
erected there was put up in 1888. In all thickly 
settled places Sunday-schools are taught in connec- 
tion with the church organizations, and much good 
is accomplished and the cause of Christianity is 
advanced. 



Martin Stephen Bates is a man whom nature 
seems to have especially designed to be a planter, 
for he has met with a more than average degree 
of success in pursuing that calling, and owing to 
his desire to keep out of the beaten path and to his 
adoption of new and improved methods he is now 
the owner of a good plantation. He was born in 
Cherokee County, Ga., March 2, 1843, a son of 
Elder J. R. and Mary Ann (Dobbs) Bates, the 
former a native of Sottth Carolina and the latter of 
Georgia. When a boy Mr. Bates went to Georgia 
with hia parents, there grew to manhood, married 
and lived until 1870, when he came to Scott 
County, Ark., having traveled over the county in 
1848 and reported it a good one. At the above- 
mentioned date he and sixty other persons came 
here, and now 1,000 persons are the offspring of 
the members of this colony. Mr. Bates lived in 
Scott County until 1877, then came to near Mt. Ida, 
and here quietly breathed his last at the ago of 
seventy-six years. He had studied medicine when 
a young man, and although he practiced his profes- 
sion for about forty years before coming to this 
State, he afterward gave his attention to farming. 
In 1868 he joined the Primitive Baptist Church, 
was ordained an elder soon after, and preached the 
gospel until his death. He was a Mason for many 
years, was a Democrat politically, and while in 
Georgia and also Scott County, Ark., held the 
office of justice of the peace. He helped remove 
the Indians to their reservation west of the Missis- 
sippi River, being an officer. The Bates family- 
are of Scotch and English descent, the grand- 
father, Stephen Bates, being a Virginia planter 
and a son of William Bates, one of the wealthiest 
men of the Old Dominion. The mother of the 
subject of this sketch is atill living and resides on 
the old homestead in Arkansas, being now seventy 
years of age. She has been a member of the 
Missionary Baptist Church for twenty- five years, 
and has always been a kind, considerate Christian 
lady. Of a family of fourteen children she bore 
her husband, Martin Stephen is their fifth son. 
In his youth he was given the advantages of the 
schools of Cherokee County, Ga. , but pttt aside his 
books in 1861 to join the Confederate Army, be- 



-^^ 



•^ 



MONTGOMEEY COUNTY. 



479 



coming a member of Company G, Twenty-third 
Georgia Infantry, with which he served four years, 
taking part in many battles: Siege of Yorktown, 
Seven Pines, Williamsburg, besides many others, 
but escaped without receiving a wound or being 
taken prisoner. At the close of the war he com- 
menced to farm for himself, but in 1870 left his 
native State, and for two years was a resident of 
Scott County, Ark., at the end of which time he 
came to Montgomery County, settling on the old 
Willard place on Caddo road, which he has 
improved with excellent buildings, fences, orchard, 
etc. On coming here he was without means, but 
his efForts have been attended with success, and he 
now owns a good farm, on which he raises excel- 
lent crops. In 1874 he joined the Primitive Bap- 
tist Church, was ordained one of its elders eight 
years since, and has since been engaged in preach- 
ing the Gospel. He was married, in 1806, to 
Miss Eliazbeth Brooks, and eight sons and four 
daughters have been born to their union, seven 
sons and one daughter now living. Mrs. Bates is 
also a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, 
and Mr. Bates is a stanch Democrat. 

William J. Bowers. In the fertile agricultural 
region of Montgomery County, Ark. , Mr. Bowers 
has given his attention to tilling the soil, and as he 
has always been industrious, economical and enter- 
prising, he has accumulated a fair share of this 
world's goods and is now in independent circum- 
stances. He was born in Jackson County, Ala., in 
1847, to Adam and Susanna (Darnell) Bowers, the 
former a Virginian, born in 1802, and the latter in 
Georgia, in 1804. In 1849 they removed to Ten- 
nessee, and about 1870 to Woodi-uff County, Ark., 
where Mrs. Bowers died in 1876 or 1877, Mr. Bow- 
ers afterward removing to Texas, where he was 
called from earth about 1878, he, as well as his 
wife, being an earnest member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church. He was one of the honest " sons 
of the soil," and as a law abiding and public-spir- 
ited citizen became well known in the different 
localities in which he resided. William J. Bowers 
is the youngest of the seven children bora to 
these parents, and as he was put to work on the 
■■arm at an early day and kept busily employed, 



his school days were limited indeed. After he had 
attained his majority he began an independent 
career, and as he had acquired a thorough knowl- 
edge of farming on his father's farm he has given 
that calling his undivided attention up to the pres- 
ent time, and is now the owner of an excellent 
tract of land of 200 acres four miles south of 
Mount Ida, all of which propertj' he has acquired 
by his own industry and good management. He 
was married in the State of Tennessee in August, 
1876, to Miss L. C. Thompson, who died in Van 
Buren County, Ark., in 1881, leaving Mr. Bowers 
with a family of four children to care for. His 
second marriage took place in Texas in 1886 to 
Miss Fannie D. Goforth, and their union has re- 
sulted in the birth of two interesting little chil- 
dren. From 1875 to 1880 Mr. Bowers was a resi- 
dent of the Lone Star State, but after one year's 
residence in Van Buren County, Ark., he again 
removed to Texas, which State was his home up to 
1886. The two following years were spent in Pike 
County, Ark. , but since that time he has resided 
on his present farm, which is one of the neatest 
and best kept in this section of the county. He 
is a member of the Methodist Church, of which his 
first wife was also a member. 

Jefferson Collier is one who has long been 
identified with the farming interests of this sec- 
tion, but he has also used his interests in further- 
ing all worthy enterprises, and as a result has the 
confidence, respect and esteem of his fellow-men. 
He was born on Collier's Creek, in this county, on 
June 15, 1820, to Martin and Mary Belle (Ander- 
son) CoUier, the former born in Tennessee and the 
latter in Kentucky, in which State their marriage 
nuptials were celebrated. About 1812 they came 
to what is now Montgomery County, and settled on 
Caddo Creek, about twenty miles from any white 
settler, but did not remain here long, soon moving 
to what is now known as Collier's Creek, where 
they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying 
about 1822 and the mother on August 30, 1861, a 
member of the Baptist Church. For many years 
their nearest trading point was Little Hock, and 
their nearest blacksmith's shop twenty-five miles 
distant. As it was thirty miles to a flouring-mill, 






^^ 



Q !^ 



■^ 9 



k^ 



480 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



tliey often used a mortar instead of making that 
long (and as there were no roads at that time), 
tedious journey. There were no schools, so the 
early education of their children was sadly neg- 
lected, and as the husband and father died at an 
early day, his widow was left with ten children to 
care for in this vast wilderness, three or four 
miles from any neighbor. She nobly discharged 
every duty, and her children now ' ' rise up and 
call her blessed." Jefferson Collier is the youngest 
of the family, and as he received no advantages in 
his youth, he often felt the need of it, and after 
his marriage, began applying himself to his books) 
and thus obtained a fair education. He was mar- 
ried in August, 1842, to Miss Susanna, daughter 
of Thomas and Lydia Markham, natives of Illinois, 
who came to Arkansas in a very early day and in 
1835, to what is now Montgomery County, settling 
above Caddo Gap and there passing from life prior 
to the war. Mrs. Collier was born in Randolph 
County, Ark., in 1825, and has borne her husband 
fifteen children, four sons and seven daugh- 
ters now living. When first married he set- 
tled on his present farm, which was then an old 
abandoned place, and this farm of 270 acres has 
been his home for nearly fifty years. He is the oldest 
native resident of the county, and throughout his 
long and useful career here, has kept his name un- 
spotted from the world. Just after the war he was 
elected to the State Senate, but did not qualify. 
He served all through the Confederate Army, in a 
company of Arkansas Cavalry, with Capt. William 
Carroll, and was one of the brave and intrepid 
' ' boys in gray. ' ' He has been a member of the 
A. F. & A. M. since 1854, being now a member of 
New Hope Lodge No. 42. He organized Cedar 
Glades Lodge, and Mount Ida Lodge, and for 
some time served as their worshipful master. He 
and his most worthy wife have been citizens who 
command the respect of all who know them, and for 
many years they have been members of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church. They have lived a happy 
wedded life of nearly half a century and are yet 
in the enjoyment of good health. They have reared 
a large family of children to honorable manhood and 
womanhood, and the following are those who are 



living at the present time: L)dia E. (wife of 
Thomas White), Charlr's W. (of Texas), Harrison 
R. (the present surveyor of Montgomery County, 
and one of its best educators), Alfred M., Marga- 
ret (wife of William Robinson), Arzelia G. (wife of 
A. F. Maner), Matilda F. (wife of William Reece), 
Nancy J. (wife of Milton Robins), Ruthy Eleanor 
(wife of Franklin L. Cash) and Cynthia L. (wife of 
John J. Peart of Illinois). <Iohn W. Collier died 
at Camden while serving in the Confederate Army. 
Charles also served the Confederate cause. Mr. 
Collier was reared in the wilds of this county, 
and is probably more familiar with the early his- 
tory of this county than any other one of its citi- 
zens. As an illustration of the expedients to which 
the early settlers were sometimes obliged to resort 
Mr. Collier tells of how his mother at one time " knit 
a pair of socks, from the wool which she picked 
from the head of a buffalo, and sold them to a 
merchant for a pair of cotton cards. Cards at that 
time sold for $10 a pair. The merchant's name 
was William Barkman. My father was the first 
settler on Collier's Creek. He shot a buffalo from 
his camp-pole, and I now live within a mile of the 
same place." 

Henry S. Goodner, general merchant and farm- 
er, residing near Mount Ida, Ark. , is justly con- 
ceded a place among the enterprising, influen- 
tial men of worth in this community. He was 
born in Wayne County, Tenn., in 1827, to John 
C. and Susanna (Smith) Goodner, who were born 
in Tennessee in 1801 and 1804, respectively, and 
until the subject of this sketch was twelve or thir- 
teen years of age they resided in different parts of 
West Tennessee, moving then to Tippah County, 
Miss., where they made their home until 1851. 
They then became residents of Montgomery Coun- 
ty, Ark., settling near where Oden now is, at which 
place they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Goodner 
dying in 1872 and his wife in 1863, the former be- 
ing a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, 
and a farmer by occupation. His father, Henry 
Goodner, was born in Germany, and when a young 
man came to the United States, and was probably 
married in Maryland, his death occurring in Ala- 
bama, a tiller of the soil, having been a soldier in 



lY 



fv 



^* — ^ 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



481 



.^ 
f®"* 



the War of 1812. The maternal grandfather, John 
Smith, was in all probability born in the Old North 
State, and died in Wayne County, Tenn., a 
worthy agriculturist. ^he immediate subject of 
this sketch is the second in a family of five eons 
and one daughter, and his youth was spent in la- 
boring on his father's home place. He was given 
the advantages of the common schools, near his 
home, and in the State of Mississippi was married 
in 1848 to Miss Miriam, daughter of George and 
Nancy Willhite, who died in Tippah County, Miss., 
Mr. Willhite also being a farmer. Mrs. Goodner 
was born in Alabama, and has become the mother 
of fourteen children, five sons and seven daughters 
living. In 1851 Mr. Goodner came to Montgom- 
ery County, Ark. , and has since been a resident of 
Polk Township, where he owns a line farm of 300 
acres, 90 acres under cultivation. For the past 
six years he has been engaged in merchandising 
also, and is accounted one of the substantial busi- 
ness men of this section of the country. In June, 
1862, he joined Company I, Grimstead's regiment 
of Arkansas troops, and was in the engagements at 
Prairie Grove and at the evacuation of Little Rock. 
He was then furloughed home, where he was capt- 
iTred in December, 1863, but after being released, 
was again captured in September, 1864, at Fort 
Gibson, Ind. Ty. , and was kept in the stock- 
ade at Tyler, Tex., until after the war. Since 
then he has been with his family in Arkansas. He 
served some years as justice of the peace, and in 
1876 was elected sheriff of Montgomery County, 
being re-elected in 1878 and again in 1880. Since 
then he has given his attention to his own business 
affairs, with the above mentioned results. Socially 
he is a member of Mount Ida Lodge No. 140 of 
the A. F. & A. M. 

AV. B. Goodner, M. D., has been a resident of 
this section all his life, for he was born in Polk 
Township, of Montgomery County, in 1857, to 
James M. and Elizabeth (Logan) Goodner, the 
former born in Waynesboro, Tenn., in 1833, and 
the latter in Clark County, Ark., in 1836, their 
marriage being consummated in Montgomery 
County, where Mrs. Goodner died in 1877, and 
Mr. Goodner is still residing, a well-known citizen. 



He served through the Rebellion in the Confeder- 
ate Army as a commissioned officer in the Trans- 
Mississippi Department. For a number of years he 
has been a member of the Baptist Church and the 
A. F. & A. M. His father, John C. Goodner, 
came to this county from Tennessee in an early 
day, and here spent the latter part of his life as a 
farmer, having previously been a tanner. He was 
of German parentage, and passed from life after 
the close of the Civil War. The grandfather, Will- 
iam Logan, was a pioneer farmer of Clark County, 
Ark., was of Scotch descent, and passed from life 
prior to the war. Dr. W. B. Goodner is the second 
of nine children, six now living, and spent his 
youth on his father's farm, his education being re- 
ceived at Bellefonte. At the age of twenty one 
he began the study of medicine, which he continued 
for several years, and in 1883 commenced practic- 
ing at Mount Ida, where he remained for nearly 
two years, during which time he acquired a good 
practice. Since then he has resided at Black 
Springs, where he has acquired an excellent repu- 
tation as a practitioner of the "healing art." He 
was married in 1878 to Lucy, daughter of H. S. 
and Laurena Goodner, who are residents of Polk 
Township. The Doctor's wife was born in that 
township, and she has borne her husband one 
child, a daughter. They are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South, and for one 
year, from 1886 to 1887, the Doctor was postmaster 
at Black Springs. He has been president of the 
board of medical examiners of Montgomery County 
for six years. 

Dr. W. W. Hargrove is a practicing physician 
and surgeon and farmer of Oden, Ark., was born 
in Tippah County, Miss., in 1844, to James W. 
and Martha Ann (Poole) Hargrove, who were born 
in Alabama and Mississippi, respectively, their 
marriage taking place in the last named State, 
from which they moved to Texas about 1849. In 
1851 they came to Madison County, Ark., and in 
1861 to Montgomery County, where Mr. Hargrove 
died in 1863, his widow passing to her long home 
in Scott County, Ark., in 1886, a worthy member of 
the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Hargrove 
was a farmer, a son of Lindsey Hargrove. Dr. 



-*f^ 



482 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



W. W. Hargro.ve was the eldest in a family of five 
sons and four daughters, but as he was put to 
work on his father's farm at an early day, he re- 
ceived but little schooling. In 1863 he joined 
Witherspoon's battalion and operated in Arkansas, 
Louisiana and Texas, taking part in the engage- 
ments at Jenkins' Ferry, Pine BlufJ', Poison 
Springs and Mark's Mill. His regiment was dis- 
banded at Corsicana, Tex. , at the close of the war, 
after which he returned to Arkansas aud began 
farming in Scott County, where he made his home 
until 1877, when he took up the study of medicine 
with Dr. J. W. Smith, remaining with him for 
about three years, since which time he has prac- 
ticed with success, and has a good and paying 
practice. He was married in 1866 in Montgom- 
ery County to Miss Nancy A. , daughter of Leonard 
andAxeyE. Jackson, natives of Tennessee, who first 
moved from their native State to Missouri, thence 
to Clark County, Ark. , and then to Montgomery 
County, whei'e the mother is still living, the father 
having died in Scott County in 1886. Mrs. Har- 
grove was born in Missouri. She has borne her 
husband ten children, of whom nine are living. 
In 1885 Mr. Hargrove came here from Scott 
County, and of a farm of 120 acres of which he 
is the owner, he has eighty acres cleared and 
under cultivation, well supplied with good build- 
ings. He was justice of the peace in Scott County 
for some time, and he and his wife are Methodists. 
Isaac P. Hollifield is a well-known farmer re- 
siding near Black Springs, Ark., but he first saw 
the light of day in Murray County, Ga. , in 1844, 
being the eldest of nine children born to the mar- 
riage of Jacob Hollifield and Lucretia Gordon, both 
of whom were born in North Carolina, the former 
in 1814, their marriage taking place in Murray 
County, Ga. , where they lived iintil 1869, at which 
time they became residents of Pulaski County, Ark., 
and later of Garland County. Since 1873 the fam- 
ily have made their home in Montgomery County, 
and although the mother has passed to her long 
home, Mr. Hollifield still resides here, a farmer. 
He has been justice of the peace some years, has 
acquitted himself with credit while holding this office 
and as a man and citizen is substantial and to be 



relied upon. His father, Isaac Hollifield, was born 
in Europe, and when a young man, came to the 
United States and spent the rest of his days in the 
Old North State, where he passed from life. John 
Gordon, the maternal grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, was a North Carolinian, who passed 
from life in Georgia, having spent many years as 
a farmer of that State. Isaac P. Hollifield was 
given a limited early school education, and in 1869, 
while still a resident of Georgia, he was married 
to Miss Missouri, daughter of Ellis and Permelia 
Sloan, who were born in Tennessee and North 
Carolina respectively, and in 1881 came from 
Georgia to Montgomerj- County, Ark., where, up 
to the present time, they have made their home, 
Mr. Sloan being one of the honest ''sons of the 
soil.'' Mrs. Hollifield was born in Whitefield 
County, Ga., and has borne her husband six chil- 
dren, one son and two daughters now living. In 
1869 Mr. Hollifield came to Conway County, and 
in 1870 to Clark County, but has been a worthy 
and fairly successful agriculturist of Montgomery 
County since 1872, being a resident of his present 
farm of 105 acres for the past twelve years. Of 
this farm he has fifty acres cleared, and his place 
is considered one of the neatest and best kept in 
this section. He is a member of New Hope Lodge 
No. 42, of the A. F. & A. M., and he and his wife 
are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

^Villiam A. Hopper has now reached the age of 
sixty-three years, and although he has been a suc- 
cessful farmer, he is now living retired from the 
active duties of life. He was born in Lincoln 
County, Tenn., in 1827, to James and Celia (Hil- 
liard) Hopper, who were born in North Carolina, 
married in Tennessee, and spent their lives in the 
last named State, dying since the war, both mem- 
bers of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. Hopper 
was a son of John Hopper, who died of measles at 
New Orleans while serving in the War of 1812. 
William A. Hopper is the eldest of their nine chil- 
dren, and was reared on a farm, obtaining a com- 
mon-school education. He was married in Lincoln 
County, Tenn., in 1848, to Julia, daughter of John 
Basinger, who passed from life in that county. 
Mrs. Hopper was born in Lincoln County, and 






« s>^ 



^ 



MONTGOMEEY COUNTY. 



483 



( 



died in 1875, having become the mother of eight 
children: Barsheba J. (wife of W. C. Middleton), 
James M. (of Texas), John F., George W., Celia 
Ann (wife of Mr. Hewiu, of Pike County), Joseph 
H. (of Texas), Alex Marion and Mattie (the last 
two named dying when young). Mr. Hopper's 
second marriage took place in 1876, his wife being 
a daughter of Joshua and Phoebe A. Williams, who 
were born in Tennessee and Arkansas, respectively. 
Mr. AVilliams died in Murfreesboro, Ark., in 1866, 
and his wife in Montgomery County in 1888. Mrs. 
Hopper was born in Pike County of this State, 
and has one daughter. She and her husband have 
an adopted son also whom they have reared from 
infancy, he being now nine years of age. His 
name is Benjamin L. In 1849 Mr. Hopper came 
to Clark County, and settled on Caddo Creek, and 
in 1851 moved up the Caddo to Montgomery 
County, where he has lived ever since. He has 
improved three farms, and is one of the leading 
agriculturists of this region, being the owner of 
about 1,000 acres of land, 300 of which are cleared, 
the results of his own efPorts. After the war he 
followed the occupation of merchandising in con- 
nection with farming until a few years since, when 
he was compelled to abandon business on account 
of ill health caused by paralysis. During the early 
part of the Rebellion he served in McNairy's regi- 
ment for about three months, the same length of 
time being spent in the latter part of the war in 
Oosley's battalion. He is a member of New Hope 
Lodge No 42, of the A. F. & A. M. , belongs to the 
Farmers' Alliance also, and is a member of the 
Christian Church, both his wives being members 
also. 

Robert J. Housley enjoys the reputation of be- 
ing, not only a substantial and progressive farmer, 
but an intelligent and thoroughly posted man in 
all public afPairs. He is well known for honorable, 
upright dealing, and no man in this section of the 
country bears a better reputation than he. He 
was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., February 
14, 1840, to George W. and Sarah J. (Elder) 
Housley, they being born in JefFerson and Meigs 
Counties, Tenn., respectively, their marriage tak- 
ing place at Decatur, Tenn. After living in that 



neighborhood for some time they moved to Hamil- 
ton County, and from that place came to Mont- 
gomery County, Ark., in 187], the father's death 
occurring here in 1884, at the age of sixty-three, 
and the mother's in 1886, when sixty-five years 
old, both being members of the Missionary Baptist 
Church. Mr. Housley was a clerk in this church, 
was a Democrat in his political views, and, being 
a Mason, was buried with Masonic honors. Dur- 
ing the war with Mexico he was a volunteer, and 
started for the scene of action, but the war ended 
before he reached that country. He was a farmer 
and merchant, and was at one time the owner of 
1,700 acres of fine land on Savannah Creek. He 
was of English extraction. His marriage was 
blessed in the birth of eight children, of whom 
Robert J. Housley was the eldest. He spent his 
school days in Hamilton County, Tenn., and was 
an attendant of the Academy on Waldon's Ridge. 
At the age of sixteen years he left home and came 
to Arkansas, and since that time has resided near 
Cedar Glades, in Montgomery County. He has 
an excellent tract of land comprising 360 acres, 
and, although he has 150 acres cleared and under 
cultivation, the rest is in woodland. In Septem- 
ber, 1862, he joined the First East Tennessee 
Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, be- 
ing in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary 
Ridge, Knoxville, and Marion, Va. , where he was 
wounded by a spent ball, but not seriously. He 
was at Greenville when John H. Morgan was 
killed. After the war he was absolutely without 
means, with the exception of a good constitution 
and the determination to make a success of his 
life, and first began operating a gin and mill as a 
means to this end, his efforts meeting with the 
above mentioned results. On October 2, 1859, he 
was married to Miss Sarah I. Freeman, daughter 
of John A. Freeman, a Hamilton County, Tennes- 
seean, who died July 14, 1887. Of a family of 
eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Housley, five 
are now living: John W. (a merchant of Hot 
Springs), James N., Montie T. (wife of James Q. 
Ryan, a farmer of this county), Joseph J. and 
William M. On April 17, 1888, Mr. Housley was 
married to Miss Nancy E. Bird, of Scott County, 



(T' 



iv 



.-.. - .'■^^ . .. .^^.-^ .- -^.^ . ... ^., .. - ^ -w 



^ 



484 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



Tenn., and by ber has one child, Ada Pearl. Mr. 
Housley has been a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church since 1860, and socially belongs to 
Henderson Lodge No. 147, of the A. F. & A. M. 
He is a Democrat, has been justice of the ^aeace 
six years, notary public five years, and postmaster 
since 1883. 

Jesse Irby, a farmer of Caddo Township, 
Montgomery County, Ark., was born in Madison 
County, Ala., in 1840 to Dudley G. and Elizabeth 
(Vaughn) Irby, the former born in Virginia in 1809, 
and the latter in Kentucky in 1823, their marriage 
occurring on Blue-Orass soil. After residing some 
years in Alabama they returned to Kentucky, where 
Mr. Irby died in 1873, and his widow in 1878, 
she a member of the Christian Church. He was 
a farmer, and for four years was shei'iff of Union 
County, having previously been county and pro- 
bate judge. He was a soldier in the Florida and 
Mexican Wars, and was a member of the I. O. O. 
F. His father, William Irby, was Ijorn in Pitt- 
sylvania County, Va. , served in the Revolutionary 
War, and died a farmer of Madison County, Ala. 
John Irby, his father, was born in Scotland and 
died at his son's birthplace in Virginia. William 
Vaughn, Mrs. Irby's father, was of German origin 
and died in Union County, Ky. The subject of 
this sketch is the eldest of seven sons and three 
daughters, three sons and two daughters now liv- 
ing, and he is the only one that resides in this 
county. He never received a day's schooling in 
his youth, but at the age of eighteen years he left 
his home in Kentucky, and started out to seek his 
fortune, in time reaching Northeastern Arkansas, 
where he worked as a farm hand until the opening 
of the war, then returned to Kentucky, and joined 
Company D, Second Kentucky Cavalry, his first 
engagement being Sacramento, Ky. At the capt- 
ure of Fort Donelson he was one who made his 
escape with Gen. Forrest, but in May of the same 
year was captured at Farmington, Miss., and was 
in prison at Alton, 111., until October, 1802. He 
afterward joined Gen. John Morgan's command, 
and was with him on his famous raid into Indiana 
and Ohio. He was captured at Buffington Island, 
Ind., and for about two months was a prisoner at 



Rock Island, after which he served as forage mas- 
ter for Gen. Breckinridge until the close of the 
war. In 1860 he went to Texas, but soon after re- 
turned to what is now Clay County, Ark. , and in 
1808 was married to Isabelle, daughter of James 
and Elizabeth Miller, who were born in Decatur 
County, Tenn., from whence they removed to 
Greene County, Ark., at which place Mr. Miller's 
death occurred in 1805, his widow still residing 
there. Mrs. Irby was born in Greene County, and 
of the eleven children she has borne her husband, 
six are living. Soon after his marriage Mr. 
Irby returned to Texas where he lived until 1880, 
then moved to the Chickasaw Nation and in 1889, 
to his present farm of 198 acres in Montgomery 
County, of which he has 120 acres cleared. He 
was deputy sheriff and constable in Cook and 
Greyson Counties, Tex. , and for two years served 
as a ranger on the frontier. During his residence 
in the Chickasaw Nation he was a licensed Indian 
trader for four years and learned to converse read- 
ily with the Chiekasaws. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and belongs to the Christian Church. 
James F. Jeffrey. This worthy agriculturist is 
the son of John H. Jeffrey, who during his resi- 
dence here from 1839 until his death in 1884 was 
prominently identified with the county's interests, 
and his memory is cherished by a host of friends 
and acquaintances who survive him. He was mar- 
ried here to Miss Harriet R. Flemming, both of 
whom were born near Tuscaloosa, Ala., he in 1822 
and she in 1826, her death occurring in 1862, both 
being members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
After the death of his wife Mr. Jeffrey was after- 
ward married twice. He was a farmer and tanner 
by occupation, was a member of the A. F. & A. M., 
and for a short time served in the Confederate 
Army. His father, James Jeffrey, was of Cherokee 
Indian blood, was one of the early settlers of Mont- 
gomery County, Ark., but resided here only a few 
years, when he went to Caldwell County, Tex., 
there dying in 1860, having been with Crockett in 
the Florida War. James Flemming, the maternal 
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also 
one of the early settlers of this region, and in an 
early day served as clerk of this county. He was 



f 



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t 



liL 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



485 



a tanner and teacher by occupation, and passed 
from life in this county in November, 1860. James 
F. Jeffrey was born in this county in 1847, being 
the third of nine children. He was reared on a 
farm with but few educational advantages, and in 
1863 joined Company F, Tom Grunter's regiment of 
Cabel's brigade of cavalry, and was afterward in 
the infantry in Southern Arkansas, Louisiana and 
Texas, taking part in the battles of Mark's Mill, 
Poison Springs, Jenkins' Ferry and others. He 
surrendered at Marshall, Tex. , at the close of the 
war, and returned home. In January, 1870, he 
was married to Mary E. , daughter of Dr. George 
W. and Sarah Gray, the former a Georgian, who 
came to this county just prior to the war, Mrs. 
Gray dying in Clark County, Ark., while en route. 
Dr. Gray now lives in Comanche County, Tex., a 
successful medical practitioner. Mrs. Jeffrey was 
born in Georgia, and of twelve children born to 
hei'self and husband, ten are living. Since his 
marriage Mr. Jeffrey has lived on his present 
farm of 240 acres, of which he has 1 bO acres under 
cultivation, all being obtained by his own energy 
and perseverance. He and his wife are members 
of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is one of 
the well-known and substantial farmers and citizens 
of this county. 

Benjamin Johnson, Jr. By attending strictly 
to his chosen calling, that of farming, Mr. John- 
son has done much to advance the reputation which 
Montgomery County enjoys as a pi'osperous fariii- 

' ing community. He was born in Newton County, 
Miss., in 1842, to Dr. Benjamin and Clarinda E. 

.(Fowler) Johnson, the former born in Alabama, in 
1813, and the latter in New Jersey, in 1818, their 
marriage occurring in Newton County, Miss., where 
they lived until 1854, after which they settled in 
Calhoun County, Ark., and in 1858 in Montgom- 
ery County, and although they first settled on Wal- 
nut Fork, they are now residing on the waters of 
the Mazarn. From 1859 to 1861 they lived in 
Pike County. Dr. Johnson has been a practicing 
physician since 1858. He was clerk of Newton 
County, Miss., for some years, and served nearly 
two years and three months in the United States 
cavalry, operating in Arkansas part of the time. 



bat a portion of the time was assistant surgeon in 
the hospital. His father, Henry Johnson, was of 
Irish descent, a Methodist minister, and died in 
Mississippi. The immediate subject of this sketch 
was the second of a family of four sods and four 
daughters, was reared on a farm, and received the 
advantages of the common schools. He came to 
Arkansas with his parents in 1861, and from here 
enlisted in Company C, Fourth Arkansas Infantry, 
Confederate States Army, and fought at Murfrees- 
boro, Chickamauga, and many other battles. He 
was captured at Chickamauga, and was imprisoned 
at Camp Douglas until the close of the war, nearly 
two years. He then returned to Montgomery Coun- 
ty, and engaged in farming, marrying, in 1877, 
Samantha, daughter of David and Anna Basinger, 
who were formerly residents of Kentucky, but af- 
terward lived in Indiana, Illinois, and came from 
Missouri to this county, before the war, where both 
died, the father being a farmer and merchant. Mrs. 
Johnson is a native of this county, and has borne 
her husband six children. The first year after his 
marriage Mr. Johnson lived at Caddo Gap, and 
since then on his present farm, on Collier's Creek, 
which consists of 264 acres. He also successfully 
manages a general mercantile store and a black- 
smith and wood-work shop. Mr. Johnson has 
served as justice of the peace in this township two 
years, bailiff four years, and since he established 
the post-oifice of Plata he has been its postmaster. 
Socially he belongs to New Hope Lodge No. 42, of 
the A. F. & A. M. , and has held several offices in 
this lodge. 

John W. Martin. The life record of him 
whose name appears above has l:)een one of more 
than usual interest and his career has been of such 
benefit and influence to the people, not only of 
Montgomery County, but throughout the State, 
that a sketch of his life will be of more than pass- 
ing interest. He was born in this county on April 
28, 1850, to Thomas L. and Rachel (Cooper) Mar- 
tin, who are supposed to have been born in Wayne 
County, Tenn., the father's death occurring in this 
county in 1876, when about fifty years of age. 
His widow still survives him and is a resident of 
this county. They were married in Tennessee, and 



t r 



=^iv 



liL 



486 



HISTOEY OF ARKANSAS. 



in the winter of 1849 came to Ai'kansas, locating 
on a farm in what is now Mountain Township. 
As a tiller of the soil he was very successful, and 
as a merchant he was one of the first in the county. 
He served in the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry, United 
States Army, durincr the Rebellion and was on act- 
ive service the greater part of three years. He 
was taken prisoner at his mill on Blakeley Creek, 
and was kept in captivity at Camden, for about one 
month, during which time he suffered untold hard- 
ships. Soon after the war he was elected county 
sheriff, a position he held three years, was justice 
of the peace quite a number of years, and at his 
death was buried with Masonic honors. His wife, 
who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church South, bore him ten children, the subject 
of this sketch being the third of the family. He 
spent his school days at Cedar Glades, but the 
war interrupted his studies in a great measure, and 
after the war in 1871, he turned his attention to 
farming, a calling he followed exclusively until 
1882, when he opened up a mill on a small scale. 
John W. Freeman was a joint, owner with him in 
this mill, which was a saw-mill, but at the end of 
three years Mr. Martin became sole proprietor and 
is now the owner of a good grist-mill and cotton- 
gin. His plant is one of the best in the county 
and his farm, which comprises 213 acres, is valu- 
able land. He is now building a handsome resi- 
dence, and everything about his place shows that 
a man of thrift, energy and intelligence is at the 
helm. In 1878 he was elected to the office of jus- 
tice of the peace, and served by re-election three 
terms of two years each. He was married in 1871 
to Miss Nancy Thornton, who died in 1878, leav- 
ing him with three children to care for, two of 
whom are living: Boss W. and Martha L. James 
died when about seven years of age. In 1879 
Miss Sarah J. Brown, daughter of William Brown, 
of this county, became Mr. Martin's second wife, 
their union resulting in the birth of two children: 
Laura Elizabeth and Dora Alice. Mr. Martin is a 
member of Henderson Lodge No. 147, of the A. 
F. & A. M. , and politically is a Republican. 
He at all times supports laudable enterprises, and 
is one of the leading men of the county. He be- 



lieves in a fair election and a fair count whether 
the candidate is a Repi;blican or Democrat, and 
although not a member of any church he is a 
liberal contributor to all worthy enterprises. His 
motto at all times is "Honesty is the best policy," 
and he lives up to this in the fullest sense of the 
term. 

George R. Miller is the capable assessor of 
Montgomery County, Ark., but by calling is a tiller 
of the soil, being the owner of 220 acres of valua- 
ble land. He was born in Monroe County, East 
Tenn., in 1834, the fourth of nine children born to 
the union of John Miller and Nancy Wilson, their 
marriage taking place in Monroe County, Tenn., 
their births having occurred in South Carolina and 
Tennessee in 1803 and 1805, respectively. When 
the subject of this sketch was two years of age 
they went to Georgia, and there made their home 
until 1859, when they came to Polk County, Ark., 
where Mrs. Aliller passed from life in 1800, and 
Mr. Miller in 1878, both having been Methodists 
for some years, though formerly Presbyterians. 
Mr. Miller was a substantial farmer and served as 
county and probate judge in Dade County, Ga., 
for some time while residing there. His father, 
James Miller, died in South Carolina, an Irishman 
by descent. The mother's father, Joseph Wilson, 
died in Macon, Ga., a trader and farmer. George 
R. Miller was given the education and rearing that 
is usually given the farmer's boy, and in 1853 was 
married to Martha J., daughter of William and 
Margaret Davis, who were born in North Carolina 
in 1787 and 1803, respectively, their marriage 
taking place in Jackson County, Ala. From there 
they moved to Dade County, Ga., in 1840, where 
Mr. Davis died in 1852, a farmer by occupation, 
his widow passing from life in Polk County, Ark. , 
in 1872. Mrs. Miller first saw the light of day in 
Tennessee in 1840, and by Mr. Miller became the 
mother of nine children, two sons and three daugh- 
ters now living. In 1858 Mr. Miller removed to 
Texas, but in 1860 came to Polk County, Ark., and 
in 1878 returned to Texas, where he spent seven 
more years. At the end of this time he returned 
to Polk County, Ark., and the following year came 
to Montgomery County. He followed merchandis- 



-^ 



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•A 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



487 



ing in Dallas for some live years, and for some 
time operated a steam mill in Polk County. In 
1861 he joined Company H, Fourth Arkansas In- 
fantry, and for about two years operated in Arkan- 
sas, afterward joining the Seventeenth Tennessee, 
with which he served for about one year, taking 
part in the engagement at Hoover's Gap. In 1872 
he was elected sheriff of Polk County, Ark. , hav- 
ing previously served as deputy six years, and 
made one of the most zealous and faithful officers 
the county has ever had. He was justice of the 
peace in Texas, and in 1890 was elected assessor of 
Montgomery County, Ark., a position he is still 
filling. He is a member of Cherry Hill Lodge No. 
228 of the A. F. & A. M. , and for a long time was 
junior deacon of Dallas Lodge. He has been a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from 
boyhood, and is a stanch Democrat in his political 
views. 

John S. Nelson, county and circuit clerk of 
Montgomery County, Ark. , was born in this county 
March 15, 1858, to Archibald and Nancy (Strawn) 
Nelson, the former born in Tennessee and the lat- 
ter in Mississippi. They came to Arkansas in 
1852 and 1844 respectively, their marriage taking 
place in this State. The father first settled at 
Caddo Gap, but for some time past has been a 
resident of Arkadelphia. Although he is a farmer 
and machinist by occupation, considerable of his 
time and attention have been given to operating a 
mill. Since 1868 he has been a member of the 
Missionary Baptist Church and has been a minis- 
ter of the same since 1873, his wife being a mem- 
ber of this church also. She is a daughter of 
Fielding Strawn, who built the Caddo Gap mill, 
which is known throughout the State. He was 
one of the county's first and most prominent judges, 
and was a man possessing more than ordinary 
executive ability. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson ten 
children were born, of whom John S. was the sec- 
ond child. His education was acquired in this 
county and Judson Academy in White County, 
and also in the University at Fayetteville during 
1879-80. On account of ill health he did not 
graduate, but while in that institution he made the 
most of his opportunities and was considered one 



of the most faithful students in the university. 
He began teaching school at the age of nineteen 
years and in this way paid his tuition. In 1882 
he began farming in this county and is now the 
owner of an excellent farm from which he derives 
a paying yearly income. This place is one of the 
neatest and best kept in the county, the buildings, 
fences, etc., being in excellent condition. From 
1882 to 1886 he served in the capacity of justice 
of the peace, and in 1890 he was elected to his 
present position as clerk of the circuit and county 
courts, and entered upon his duties October 30. 
In 1882 he was married to Miss Alice Johnson, of 
this county, and three children have blessed their 
union: William F., Jesse L. and Ida May. Mr. 
and Mrs. Nelson belong to the Missionary Baptist 
Church. Mr. Nelson in his race for clerk had 
three opponents for the nomination on the Demo- 
cratic ticket, but received the nomination by a 
good majority. He has always been very thor- 
ough in everything he has undertaken, and gives 
every promise of making an ideal public officer. 

Goyle Nobles is a well-known citizen residing 
in South Fork Township, Montgomery County, 
Ark., and was born in Wetumpka, Ala., on the 
Coosa River, February 2, 1832, a son of Richard 
and Allie (Post) Nobles, natives of North Carolina 
and Georgia, respectively, the death of the former 
occurring in Union Parish, La., in 1872, and that 
of the latter in January, 1862, at the ages of 
seventy and sixty years. Richard Nobles was a 
boy when he moved to Georgia, but he was married 
in Alabama, and made that State his home until 
1857, being a tiller of the soil. He was a soldier 
with Jackson in the war with the Indians, and was 
wounded in battle. Both he and wife were mem 
bers of the Primitive Baptist Church for many 
years, in which he was a deacon, and politically 
he was a life-long Democrat, as have always been 
the male members of his family. His father, 
Tennyson Nobles, was a native of Scotland, who 
married an Irish wife. To Richard Nobles and 
his wife eight children were born, Goyle being 
their fifth child, he being the only one of the fam- 
ily that is now living as far as known. He lived 
with and took care of his father and mother unt^l 



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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



their deaths, his occupation being that of a farmer. 
He has a farm of 212 acres on the south fork of 
the Ouachita River, and all can be readily put 
under cultivation. His house and barn are seven- 
ty-nine feet above the creek, and are pleasantly 
located. He has been a resident of this farm since 
1869, coming thither from Louisiana, and claims 
that his land is among the best, if not the best, in 
the county. He raises an abundance of fruit, and 
the excellent buildings which are on his place he 
has, himself, caused to be erected. In the spring 
of 1862 he joined the Thirty-first Louisiana In- 
fantry, Company H. , under Col. Morrison, and 
served until the war terminated. He was at 
Chickasaw Bayou, Fort Gibson, and the siege of 
Vicksburg, where he was captured, afterward 
paroled, but was never exchanged. Upon his re- 
turn home he found that all his property had been 
laid waste, a security debt of $600 hung over him 
and he had a wife and three children dependent 
on him for a livelihood. Although the oiitlook 
for the future was dark, he set energetically to 
work to provide for his family and pay off his in- 
debtedness and this, in time, he succeeded in 
doing. His marriage which occurred on December 
11, 1856,_was toTVIiss Alzada Gray, a daughter of 
Jesse Gray, her birth occurring in Alabama, near 
the birthplace of her husband, December 24, 1831, 
their union resulting in the birth of four children: 
Mary F. (wife of William Garrett, a farmer of 
this county), Ella, James Richard and Norma. 
Two children are dead: Mary Ann (who died at 
the age of thirty-one years, the wife of S. M. 
Smith, the present treasurer of Montgomery Coun- 
ty), and Tennyson (who died when twenty-one 
years old). Mr. Nobles is a member of the Primi- 
tive Baptist Church, and socially he is a member 
of Henderson Lodge No. 147 of the A. F. & A. M. 
He is a Democrat. 

William Reeves. The entire life of this gentle- 
man has been one unmarked by any unusual occur- 
rence outside of the chosen channels to which he 
has so diligently applied himself, and although he 
was born in Smith County, Tenn. , in 1839, he has 
been a resident of Montgomery County, Ark. , since 
1859, and has identified himself with every interest 



of his adopted county and State. His parents. 
Dr. William and Ruth (Campbell) Reeves, were 
born in North Carolina, but afterward became resi- 
dents of Smith County, Tenn, the father dying 
when A\'illiam was a small boy, and the mother 
when he was nine days old. He was the youngest 
of two sons and one daughter born to them: John 
(deceased), and Mary J. (wife of Thomas Green), 
being the other two members of the family. AVill- 
iam was reared by an uncle, Moses Reeves, of 
Smith County, until he was ten years of age, when 
he began doing for himself, working on a wood 
boat on the Cumberland River for several years, 
afterward turning his attention to farming. He was 
married in 1859, to Miss Emily Jones, and the 
same year came to Montgomery County, and lived 
on the south fork of the Caddo River until after 
the war, but has since lived on the Caddo River, 
where he has a fine farm of 368 acres. For about 
seven years he was engaged in merchandising at 
Black Springs, but has since devoted his attention 
to farming, a calling for which he seems naturally 
adapted. In February, 1863, he became a mem- 
ber of Company A, First Arkansas Infantry, and 
operated in Missouri, Indian Territory and Arkan- 
sas. He organized Company L, of the Second 
Kansas troops, but would never accept a commis- 
sioned office, but afterward took part in the engage- 
ment at Jenkins' Ferry, besides several others. In 
1868 he received the appointment of sheriff of 
Montgomery County, a position he filled with sat- 
isfaction for four years. He is a demitted member 
of Crystal Ridge Lodge, of the A. F. &. A. M. , 
and for some time has been an earnest member of 
the Christian Church. 

William Owens Robins belongs to that sturdy, 
honest and independent class, the farmers of Ar- 
kansas, and is now engaged in cultivating an es- 
tate comprising 694 acres, on which he has resided 
since 1882, 75 acres of which he has cleared by his 
own efforts, this land being well adapted to the 
purposes of general farming. He was born in 
Murray County, Ga., in 1832, being the second of 
ten children — seven' sons and three daughters — 
born to the marriage of Thomas J. Robins and 
Mary Bates, the former born in Franklin County, 



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MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



489 



^ 



Ga., in 1S08, and the latter ia South Carolina, in 
1811, their marriage being celebrated in Hall 
County, Ga. Later they moved to Murray County, 
Ga., and in 1849 came to this county and State, 
settling on a farm in Caddo Gap, on which both 
parents died, the former in 1874, and the latter in 
1864, they having been consistent members in the 
Missionary Baptist Church for many years. Will- 
iam Robins, the paternal grandfather, was born in 
South Carolina, and died in Murray County, Ga. , 
in 1847, his widow dying in Hempstead County, 
Ark., to which place'^she had moved in 1857. Mr. 
Robins was of Scotch descent, and was an exten- 
sive slave and stock trader. Julius Bates, the 
maternal grandfather of William O. Robins, was 
also a South Carolinian, but afterward became a 
resident of Murray County, Ga. , where he farmed 
until his demise, in 1862, he being also a Scotch- 
man. Although William O. Robins received a very 
meager education in his youth, he was naturally 
intelligent, and has, at all times, made the most of 
his opportunities. He was married in this county 
in 1854, to Emily, daughter of John and Mary 
McDonald, who were born, reared and married in 
South Carolina, moving soon after to Gilmer 
County, Ga. , and in 1852 to this county, where the 
father died in 1857, and the mother in 1859. Mrs. 
Robins was born in South Carolina, and has borne 
her husband five children, three living. Mr. Rob- 
ins at first lived on his father's farm, then spent 
twenty-five years on the south fork of the Ouachita 
River, and since 1882 on his present farm. While 
residing on the south fork, fourteen years were 
spent in merchandising, a calling he followed for 
two years where he now resides. He has since fol- 
lowed farming, saw and grist-milling and cotton- 
ginning. He is a member of New Hope Lodge 
No. 42, of the A. F. & A. M., at Caddo Gap, and 
has always been public-spirited and enterprising. 
In 1862 he joined Company B, Gunistead's regi- 
ment, but was afterward with Monroe's regiment, 
operating in the Cherokee Nation and in Arkansas. 
B. M. Rowton is a member of the general mer- 
cantile firm of B. M. Rowton & Bro., of Black 
Springs, Ark., who established their business in 
December, 1887, their annual sales amounting to 



$10,000 since that time. Mr. Rowton was born in 
this county in 1853, and has spent his life here, 
identifying himself with every interest of this sec- 
tion, and proving himself a man of sound and pro- 
gressive views on all subjects. His parents, W^ill- 
iam D. and Eliza (McClure) Rowton, were born in 
Virginia in 1796, and South Carolina in 1808 re- 
spectively, their marriage being consummated in 
Murfreesboro, Tenn. From this State they came 
to Montgomery County, Ark., in 1843, improving 
a good farm near where Black Springs is now sit- 
uated. Here Mr. Rowton died in 1859 and his 
widow in 1873, she being a member of the Method- 
ist Church. Mr. Rowton' s father was a soldier in the 
Creek Indian War, and was a son of William Row- 
ton, who was in all probability born in Virginia of 
Irish parents, his death occurring in Tennessee. 
Although B. M. Rowton received but little school- 
ing in his youth, his days being spent at hard labor 
on the farm, he, on reaching manhood, was as well 
posted as the average young man, a result which 
was brought about by self application. He was 
married in 1872 to Mai-y, dau^ghter of Spencer 
White, an Alabamiau who, at an early day, removed 
to what is now Howard County, Ark., his wife 
dying here when Mrs. Rowton was an infant. Soon 
after the death of his wife Mr. White went to Cal- 
ifornia, and has not been heard from since. Mrs. 
Rowton was reared by an uncle, Frank Moore, and 
has borne her husband three children. Mr. Row- 
ton was engaged in farming until 1880, then re- 
moved to Black Springs and followed the occupa- 
tion of blacksmithing until 1887, when, as above 
stated, he opened his present establishment. He 
was postmaster of the town two years, justice of 
the peace six years, has long been a member of the 
Methodist Church, and at all times has been a 
worthy citizen of this region. His brother, who 
is associated with him in business, W. C. Rowton, 
was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., and came 
to this State and county with his parents, marrying 
Miss Jane White, a sister of his brother's wife,they 
also being woi'thy members of the Methodist 
Church. Their father, William D. Rowton, was 
married twice and has six children by each wife, of 
whom B. M. Rowton is the youngest. 



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William D. Sandlia, one of Montgomery 
County's energetic and public spirited citizens, 
was born in Blountville, Blount County, Ala., 
May 4, 1861, to Obediah and Carrie (Eatliffe) 
Sandlin, both natives of Alabama, the mother dy- 
ing in Garland County, Ark., when the subject of 
this sketch was nine years of age. At the time of 
her marriage with Mr. Sandlin she was the widow 
of Robert Graves. After her death, which occurred 
at the age of thirty-five years, Mr. Sandlin mar- 
ried Mrs. Margaret Jones, and is now residing in 
Montgomery County, Ark. He was in an Alabama 
regiment during the war, but the most of the 
time was on post duty at Pensacola, Fla. , and 
Montgomery, Ala., and for some time was also of 
the regimental quartermaster's department. He 
has been a successful farmer, and is now residing 
at Silver City, a member of the Baptist Church, a 
Mason, and a Democrat in politics. The subject of 
this sketch was one of his four children, being the 
third of the family, and spent his school days in 
Blount County, Ala., he lived with his father until 
twenty-four 3'ears of age. He then begau serving 
in the capacity of deputy sheriff under Mr. Golden, 
a position he is now filling in this county. In 
February, 1889, he was employed to assume charge 
of the mill and gin owned by Watkins Bros., but 
in June of the next year he leased the mills, but 
receives an excellent revenue therefrom. He was 
brought up to a farm life, but in his youth worked 
in a blacksmith's shop and became an excellent 
woodworkman. He is the owner of a shop at Mount 
Ida but leases it, but keeps a good livery and feed 
stable, which he owns, under his own care. He also 
owns other valuable town property, and gives every 
promise of becoming well to do. On April 10, 
1887, he was married to Miss Queen Salyers, 
daughter of M. V. B. Salyers, formerl}' a merchant 
of Mount Ida, and to them one daughter has been 
l)orn, Ruey Alice. Mr. Sandlin is a stanch Dem- 
ocrat in politics. 

Daniel Newton Scott. The agricultural affairs 
of Montgomery County, Ark. , are ably represented 
among others l)y Mr. Scott, who comes of a well- 
known family, the Scotts of Kentucky. He was 
born in this county in 1854, to John and Susannah 



(Earp) Scott, the former born on Blue-Grass 
soil in 1818, and his wife a few years later, the 
nuptials of their marriage being celebrated in Ten- 
nessee, from which State they came to Montgom- 
ery County, Ark., some forty odd years ago, set- 
tled on land on the Caddo River, of which they 
made a good farm. Mr. Scott was a lieutenant in 
Capt. Erwin's company Fourth Infantry Arkansas 
troops in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and 
was in the battle of Elk Horn, besides many oth- 
ers. His parents died when he was a small boy, 
and he was thus left with but little knowledge of 
his ancestors. He was for many years a member 
of the Missionary Baptist Church, and died in 
1888. His wife's father was an early settler of 
Polk County, Ark., and in that county he died 
prior to the war. Daniel Newton Scott was the 
eighth of eleven children born to his parents, and 
at the age of four years he was left without a 
mother's care and guidance. He was reared on a 
farm, educated in the common shools of the neigh- 
borhood, also spending one year in the University 
of Arkansas, at Fayetteville. Two of his brothers 
served in Erwin's company, in the Confederate 
Army, William J., dying while in the service, the 
other brother, James A., coming through unharmed. 
Daniel N. was first married in 1877 to Frances, 
the daughter of Thomas and Sallie Gore, but she 
died in Montgomery County, Ark., in 1880, having 
borne three children, two now living. Mr. Scott's 
second marriage took place in 1883, the maiden 
name of his wife being Holly Gray, daughter of 
Robert and Eveline Gray, who came from Georgia 
to Clark County, Ark., later becoming residents of 
Montgomery County, where Mr. Gray still lives, 
his wife having passed from life in Clark County, 
where Mrs. Scott was born. He and Mrs. Scott 
have two childi-en. Since his first marriage Mr 
Scott has lived on his farm of 160 acres, 65 of 
which he has cleared by his own efforts, consider- 
i able of his attention being given to stock-raising 
j also. Two of his brothers, James and Robert, re- 
: side in Texas. His sister, Sarah A., is the wife 
of James Moore, and Elizabeth is the wife of John 
Hickey. 

Samuel M. Smith is the efficient and trustworthy 



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MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



491 



treasurer of Montgomery County, Ark. , a position 
he has filled in a very acceptable manner for the 
past eight years. He has been a citizen in this 
county since 1852, but was born in Bedford 
County, Tenn., September, 10, 1831, to Josiah 
and Nancy (Drake) Smith, the former born in 
South Carolina i.nd the latter in Virginia, their 
union taking place in Bedford County, Tenn., 
whither they had gone with their parents when 
young. They made their home there until 1847 at 
at which time they removed to Tippah County, Miss., 
and in 1855 to Webster County, Mo. The mother 
died there in 1861, aged about fifty-seven years. 
Mr. Smith then moved to Boone County, Ark., and 
is there still residing, aged eighty-four years. He 
has always been a farmer, and a very successful 
one, and since 1845 has been a member of the 
Primitive Baptist Church, in which he has long 
been a deacon. He is a Democrat in his political 
views. He and his wife became Ihe parents of 
twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch 
was the third in order of birth. He attended the 
schools of Mississippi in his youth, and at the age of 
twenty-one years commenced to farm in Montgom- 
ery County, his first purchase of land here being on 
the present site of Oden. On this place he resided 
until 1871, then moved to Movint Ida, and here by 
hard work, good management and economy, he has 
become the owner of a tine tract of land, compris- 
ing 300 acres, the most of which is under cultiva- 
tion. In 1882 he was elected to the office of 
county treasurer, and has served, by re-election, up 
to the present time, with every evidence of satisfac- 
tion. In July, 1861 he joined the Twenty-fourth 
Arkansas Infantry, and after a short service was dis- 
charged, but soon after joined Col. Newton's regi- 
ment of cavalry, and was lieutenant of his com- 
pany, serving until disbanded at Fulton, Ark. He 
was in the battle of Wilson's Creek, and while at 
home, on one occasion, was taken prisoner, but was 
soon released. The war left him badly crippled, 
financially, but as has been seen, he has, in a great 
measure, retrieved his losses. He has for the last 
few years operated a grist, saw-mill and cotton-gin 
on his farm, in all of which he has done well. In 
1853 he was married to Miss Melvina Goodner, 



a daughter of John C. Goodner, an early settler 
of this county. She died in October, 1862, the 
mother of five children, two now living: John G. 
(a farmer of the county), and Josiah M. (following 
the same occupation here). William C. (the third 
son, died recently in this county, leaving a widow 
and three children). In February, 1863, Mr. Smith 
married Miss Martha Ann Deer, of this county, 
but she, too, passed from life, her death occurring 
in October, 1864, leaving a daughter, Mary J., who 
was the wife of Charles Laird, of this county. In 
October, 1865; Mr. Smith took for his third wife, 
Miss Mary Ann Fryar, of this county, she dying 
in October, 1883, and leaving him with seven chil- 
dren to care for : Thomas O. , Samuel L. , Susan H. , 
Granville W., Alfred F., Margaret A., and Eliz- 
abeth (who died in childhood). Martha A. Shirley 
became the wife of Mr. Smith in August, 1888, 
she being a daughter of Goyle Nobles, and 
widow of Jackson Shirley. She was born in 
Louisiana, and died January 4, 1889. Mr. Smith 
is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and, 
politically, is a Democrat. 

Ales N. Thornton is a miller of Black Springs, 
Ark., and the work which he turns out is remarka- 
bly satisfactory, the patronage which he has at- 
tracted to this place for milling purposes being 
constantly on the increase. He was born in For- 
syth County, Ga., in 1844, to Isaac and Clara 
(Nuckles) Thornton, the former born in Georgia 
and the latter in Virginia. Mrs. Thornton re- 
moved to Georgia with her parents when a girl, and 
there she married and lived until her death in 1802, 
a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. 
Thornton afterward married a second time, and in 
1867 removed to Texas, and in 1879 to Montgom- 
ery County, where he still lives, a farmer and a 
member of the Missionary Baptist Church also. 
He served in a regiment of Georgia Infantry 
during the Rebellion. His father, Thomas Thorn- 
ton, was born in the Palmetto State, and died in 
Georgia, he being also a worthy and successful 
tiller of the soil. He was of English descent, a 
soldier in the War of 1812, and his father was a 
native of England. Alex Nuckles was the mother's 
father, an Englishman by birth, who became a 






492 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



t 



farmer of Whitfield County, Ga. , where he spent 
his declining years. Alex N. Thornton was the 
fifth of ten children, and although he was reared 
on a farm, he, as soon as old enough, was put to 
school and acquired a good common- school educa- 
tion. In 1862 he joined Company C, Thirty- ninth 
Georgia Infantry, Army of Tennessee, and was 
in the siege of Vieksbiu'g, at Missionary Ridge, 
the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, Nashville, Mobile 
and back (o Johnston's Army in North Carolina, 
surrendering with him in that State. He was 
slightly wounded twice. In 1867 he was married 
in Whitfield County, Ga. , to Mary E. , daughter of 
Ellis and Permelia Sloan, the former born in Ten- 
nessee, and the latter in North Carolina, their mar- 
riage being consummated in Whitfield County, Ga., 
where Mrs. Thornton was born and where she and 
Mr. Thornton resided until 1870, when they came 
to Clark County, Ark., in eight years later to Mont- 
gomery County, their residence being at Black 
Springs. Mr. Thornton is the owner of a good wa- 
ter saw, grist-mill and cotton gin, and if close appli- 
cation and study of the wants of his customers will 
serve to make a permanent success of his mill, Mr. 
Thornton need have no fear as to the outcome of 
his venture. By his own efforts he has become the 
owner of 320 acres of land, but the first six years 
of his residence here he was engaged in merchan- 
dising. He has been justice of the peace two years 
and his wife worships in the Missionary Baptist 
Church. 

Judge Silas P. Vaught is a man who has stead- 
ily and surely made his way to the front in the 
profession of law, and he possesses in a more than 
ordinary degree the natural attributes essential to 
a sncce.ssful career at the bar and in public. He 
was l)orn in Jackson County, Ala , in 1831, being 
a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (McAnally) 
Vaught, the former born in Bledsoe, and the latter 
in Franklin Counties, Tenn., their union taking 
place in Jackson County, Ala., whither they were 
taken by their parents when young. In 18-16 they 
emigrated to Montgomery County, Ark., and on a 
woodland farm in this region they found a home 
and on it spent the remainder of their lives, dying 
in 1867 and 1S7S, respectively, both having been 



members of the Methodist' Church for a great 
many years. Mr. Vaught was a successful tiller 
of the soil and stock-raiser, and was a soldier in 
the Seminole War. He belonged to New Hope 
Lodge of the A. F. & A. M. at Caddo Gap, and 
as a man and citizen was all that could be desired, 
for he was industrious, enterprising, charitable and 
honest. His father, John Vaught, was born in 
East Tennessee, but was an early emigrant to Ala- 
bama, and there died in 1841, a farmer. His 
wife, Nancy Hatfield, died in 1844. The great- 
grandfather of Judge Silas P. Vaught, William 
Vaught, was of German extraction and spent near- 
ly all his life in what is now the District of Colum- 
bia, and served during the Revolutionary AVar. 
Capt. Jesse McAnally, the mother's father, was a 
Tennesseean, but in an early day removed to Jack- 
son County, Ala., where he died from the effects 
of a wound received in the battle of Horse Shoe 
Bend, some ten years after the battle. He was a 
captain in one of the Indian wars, and by calling, 
was a farmer. Judge Silas P. Vaught was the 
eldest of five children born to his parents, those 
living besides himself being C. B. , of the Indian 
Territory, and J. T. , of Crawford County, Ark. 
The Judge was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools, and after removing to Mont- 
gomery County, Ark., with his parents he was 
married in 1857 to Lucinda, daughter of John and 
Esther (Tweedle) Vaught, the former of whom was 
born in Indiana, but in 1817 came with his father, 
William Tweedle, to this county, settling on the 
farm on which the subject of this sketch is now 
living, seventy-three years ago. Here he spent 
the rest of his life, dying in 1858. His wife was 
born in Tenneessee, but came with her parents 
to Clark County, Ark., where she passed fi-om 
life in 1849. Mrs. Vaught died in 1874, having 
borne eight children, seven of whom are living. 
Mr. Vaught was married a second time in 1879, 
his wife being Elizabeth J., daughter of John T. 
and Elizabeth Petty, who came from Alabama to 
Montgomery County, Ark., in 1855, but for six 
years have lived in Polk County. Mrs. Vaught 
was born in Calhoun County, Ala., and has become 
the mother of two sons and one daughter. Since 



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MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



493 



his marriage Judge Vaugbt has lived on his pres- 
ent farm of 1,120 acres, about 480 acres of which 
he has himself cleared. In July, 1861, he joined 
Company E, Second Arkansas Infantry, the first 
fight in which he participated being Wilson's 
Creek, then Pea Ridge, and was afterward at the 
evacuation of Corinth. He was then at Richmond, 
Ky., Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and 
Resaca. While a member of the Trans Mississippi 
Department, he fought at Pine Bluff, Mark's Mill, 
Jenkins' Ferry and surrendered at Marshall, Tex., 
in June, 1865, after almost four years of hard 
service. He went out as a private, but served as 
first lieutenant the most of the time. He was 
never captured, and was but slightly wounded. In 
1868 he was licensed to practice law, and has since 
successfully devoted his attention to that profession, 
being, in 1886, elected to the position of county 
and probate judge, in which capacity he served 
with distinction for four years, when he declined 
re election. 

Charles J. Watkins, Sr. , is a member of the 
firm of Watkins Bros., merchants, who are doing 
a prosperous business at Mount Ida. They have 
the largest and best-paying establishment of the 
kind in the county, and sell all kinds of merchan- 
dise at the smallest possible margin. Mr. Watkins 
was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., near Old 
Harrison, October 17, 1847, to William aud Martha 
(Rogers) Watkins, a short history of whom is given 
in the sketches of John A. Watkins, to whom three 
children were born: Charles J., Elijah R. (who 
was born on January 6, 1830, and died in 1874 in 
Montgomery County, Ark. , where he had risen to 
prominence as a farmer; he left a widow and two 
children), John A. (was the youngest of the family 
and is now a prominent attorney and ex-represent- 
ative of this county). The subject of this sketch 
was reared by Lis grandparents, in Tennessee, until 
after he was a lad of eleven years, and in the 
schools of that State he received a practical educa- 
tion. In 1866 he came with his grandfather, 
William Rogers, to Arkansas, but after one year 
spent near Camden, in Ouachita County, he came 
to Montgomery County and here, after a time, be- 
gan farming for himself, a calling he continued to 



follow until 1881, when he and his brother, John 
A., formed a partnership in the mercantile business. 
In 1866 he was married to Miss Susan E. Henegar, 
of Tennessee, but she died in the fall of the same 
year, and in 1868 he espoused Miss Ruanna May- 
berry, of this county, her people being old settlers 
of this region from Kentucky. To them a family 
of six children has been born: Mary A., Mattie 
May, John G. , Robert, Cordelia and Grover C. 
In •1871-72 Mr. Watkins served as justice of the 
peace, then resigned his position. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, and he belongs to Mount Ida Lodge No. 
140, of the A. F. & A. M. He has always been a 
Democrat. He has been a successful business 
man, and he and his brother are the largest tax- 
payers in the county. As they started out in life 
poor boys, this fact speaks well for their ability as 
financiers. Charles J. owns 320 acres of fine land 
near Washita, on the Ouachita River, and he and 
his brother are the joint owners of 820 acres on 
the South Fork. This is the finest farm in the 
county, and a large portion is in an admirable state 
of cultivation. 

Hon. John A. Watkins is an eminent and tal- 
ented attorney residing at Mount Ida, Ark., but 
his birth occurred in Hamilton County, Tenn., De- 
cember 20, 1851, being a son of William and Mar- 
tha (Rogers) Watkins, natives of Tennessee. The 
father died at the untimely age of twenty-six years, 
having been a very successful farmer throughout 
life. After his death his widow married J. C. Witt, 
and in Hamilton County, Tenn. , passed from life, 
in 1859, Mr. Witt still surviving her, a resident of 
Nashville, Ark. He first removed to Texas, in 
1859, then to Missouri, in 1865, and in 1880 set- 
tled in Montgomery County, Ark. , soon after tak- 
ing up his abode in Nashville, where he is holding 
the position of city marshal. Although he has 
been a merchant of Nashville, his principal occu- 
pation through life has been farming, but during 
a short residence in Conway, Faulkner County, 
Ark., he also held the position of marshal. He 
entered the Confederate service while in Texas, and 
throughout the war served east of the Mississippi 
River, and participated in many battles. The sub- 



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494 



HISTORY OF ARKANSAS. 



ject of this sketch was reared by his grandfather, 
William Rogers, in Hamilton Connty, Tenn. , and 
there he received the advantages of the common 
schools. When fourteen years of age he was taken 
to Fayetteville, Ark., by Mr. Rogers, and was pi;t 
to school in the State University at that place, as a 
law student, having studied for some time under 
George G. Little. He was admitted to the bar at 
Mount Ida, Ark., in 1875, and there has continued 
his practice, with flattering results, up to the pres- 
ent time, being first associated with Mr. Little. 
This partnership was dissolved in 1884, but he 
afterward became associated with G. Witt, his 
half brother. In 1878 Mr. Watkins" services to 
his party, and his fine intellect became recognized, 
and he was elected to the position of county treas- 
urer, was re-elected in 1880, and in 1882 was chos- 
en to represent Montgomery County in the Lower 
House of the State Legislature, and served two terms 
of two years each. la 1875 he and O. H. Over- 
street opened a general mercantile store at Mount 
Ida, and at the end of four years Mr. Watkins suc- 
ceeded his partner, soon after forming a partner- 
ship with Eli Smith, the firm being known as Eli 
Smith & Co., for one year. C. J. Watkins, his 
brother, next became his partner, and the firm has 
since been known as\Vatkins Bros. Although they 
started with little means, they now do an extensive 
business, and Mr. Watkins is now the heaviest tax- 
payer in the county. He was married, in 1878, to 
Miss Rebecca Smith, a daughter of Eli Smith, of 
this place, and by her has five children : Charles T. , 
George T., Margie, John A., Jr., and Florence. 
Mrs. Watkins is a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South, and Mr. Watkins is a Knight 
Templar in the Masonic fraternity. He has repre- 
sented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State 
three times, and in his political views is a Demo- 
crat. 

John Welch is a farmer of Gap Township, 
Montgomery County, Ark., but was born in Over- 
ton County, Tenn., in 1833, to Thomas F. and 
Elizabeth (Oliver) Welch, the former born in Ten- 
nessee in 1812, and the latter in Georgia in 1810. 
They were married in Overton County, Tenn., and 
when their son John was six months old they 



moved to Hardeman County, West Tenn., and in 
1853 to what is now Montgomery County, where 
the father died in 1871, and the mother in 1883, 
the former a minister of the Missionarj^ Baptist 
Church, of which the mother was also a member. 
He was a farmer also, and socially was a Royal 
Arch Mason. His father, who was of Irish descent, 
died in Hardeman County, Tenn., having lived 
the honest and independent life of the farmer. 
George Oliver, the maternaV grandfather, was also 
a worthy tiller of the soil, was a soldier in the War 
of 1812, being with Jackson at New Orleans, and 
died in Mississippi. John Welch is the second of 
nine children, five now living, and all the sons 
with the exception of himself are ministers of the 
Missionary Baptist Church. John was reared on 
the farm with the advantages of a common-school 
education, and was married in 1852 to Miss Nancy 
J., daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Vaughn, 
who were born, reared, married, and spent their 
lives in Hardeman County, Tenn. The death of 
Mrs. Welch occurred in 1867, she having borne 
Mr. Welch ten children, all of whom are living 
but one. In February, 1868, Mr. Welch took for 
his second wife Mrs. Cynthia A. E. Gist, daughter 
of Judge James H. and Mary W^est, natives of 
North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, their 
union taking place in the latter State. Their re- 
moval to Arkansas dates from 1857, but since 1859 
they have been residents of Montgomery County. 
Judge West was judge of the county and probate 
court of Montgomery County two terms, was at one 
time tax collector, and in 1866 represented this 
county in the General Assembly of the State. He 
is also a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. 
Mrs. Welch was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., 
in 1843, and by her first husband became the 
mother of four children, and by Mr. Welch the 
mother of two daughters. In 1853 Mr. Welch 
came to what is now Montgomery County, and has 
since lived in Gap Township, being the owner of 
480 acres of land in different tracts, all of which 
he has earned' by his own efforts. In 1862 he 
joined Company C, Forty-second Arkansas In- 
fantry, and fought at luka, Corinth, being capt- 
ured in the last named battle, but was soon after 



■^ « 



to , 



J« — ^ 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



495 



'^ 



paroled and came home, where he remained until 
the spring of 1863 when he rejoined his command 
at Port Hudson, where he was again captured after 
a siege of forty-eight days. After being paroled 
this time he i-eturned home to enter the army no 
more. During his service he was twice wounded. 
He has been a member of New Hope Lodge No. 42, 
of the A. F. & A. M. , in which he has held nearly 
all the offices. He belongs to the Farmers' Alli- 
ance, has been a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church since 1852, in which he has been a deacon 
for some years. He has also held the office of 
justice of the peace for the period of six years. 

Hiram A. Whittington has been an active agri- 
culturist for many years, and as such has met with 
a more than ordinary degree of success. He was 
born in New Hampshire on February 17, 1832, to 
Col. Granville and Cordelia (Wilder) Whittington, 
both of whom were born in Massachusetts, the 
latter being a native of Boston, and the former of 
Cohasset. They were married in Boston, in which 
city they made their home until 1838, when they 
came to Hot Springs, Ark., at which jslace they 
made their home until 1840. They then moved to 
a farm near Mount Ida, where they mother is still 
living, and where the father died on April 27, 
1887, at the age of seventy- nine years. He was 
educated in Boston, learned the book-binder's 
trade, at which he worked until coming to Arkan- 
sas, when he abandoned it after he had devoted 
one winter to it in Little Rock. From that time 
until his death he followed farming as a livelihood, 
and being a man of splendid judgment and great 
energy he acquired a large amount of property. 
He was judge of Hot Springs County, when Mont- 
gomery, Garland and Hot Springs were one, hold- 
ing the position one term, and after Montgomery 
County was organized he represented it in the 
Lower House of the Legislature. He was internal 
improvement commissioner for several years, and 
held other important positions of trust. For sev- 
eral years he was colonel in the State Militia, and 
was known as a man of undoubted honor, kindness 
of heart, and very charitable. He was a Knight 
Templar Mason, represented his lodge in the 
Grand Lodge of the State a number of years, and 



although formerly a Whig, he became a stanch 
Democrat after the war. He was a Southern sym- 
pathizer during this time, and was in favor of se- 
cession. His father, William Whittington, was 
born in England and died in Massachusetts. A 
son of his, Maj. Hiram A. Whittington, a brother 
of Granville Whittington, recently died in Hot 
Springs, Ark., aged eighty-nine. The mother of 
the subject of this sketch is residing on the old 
homestead in this county, and although she has 
reached the advanced age of eighty years, she is 
yet quite hale. She is a member of the Christian 
Church, and has been the mother of ten children, 
four of whom are now living: Hiram A., Granville 
N., Horatio B. and Cordelia, wife of John S. 
Elder, of Mount Ida. The other children died as 
follows: Junius George, at the age of forty-six 
years, William A., when thirty-live years of age, 
and Josiah W., when about twenty. The other 
children died when young. The immediate sub- 
ject of this sketch spent his school days in this 
county, and after making his home with his father 
until 1860, he began doing for himself on the farm 
where he now lives, the jarincipal part of which 
was then covered with timber. Splendid improve- 
ments have been made by Mr. Whittington, and 
the place is admirably adapted and arranged for a 
stock farm, to which business he gives much atten- 
tion. The greater part of his 200-acre farm is 
under cultivation, and all the buildings are excel- 
lent. In June, 1863, he joined Col. Ginstead's 
regiment. Twenty-fourth Arkansas Confederate 
Infantry, holding the rank of first lieutenant of 
Company I, but in October, 1863, was discharged 
at Little Rock. He afterward became a member 
of Company K, Col. Newton's regiment, and 
served until the final surrender. While he was in 
the army his farm had grown up to weeds, his 
house had been burned to the ground and all prop- 
erty that could be laid hands on was taken away 
or destroyed. Thus he had to commence once 
more at the foot of the ladder, but as has been 
stated above he has been remarkably successful. 
In November, 1860, he was married to Miss Mar- 
tha Ann Garrett, a daughter of Jesse B. Garrett 
of Mount Ida, formerly of Scott County, Ark., 



7W- 



ppv' 



the State of his birth being Illinois. Mrs. Whit- 
tington died in March, 1S8G, having become the 
mother of the following children: Jefferson D., 
Ada E. (now married), Hiram A., Cordelia, and 
Clara J., living. Mr. AVhittington is a Democrat; 
and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South. 

Henry Hardin Williamson, postmaster at Buck- 
ville, Ark., was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., 
July 20, 1837, a son of William and Malinda (Marsh) 
Williamson, natives of Surry County, N. C. They 
were married in their native State, and lived there 
and in Tennessee until 1860, when they came to 
Arkansas and located on the Ouachita River in 
Montgomery County, the father dying at Hot 
Springs, while on a visit, when over eighty years of 
age. He enlisted in the W^arof 1812, but peace was 
declared before he entered on active duty. He was 
a farmer throughout life, and, being very success- 
ful at this succeeded in accumulating a fortune. 
He was of Scotch -Irish descent, a member of the 
Missionary Baptist Church, being deacon in the 
same for nearly half a century, and was a life-long 
Democrat. His wife died about 1872, when nearly 
seventy-two years of age, she being also a member 
of the Missionary Baptist Church. She bore her 
husband eight children, five of whom are living: 
Sarah (widow of John Moon, she being now a 
resident of Tennessee), Mary Ann (residing in this 
State, the widow of Joseph Howell), Julia (wife of 
J. C. Freeman, of this county), Malinda (wife of 
W. F. Housley, ex-sheriff of Hot Spring County), 
and Henry Hardin. The immediate subject of this 
sketch spent his school days in Hamilton County, 
Tenn., there receiving a fair education in an 
academy at Waldon's Ridge. He farmed in his 
native State until the breaking oat of the war, then 
joined Company B, of the First Tennessee Cavalry, 
under Capt. Snow and Col. Carter, being after- 
ward, for three years, an advance guard or scout 
for Gen. Morgan and others. During the battle 
of Stone River he assisted in setting fire to the 
Federal wagon train at Lavern, Tenn. , and after- 
ward took part in the engagements at Bean Station, 
Cumberland Gap, siege of Kuoxville, and other 
places. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, 



but had several horses shot from under him. In 
the fall of 1865 he came to Montgomery County, 
Ark. , and located on a farm adjoining that on 
which he is now living, taking the first homestead 
claim in Montgomery County. He now owns some 
very valuable land in this county, comprising over 
400 acrfes, a large portion of which is under cultiva- 
tion. He is a thoroughly practical farmer, and, as he 
has ever given the closest attention to the details 
of his work, he has been remarkably successful. 
This has been acquired through his own efForts 
since the war, for, on account of the bitter feeling 
of the Unionists in East Tennessee, he was com- 
pelled to leave that county and much of his prop- 
erty behind him. He was one of the several hun - 
dred indicted at Knoxville, Tenn., for treason. 
On September 18, 1860, he was married to Miss 
Mary A. Housley, daughter of G. W. Housley, of 
Hamilton County, Tenn., and to them five children 
have been born: Jackson C. (a farmer with his 
father), Mary A. , Henry H. , Jr. , Nancy J. and 
William R. , all of whom are at home with their 
purents. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson are members 
of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a 
Royal Arch Mason and master of Henderson Lodge 
No. 147, of the A. F. & A M. He has represented 
his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State several 
times. He was elected treasurer of the county after 
the reconstruction period, serving one term, and has 
also acted as justice of the peace several years, and 
has held the position of notary public. He was the 
means of having a post-office established at Buck- 
ville, and has been its postmaster for two years. 
He has made law a study, and many of the people 
in this section of the country come to him for 
advice, but he has never practiced the profession 
to any great extent. He is a man of sound and 
intelligent views on all subjects, and is well quali- 
fied to give sound advice to all who come to him. 
Hon. Gibson Witt. The profession of law has 
attracted the best talent of this county, and a strik- 
ing instance of this is seen in the gentlemen com- 
posing the firm of Watkins & Witt, for they stand 
at the very top of the bar in the State of Aikansas. 
Mr. Witt was born in Hamilton County, Tenn., 
May 2, 1858, to J. C. and Martha (Watkins) Witt, 



r 



V 



■^f- 



.^t 9 



iL 



MONTGOMERY COUNTY. 



497 



lOtb of whom were born in Tennessee, the former 
■eing a native of Hamilton County. He grew to 
lE^nhood there, followed the occupation of farm- 
3g, but after the death of his wife, in 1859, he 
'ent to Texas, where he remained until the close 
f the war, at which time he went to M-ssouri. 
[e resided in different portions of that State until 
875, when he moved to Van Buren County, Ark., 
ad in 1877 settled in Conway, Faulkner County, 
od about 1880 came to Montgomery County, but 
now a resident of Nashville, Ark. He held the 
osition of city marshal of Conway, and is now 
ling that position in Nashville. His wife, whose 
aiden name was Rogers, the widow of William 
atkins at the time he married her, died when the 
bject of this sketch was thirteen months old. He 
IS reared to the age of five years by his Grand- 
other Witt, with whom he resided in Texas for 
me time. He later rejoined his father, and made 
a home with him until he attained man's estate, 
e was given a fair education in the schools of 
lasgow. Mo., and completed his knowledge of 
)oks in Quitman College and the State University 
i Fayetteville. In 1881 he turned his attention 
1 the study of law, under his half brother, John 
. Watkins, at Mount Ida, and in August, 1883, 
as admitted to practice l)y Judge H. B. Stewart, 
iter practicing his profession alone for some time. 



he, in April, 1886, formed a co-partnership with 
his half-brother, Mr. Watkins, which connection 
has since existed. In February, 1888, he was li- 
censed to practice in the Supremo Court of the 
State. Soon after leaving school he became county 
examiner of schools, and held that position con- 
tinuously for four years. He was elected a repre- 
sentative to the State Legislature in 1888, and 
again in 1890, both times by large majorities, and 
is now discharging the duties of the last-named 
office. He served on the judiciary committee and 
memorials, and was active in supporting a number 
of important measures. December 20, 1883, his 
marriage with Miss V. A. Owen, of this county, 
was celebrated, she being a daughter of James P. 
Owen. To them three children have been born: 
Jerry, Earl and Lessie. Mr. Witt is a Mason, and 
in his political views is a stanch Democrat. 



ERRATA. 

These corrections were received too late to be used in 
the body of the book: 

Page 139-40. Slvetch of Mrs. Asie Dove.— " Ricbard 
and Mary Colbert" sbould read, " Hicbard and Mary 
Howard." "Mr. Colbert was a farmer, "etc., sbould read 
" Mr. Howard was a farnier,"etc. "And a student in Ibe 
Fayetteville Industrial University" should be omitted, 
and "is a mechanic," should be substituted in its place. 




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